I can't begin to image how frustrating and time consuming it must be to moderate a pageant message board. On the rare occasions I post something controversial here, it can be difficult deciding if I should publish some of your comments! Message board moderators have decided to take on that responsibility 24/7! It's a very blurry line between constructive criticism and bashing and between opinion and slander. It's as subjective as a pageant! Intent is lost in the text and anonymity breeds cruelty; wit to one person is damaging to the next. It really is a fascinating study of how quickly communication can regress...! Anyway, I am usually very sympathetic to the moderators of pageant message boards. Usually.
However, yesterday something happened to me that I find so hilarious and obserd, that I'm going to share it! :)
On a popular Miss America chat site known as the Guru Board someone asked if a woman should be allowed to compete if she has a criminal record. Some people immediately said no, other more reasonable individuals noted the difference between misdemeanors and felonies and I noted that it is perfectly fine for one of the national judges to have a criminal record!
Funny, right?! But sadly factual...
My comment was deleted promptly. So I posted it again. It was deleted again and my IP address has been banned from the board. Bum-RUSHED! Oh, the irony!
A friend posted some other undesirable facts about Mr. Limbaugh and has also been booted from the board. We find it hilarious!
I wasn't online much at all when the Lim-bomb went off in pageantland, so I'm not sure if the moderator threw down an edict against inflammatory discussions of this inflammatory man. If that's the case, I can almost understand trying to avoid the debate over him, but I am completely baffled by the banning of people who post facts. Facts!
At this very moment there are tons of negative opinions about contestants written on that board, yet we can't post 100% truths about a media personality and judge? Yes, my IP is banned, but that's easily remedied. In fact, the moderator sent a courtesy message with my "restricted access" notice stating that I could still log in as an AOL user. Hhmm... Then why ban me at all?
Again, I find it all very funny and certainly hypocritical. The healthy laughter and mindless distraction it has brought me is all part of what makes pageants and their message boards such a joyous hobby!
*****
While I'm on the topic, I may as well address another message board MISScommunication. Fans on the Miss Ohio board are clamoring for the Maumee Valley / All*American City / Fallen Timbers contestant list. It is exciting and wonderful that people are so interested! Wageners have entrusted me with the list and asked I post it no sooner than 10 p.m., Ohio time, tomorrow.
Nonetheless, a list has emerged on the message board, based on comments found on Facebook. Again, the interest is awesome! However, it's not completely accurate. At first I thought they had three names wrong, but after a second crosscheck, it's two that someone incorrectly presumed.
I didn't mean to stifle the fun of speculation; in fact, I think figuring out which ones are wrong makes it more interesting! Reactions to my information included "Oh please, whatever Abby does or does not do, would make no difference in people speculating and assuming." and "Listen Abby - all those girls made references to competing on facebook. JENNA for sure. Facebook is an open portal for communication and I am not speculating, I am telling you what I read on facebook."
I said I didn't quite understand the hostility... This is a classic example of message board miscommunication! To me, the words "Oh please, whatever" and "Listen Abby" have some serious attitude behind them. That was my interpretation and I used the word "hostility" as a synonym for attitude, to which someone replied, "I don't see anything written that is to be considered hostile, can't anyone make a comment on here without being viewed as hostile or whatever, assume what you want, but the comment wasn't posted under hostile conditions lol"
Fair enough! Hostility probably wasn't the best word, since it tends to be taken quite literally. I really appreciate the person's "lol" at the end, as opposed to truly having a hostile reaction to my word selection! :) Ah, message boards, gotta love 'em...!
Christina Muha
Melissa Stevens
Emily Pheils
Kristy Moneysmith
By Cindy Davis
For her talent, Waterman performed the vocal “There You’ll Be” from the movie “Pearl Harbor.” She wore a yellow, two-piece bathing suit for the swimsuit portion of the contest and was asked her opinion about President Barack Obama’s national speech to schoolchildren for her impromptu on-stage question.
The first runner-up and recipient of a $300 scholarship was Kristy Moneysmith, 20, of Union City. Moneysmith sang “When a Man Loves a Woman” for her talent... She was asked about how to encourage college graduates to stay in the area with the high rate of unemployment. Moneysmith believes stimulus money and Issue 3 would bring jobs to the region.
...Danielle Henry ...was awarded a Community Service Scholarship of $150. Henry is active with the American Cancer Society and is an advocate for Relay for Life. She also speaks to local, state and national representatives about her platform, which is Being a Cancer Advocate – Speak Up! She performed a self-choreographed dance to “Walking in Memphis.”
Above: Lake Festival in 2007
The Miss Clayland pageant is currently underway in Uhrichsville! It is not only the oldest Miss Ohio local, but also also has a strong history of success. It lays claim to the reigning Miss Ohio, Erica Gelhaus, last years Karissa Martin, as well as Miss America 1978, Susan Perkins Botsford and 1st Runner-up to Miss America 1985, Melissa Bradley Buchanan. More fun facts can be found on Miss Clayland's lovely new website!
Sherry El Sakr
Kristy Moneysmith
Danielle Henry
Ashley Bowman
Samantha Hartings
Heather Waterman
[Above: left in gold is 3rd RU, Alexis Semach; right with the ponytail is the winner Amanda Tempel.
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