The couple cop to romantic dinners and call into question the benefits of hosting an ice cream social:
He Said: Woah, woah, woah, first of all, I cooked Giana a lovely meal, consisting of Caesar salad, chicken parmesan, and a little dessert, all over a candle lit table with a bouquet of roses as a center piece. I enjoy cooking for her, I admit. And she can’t deny the food is the best.
Also, put me in the front of that room at brainstorming and I would’ve had the class quiet within 3 seconds. Granted I may seem to be slightly “immature” and somehow “jealous” when I make my personal attacks on Amanda, but she honestly failed at making a great first impression and obviously could not quiet the classroom.
The ice cream social had potential but I did not see it fit to go, nor did I see it as a good opportunity for “class bonding,” so I therefore decided to stay at home and brush up on my guitar hero skills. It was a valiant effort on her part, but no “success”. Not once did Amanda ever seem interested in bonding with me or the other editors, which should have been her first mission; she gave up on us just as quickly as we gave up on her.
In no way did the show display me trying to sabotage Amanda as she was standing in the front of the room at brainstorming or at her ice cream social. I would just keep to myself and make personal comments; they weren’t anything more than that but they were just broadcasted for everyone to see. In no way am I being a jealous brat, as many have said in the last week. I am entitled to my own opinion and I am going to keep telling it LIKE IT IS.
She Said: Yes, Trevor makes the food, as all boyfriends should do for their girlfriends. Also, to clarify the commotion at the brainstorming meeting: Amanda said in the first episode that when people “tend to yell,” others don’t really like to pay attention. Apparently that skill was useful for Adam, however, considering he was able to get the classroom in order.
When I heard Amanda’s speech, I believed that there would be a possibility that we would all be able to work together as a team. However, I did not think an ice cream social was a good approach. Forcing 70 kids into a room to eat ice cream and become acquainted with one another did not seem like the first step in building teamwork, when the editors of the team had yet to come together themselves. I didn’t see how we were all supposed to comfort and ease the incoming staff members into the newspaper room and teach them how to work together when we couldn’t work together ourselves.
Although many of you might want to direct that problem onto me, and me only, you can see by Amanda’s comment of my outfit choice for the first day of school that she and I were no longer friends, nor was she trying to create a civil relationship in our working environment. For those of you who think this was all a one-way attack on Amanda, I can’t take advice on maturing from people who spend their time bashing 18 year olds. No one said we were adults and no one said we didn’t have faults. We are in high school. We’re not trying to be working in the “real world” just yet.
Yes, I chose not to participate in the ice cream social, and that does not portray me as a strong leader. However, I chose to go about befriending the underclassmen in my own way and I didn’t need ice cream to do it. Nevertheless, I did notice Amanda taking into consideration my advice on how to approach people better, and she was able to gain the respect of the underclassmen in her way as well, so I thought she did, in fact, show signs of a strong leader.
Giana - Amanda has said one negative thing about you on camera, and you have said.... wait, I lost count! It's just so darn many! And I call into question whether what Amanda said about your first day of school outfit was even negative. You were dressed very casually. You were not, in fact, "dressed up." It sounds to me like she was just stating a fact. She didn't say you looked bad or ugly, or anything of the kind. Why is dressing casually a bad thing?
Not only did you sign up for this show, but you write a blog, so you're going to get feedback. If there is anything that shows you to not grasp the full idea of journalism, it's the idea that "feedback" equals "bashing." Tell me, what would you have done with any negative letters to the editor if you were EIC? Ripped them to shreds and just printed positive letters? Your teacher made a good decision not to choose you as Chief.
You guys "telling it like it is" just makes you look worse and worse.
Or, why don't you go check up on who won the bulk of the awards at FSPA again this past week?
Righto - These kids did. And they didn't do it by being immature and spending all their time partying.
Why don't you check into what schools they all got accepted into and the scholarships they've won? Right again - they certainly didn't do it by screwing up.
And why don't you think just once about the time you've made snide comments about coworkers? Right - I'm sure you did, just last week. The only difference was, MTV wasn't standing in front of you with a camera.
Why don't you guys all go do something reasonable with your time, like get a life, rather than direct your frustration with your own life on a few misguided teens?
But what is really upsetting about your comment is that Tila Tequila didn't say she wanted to be President, or Barbara Walters. Tila Tequila's whole show isn't about publishing a paper in high school. Compare appples to apples. These kids are on a show about acheiving somethng greater than themselves and working on a paper. These kids have spent a lot of time trying to organize a mutiny for their paper. That is pretty serious retribution, so I (as a viewer) am going to have a serious response.
I may have said some girl I work with never fills the copier, but I never teamed up with my staff to get my boss fired or refused to attend staff meetings. So don't compare talking about co-workers to this show. Apples, to apples, my friend...
I feel for you Giana because I dont think the show has rightfully portrayed the type of person that Amanda is and why she seems to alienate the entire staff. I don't think it's a coincidence that Amanda is at home alone while the rest of you party it up.
People dont seem to understand a person like Amanda. She comes off as arrogant, cocky, stuck up and spoiled. The fact that she's so oblivious about others perceptions of her is all that more frustrating to the staff.
Sadly, I cant tell you that it's NOT like that in the real world. You'll run into several more Amandas' in the real journalism world. Best advice is to just really mind your own business and make sure you turn in good work. Playing the gossip and politics game in the newsroom does nothing but induce stress.
PS HOW CAN U BE FRIENDS WITH BOTH SIDES?
If u r friends with amanda u always stick up for her and even if u don't directly see people being mean you still souldn't be friends with them. Even if u don't do it.
Sometines the worst thing to do is nothing!
I don't think the show has portrayed you fairly, but we can only judge on what we see.
