Sunday, May 5, 2013

Prudent

I loved seeing the prom photos in last week's Kennett Paper, but I'm not the only one who noticed that some of the young women seemed to be falling out of their dresses. I know, I know, every generation says this about the fashion choices of the younger one. In my day, we all rolled our eyes at the totally square school rule dictating that mini-skirts couldn't be any shorter than our fingertips.
In the case of these skimpy prom dresses, though, school regulations wouldn't have even applied: my mother would NEVER have let me out of the door showing as much skin as these girls do. My mother is far from a prude; she's just sensible.
And today the ramifications are even more far-reaching: with the Internet, these revealing photos are going to be around forever for future business clients, patients, employers and employees to see -- not to mention random voyeurs and creepos. Not a pretty thought.

18 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. I recently was shown this article and I have to say that you were not very professional in writing it. Not only did you use a picture of four young woman who were wearing very modest clothing (They were under 18 so I'm pretty sure you needed their parents permission to use the picture anyway.) You also made a night that was extremely special to all of them something to push you and your mother's own bigoted views towards what clothing is ok and what isn't.

    As a male who actually went to this prom, it astounds me that you think the girls were "falling out of their dresses." I actually thought on the opposite end of the spectrum. Most of the girls I saw were wearing dresses that fully covered their entire body and went down to their feet.

    I would really like to hear your side on this and I will check back regularly for your reply and hope to see a shred of professionalism shine through that biased mind of yours. I doubt I'll receive it because you seem like someone who is very hardheaded and not open to change, but I'll leave that up to you before I make assumptions.

    -Thanks for your time

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  3. Dear Anonymous, Thank you for reading and thank you for your thoughtful and nicely worded comments. I agree with you that the choice of photo that ran in the newspaper was very unfortunate. As you can see, it was NOT part of my blog -- I didn't include any photo at all -- and was inserted by the newspaper's editor when he was laying out the page. I wish he hadn't and I have to say that my heart sank when I first saw it.
    I stand by my opinion that some of the dresses shown in the original photos, though, crossed the line of modesty and common sense.

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    1. I'm sorry Tilda, but you just proved to me even more that you are not very professional at what you do and should not get paid for it. From what I can see, three people other than me have complained about your article/blog post.

      All of us could be potential buyers to your paper and instead of owning up and saying "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have ruined those girl's night and even though my editor was the one who put up the photo, I would still like to apologize on his behalf." You instead proceed to throw all of the blame at him and try to seem completely innocent in the exchange.

      You being a part of that business and getting paid for writing in that paper means you are responsible for what is done to the articles you write.

      Now to the picture. What if one of those girls was already very upset about their self image? And what if someone in their school started calling them names because of your article? Then what if that girl couldn't handle it anymore and committed suicide? There is a domino affect to publicity that you should understand as a Journalist. A girl under 18 should not have to go through that stress over an opinionated article.

      I don't think you remember being a teenager because if you did you wouldn't have written this article. High School is terribly difficult for young women especially. Then they drop so much money on prom tickets and a dress (that they tend to feel bad in already.) Then they have someone like you jump in and tell them their choices were wrong.

      But by this point I can tell there is nothing you can or want to do about it. If I were you I'd write an apology, but then again that's just my opinion. Though what I would really like right now is the:

      -Name of your editor
      -His phone number
      -Let him know a young man named Tyler wants to talk to him about his picture choice in the Prudent article
      -And forward him all the comments on your blog

      If you can't do that for me then I will just find out myself, but it would definitely save us both time and would definitely raise my opinion of you.

      By the way in case you weren't aware already I am the anonymous you replied to. So thanks for replying back and thank you for your time.

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  4. Wow Your heart sank when you saw the picture above what you had written. Can you imagine being one of those girls in that picture that had to go to school and face teachers, and classmates the next day. What if you were the mother of one of those 4 young girls whose photo was choosen imagine how you would feel seeing that any day let alone it is right before Mothers Day weekend. What a poor judgement call on the behalf of whomever chose to use that photo above what you had written no mater if it was you or the editor you should both be held accountable for it.

