Is it just me?
Published 1 year, 10 months ago in My life.Is it just me or is anyone else completely uncomfortable with the whole Bindi Irwin phenomenon. It is very difficult to put my finger on just why, but anytime I see anything about her I get a very Ikky feeling in the pit of my stomach.
Anyone care to comment?
8 Responses to “Is it just me?”
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EXPLOITATION can mean that some benefits unfairly from the work of (someone), typically by overworking or underpaying them. Children can be exploited, and the death of a famous person can be exploited. If this is the feeling that you are getting in the pit of your stomach, then as a parent, I am getting it too. It may even be a perception of exploitation that is purely innocent and her mother allowing her to do what she wants to do, Bindi may be self exploitive because she is driven by her fathers ideals to ‘get the message out’ and he was a very powerful influence on her life. Don’t get me wrong, she presents as a very intelligent young girl who seems to be able to work the media like Steve Irwin, and its unusual to see a child acting in that way.
me too. I’ve felt mean when I made disparaging remarks about a child thats just lost her dad, but it’s a bit “ikky” when she’s trotted out like a puppet to spout syrup coated guff about her father. children should be left to be children not made into little robot adults for the benefit of profiteers.
Yeah i can see how you get that feeling , its the same feeling when you see sports mums egging their kids on a little TOO much …..
although , she may be a special case.
She may actually have the ability to grow up in the limelight ok…
Child stars always carry the impression of exploitation which I suspect is causing your stomach to turn ever so slightly. When the child star’s career is kicked started by the death of her famous father your gastric reflux-reaction is magnified.
I don’t know them and am in no way qualified to comment but Terri Irwin seems to have adopted a sensible approach to her parenting and the publicity surrounding her husband’s death. I’m happy - in my disinterested, got nothing to lose way - to leave the care of her children to her. Bindi has always performed and she has a ready made publicity machine behind her. In the world of Irwin it would be odd if she there wasn’t a Bindi phenomenon.
I think she is doing something that she absolutely loves doing. She certainly doesnt seemed forced to do it, how can anyone perform like that if it was natural for her to do it.
I do think that she has a completely different upbringing to most of our children these days, but what a fantastic life she has and the experiences she has had for such a little girl.
I wish her well.
I don’t think it is the exploitation issue that makes me feel uncomfortable - although the publicity machine behind her is terrifying. I don’t feel she is being exploited, she clearly loves what she is doing and I have a great deal of admiration for both her parents - Terri in particular seems very grounded. She is so adored, so beloved, in America particularly and its just that we know that what Americans embrace one day they reject just as quickly and savagely the next. This happen’s in Australia to a certain extent as well. What happens when this child is 13 and not a cute little walking, talking, singing doll anymore and nobody wants to know? Children are not equipped with the mechanisms to cope with this. (Many adults are not!) It has happened to so many child stars -massive self esteem problems, eating disorders, substance abuse, the list goes on. I sincerely hope that this does not happen to this little girl and that the work at the core of all this will carry her through. But they do need to be careful of over-exposure. People are already reaching the “Oh god not Bindi again” point.
I too, was moved my the loss the Irwin family faced late last year. Having lost both my parents at a young age, I was moved and deeply saddened when watching the interviews/ stories of this family.
However,
I feel that the family has leaped on the opportunity of marketing and too, feel distressed by the hyped attention given to ‘bindi videos’ and ‘bindi columns’ etc. etc.
This young girl has faced extreme loss, however this should not be played on and should not be given celebrity benefits to aid the pain. it seems rather sensationalied now, and who knows how this young girl will deal with her own personal grief in the furture, when she is actaully able to grasp it.
I feel sad for her.
I agree with you about when she gets a bit older. Sure she’s having fun now, but what is going on behind the scenes? Is she getting a proper education? Is she mixing with kids her own age? Is she showing any interest in things other than the zoo?
My feeling is that she may go down the “fallen idol” path and not, as you say golden1, have the mechanisms to cope with life later and finish up like Britney Spears!