lauren caitlin upton: an alternative hypothesis

[king_mob]

By now, I imagine everybody has seen Miss South Carolina pontificate on geographical ignorance; if you have not, I reproduce the video and transcript below for your convenience.

Comments

[boundfate]

O.k., having done a few competitions before I can say that reading that transcript it isn't the transcript of someone who is dumb or uneducated. That is the transcript of someone who is nervous and scared and messes up one word in the initial sentence (I'm guessing she meant to say citizen instead of American) and then panics. Her coaches should have done a better job of teaching her to stop, breath, and restart. But having been in the position where I had 1 minute to tell a group of people judging me what kitchen appliance most resembled me and relate that to being a good leader on the spot and oh this is the question that makes us decide if you get to serve in this position you want or not - it is easy to flub.

[king_mob]

I just dunno. She doesn't look panicked, she looks like she thinks she aced it, you know?

Maybe that's the pageant coaching showing.

[boundfate]

It is exactly that. You are coached in any contest to look confident and calm in any situation. She had probably had nerves at 150% the whole evening and the smile and body language are permanently glued in place until after it is all over. And I guarantee that her coaches emphasized body movement and facial expression.

We should play balderdash sometime, and I'll show you what public speaking competitions can do to the ability to completely BS your way through anything without reacting. I'm really rusty but some things you don't unlearn once you turn them on.

[p0cketsize]

Theater and speech/debate teams do the same thing. That's why I'm so good at lying! :p

[king_mob]

Damn, you mean that's why I have to be so honest? That sucks.