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  5. Hey Tilda,
    I am a big fan every week I would skip reading everything in the Kennett paper and go to your page number 3 first I could not wait to read what you had written. But I am no longer a fan. This article crossed the line!!!!!

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  6. Readers, I have alerted the Kennett Paper editor, Fran Maye, to your concerns. Thank you for writing in.

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  7. Thank to the Kennett Paper for taking a measure of checks and balances. We have all seen the down trend of less and less clothing in our younger generation. By the way, Tilda Tally Ho's column does not specifically state that any of the classy young women featured in the photo are the object of her topic. These young ladies are tastefully dressed. Tilda leaves it to the readers imagination to imagine the opposite.

    I am eager to see how many "young men" write in and complain to the editor. I was young once and I too would panic if I realized that someone was going to pour cold water what I considered a good thing.

    When I stop off at our local dairy and gas station to spend my hard earned dollars, I purchase the Kennett Paper and it's sister publications. I clip coupons and scout advertising announcements. I have advertised in the paper and will do so in the future. I read Tilda's column, I love the sports section and I respect it's virtue.

    As a parent of two high school age children.....I believe I know a little about most things.

    "Not going to be a grand father at age 48"
    Mark

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  8. Tilda, Tilda, Tilda,
    What have you done. A picture of 4 young girls at prom. The cruel words in your article under the picture and your insinuation that the Kennett Consoloditated School adminstrators lacks enforcement with its dress code and then to attack those 4 young girls by saying the clothing was skimpy and calling their mothers senseless.
    What a classless act on your behalf and that of The Kennett Paper. Looks like a big apology is due.

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  9. I have been a reader and subscriber to the Kennett Paper for over 15 years. Is this the kind of articles the paper is resorting to? If so I plan to unsubscribe. If I want to read trash I will pick up one of those magazines at my local supermarket.
    I was appalled at this article that was written by you. When people read between the lines they are going to assume things about those young girls featured in the photo above it. Horrible Tilda Tally Ho just horrible oh I am so disappointed in you and The Kennett Paper.

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  10. Looks like the far reaching ramifications are of the photo and article you and The Kennett Paper published in your May 9, 2013 issue.
    In my opinion I would say an apology is necessary by both you and the editor before this issue becomes a firestorm.
    You did write the words Tilda and it was under your Unionville in the news column so in my opinion you need to take ownership of what you have done.

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  11. Opinions Opinions Opinions sometimes it is best our opinions are kept to ourselves. I would say that this article is one of those cases by the looks of things.
    Tilda and The Kennett Paper better do some damage control fast on this one.

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  12. I saw the paper. I saw the picture what a horrible thing for the writer and paper to do.
    Very mean and thoughtless.

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  13. That young man has a good point. With all the pressure on kids today we have seen in local news stories how words can cause teenagers to commit suicide turn to drugs and alcohol abuse and how one persons opinion can cause them to do it. I bet the Kennett Paper and Tilda never thought of that.
    Hope both Tilda and The Kennett paper are thinking now.

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  14. Just wondering - why, if you have such strong feelings about this topic, do you reply as "anonymous"?

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    1. Since we all know that Tilda Tally Ho is not the real name of who writes this and she can express her strong feelings and opinions in her column what is the big deal with using anonymous for the individuals above stating opinions?

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  15. Looks like Tilda and her editor need to get on the same page. Ha Ha. Oh wait they already did and we see how that did not work for them.

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  16. This opinionated piece is far from journalism, and frankly, just gossip trash. I am a senior at kennett high school and attended this prom. Not only is this a thoughtless puff piece, but it is also a specific attack on the kennett school district, rather then a universal opinion on prom attire in general. The girls you published in that photo are dressed far from skimpy, and though you may not have chosen the picture, you were attempting set up whomever they were to choose for embarrassment and publish shaming. While you may hold your opinion, you may not use to to put minors on public display for judgement. The Kennett prom is one that holds high standards. In order to enter the prom you must going down a receiving line of 20+ staff and administrators, who then decide whether you meet standards, or not. To say the prom dresses of these girls were over revealing and skimpy is far fetched and over exaggerated. All you have done is trash girls who are 16 and 17 years old, you are the one who should be ashamed.

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