I think people need to realize more and more what Kelley said - obviously you guys didn't wake up one morning and DECIDE to hate Amanda. You guys have worked with her for what, three years? before all of this happened.
Amanda must have come off in a bad way for you guys not to like her, so I can understand that. And honestly, the preachers on here need to cut it out. I doubt any of you are saints who haven't EVER talked bad about your friends or about someone above you our out of jealousy. As Giana said, they're kids, they're only 18, they're not trying to be paragons of virtue.
I also can't stress enough the MTV editing. Yeah, they talked behind Amanda's back. But if they ever praised Amanda, even if they praised her a LOT, would you know? Nope. MTV is trying to make A TV SHOW, they're not trying to portray these kids as angels. They're catering to the masses, who like drama. You see the drama because without it, there wouldn't be a show.
I can really identify with all of you in some way or another. People have been saying the meanest stuff to you so I just hope that as a journalist you already have the thick skin to ignore the trash talk you've been getting (just like Amanda does!) and don't let it get you down.
P.S. Congratulations on all your awards at FSPA. I was there. (I also met Adam and Emmi and Alix etc. over the summer at SJI so seeing them on TV is really cool...)
And yes i'm sure that there is some creative editing but you've got to feed that beast to allow them to make that monster grow.
I also don't get why people are excusing bad behavior because they are 18, is there some sort of line where you cross where in one side it's ok and the other its not. Also really these guys are 18 not 14 year olds, their considered adults, and they can vote. If they are considered responsible enough to help decide the greatest decision in the country, you would think they are responsible enough to account for their own actions.
On the other hand, why are you (and Alex) using your age as an excuse? The fact is, there are 18-year-olds out there who try not to gossip about people. There are 18-year-olds out there who are mature enough to sit through an ice cream social, even if they think it's lame. There are 18-year-olds out there who would even TRY to GET TO KNOW people at the ice cream social. Some 18-year-olds are mature and polite enough to handle these situations. So don't blame all of this on age, because it's not fair for you to represent all of us 18-year-olds. That's where ageism comes from.
I'm a 47-year-old working mother of two. I have a 16-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter. Watching you on this program, as a mother, gives me great concern about the behavior you're portraying on national television with other young girls watching, maybe even Barbara Walters herself. I hope by your watching the program and seeing yourself portrayed in this "questionable" manner, that you have taken a good look at your life and are making positive changes for your future. It seems to me, although I don't actually know you, that you depict low morals and poor self esteem (shown by your revealing clothes, vulgar classroom mannerism, and what appeared to be underage drinking) to the thousands of young girls who watch this program. I wonder about your parents reactions to this behavior; however, I hope that you take this experience and reflect on how to be a better role model for aspiring writers and leaders.
Trevor:
I hope that learn to look at the positive in situations. Instigating problems and focusing on the negative doesn't work in getting what you want done. You are also a role model, or at least a public figure, and your behavior (although you can't change what's already on film) should reflect that.
I am not trying to scold or "bash" (as you stated), I am merely attempting to give you a chance to improve on yourselves before you head off to college and the working world, where not everything unfolds exactly as you want it to.
Amanda, keep up the good work. You're great fun to watch. I love your positive attitude even when everyone's against you. You're a good role model, and I'm glad that my children get to see at least one example of determination and dedication on this show.
I'll keep watching the program to see how everything turns out.
I mean, yeah... It does appear that Amanda is that kind of annoying kid in school that everyone is just like, "Oh my GOD. Shut Up!" BUUUUUUUUUUT you Giana are somewhat reminisent of a yappy little dog: always running around barking and biting people's ankles... and no one gives a crap. Trevor, you are just a jealous little child. Amanda may be slightly annoying, but you two are completely devoid of intelligence... character... well, lets just say everything, and leave it at that.
I can tell that Amanda is annoying, she is stubborn, follows her own route and has an odd blinding optimism surrounding her, qualities that viewers will admire more then constant catty remarks and negative attitudes. I am sure you guys are pretty cool people, but come on! Own up to your mistakes, then repeating them over again.
and really, that moment where Amanda asked you in the first episode if you had seen the list, and you said "No" when you actually had seen it? All you had to say was "Yes, good for you!" Or something like that, instead of giggling behind her back the moment she left. If she is as bad as you say she is, then BE the better person all ready.
If the ice-cream social wasn't a good idea, why didn't you offer a better suggestion in place of it instead of just saying afterwards how it was a bad idea? Personally I think it was a good idea, she wasn't "forcing" anyone to come, although as a part of the paper you should have all attended to show your support.
when it comes down to it they're still gonna watch the show lol.
Viewing the .pdf files of "The Circuit," however, made me want to say this:
Trevor, if you want to say Amanda's work isn't that good, then at least try to do your best.
You are the layout editor right? The template of your paper (which I assume is your work) is too premature--the font choices aren't that good (the sans serifs are too thin, the serifs are too dirty and too loose), many of the text wraps of photos ruin the pages, the folio is not good at all, measurements and alignments aren't followed, and the masthead is a mess.
If you can't do better than Amanda, then please grow up.
And please don't make your age an excuse. I am 17, but I don't think that is an excuse for being extremely cruel to someone. If you make age an excuse, adults would not listen to you because of your age. You are a smart girl, you know that each one of our "voice" counts. And if you believe in that, I hope you understand the responsibility that comes with it.
Sure, she might have talked to you guys behind your back, but might as well be the better person and try to make the situation different instead of escalating it a worse experience for those that are new to the paper.
I mean, whatever happened years ago, was years ago. So it isn't important anymore. Might as well try and make a clean slate, and try to remake some sort of friendship or at least a classmate relationship that would set a healthy work environment.