Ted:
To borrow a phrase, "Color me amazed." I, too, don't want to get into a flame war, but I was amazed that you would generalize so much. If specific posts are out-of-line deal with them specifically. I doubt that anyone at CNBC, you included, would be impressed with an opinion about all of CNBC based on a limited view of it. For example, "CNBC as a network is out of line and should be taken off the air and boycotted because they ran an ad [for example] selling condoms." Maybe not the best example, but I bet you get the point.
This thread has "generally" been a good natured tribute to Maria by people who admire and/or respect her for a variety of reasons. That said, it has obviously taken many different forms. Like most threads, the comments and posts sometimes get off topic. Like most threads, the comments and posts sometimes could be better thought out or more tastefully presented. If the general concept is out-of-line or offends people, however, then the solution is simple: don't read it.
Many of the posts here are intended to be funny, even if in a raunchy sort of way sometimes, and not serious. I'll bet that you and most others at CNBC get the same kinds of e-mail jokes (the ones that used to be faxes) that we all get. I'll bet that they get read and laughed at just as much there as everywhere else in America. Do they somehow become out-of-line when posted here as opposed to being attached to an e-mail? Heck, for that mater, most of the stuff here is mild compared to some of the e-mail stuff.
I will admit that some of the posts on this thread, mine included, could be labeled sexist, but so what. (Maria certainly did nothing to discourage that given the way she dressed when she appeared on Letterman). Is there anything wrong with thinking that Maria is attractive or sexy? Why must or should comments on a "Fan Club" thread be limited to comments about her work? People are frequently liked or disliked for more than one reason; Maria and others at CNBC are no exception. I will also admit that peoples' sentiments here are sometimes expressed in juvenile ways: again, so what.
Like it or not, those on the air at CNBC are public figures, in the common not legal sense, and thus, few comments about them on this thread or elsewhere are truly out-of-line. Monica Lewinski and Bill Clinton are also someone's sister, brother, daughter, and son and that sure never stopped anyone here, on CNBC, or anywhere else in the country. All of those analysts that get portrayed as penguins at CNBC are someone's brother, sister, mother, father, son, daughter, or spouse and that sure hasn't stopped the Squawk Box crew from implying, in a funny sort of way, albeit not so subtly, that they are all a bunch of money-hungry, unethical, dishonest, paid-off, deceitful goons. Again, maybe not the best examples, but I bet you get again the point.
Personally, I could not care less whether Maria is pregnant or if she is, when she became so, but I think that it is fair game for comment, question, etc. Same with its relationship to the wedding since the marriage was a matter of news reports, i.e., it was public. The style of some of the comments may have been better thought out, but, again, so what. This thread was never intended, IMO, to be serious commentary and should not be taken seriously by anyone.
The only reason this thread pays more attention to women than men is that Maria is a woman. (Since I am trying to be somewhat serious, I will resist the temptation, in the spirit of the thread, to editorialize here). The Hunks thread, to which you have been a non critical contributor in the past, pays more attention to men than women since few would consider hunks to be women. Perhaps it would be more politically correct to join the two threads so that the comments would be more evenly divided among men and women. I doubt that many, if any, here, however, are all that interested in being politically correct. Comments here, regardless of how they are characterized, will be aimed "especially at the women" since this thread is about a woman.
In some respects your comments were disappointing since you have generally been very reasonable and have dared, unlike others, to give us outsiders some glimpse into the inner world and personalities of CNBC. Thinking that some "generally" good natured fun is out-of-line is, in my view, less than reasonable. Lighten up and laugh a little. I think you will find that most here (I will not speak for all) will laugh at themselves in the same ways that they laugh at others. In my view there is absolutely nothing out-of-line about that. If it is out-of-line, then perhaps we need more of it so people won't take everything so dad-gummed seriously.
Long Live The Frat House
Troy McKinney
P.S. - having had a couple of television movies include portrayals about a part of my professional life and having had one of them poke fun at it (even though my wife didn't think it was so funny and wanted to immediately sue) and portray me in a less than flattering way, I know a little about what I am talking about and do see it from both sides of the camera. |
