Welcome to the Roman Empire, 2006 edition. This is what happens when middle class families decide they want to live just like the super-rich people they see on TV.
In Knoxville, Tennessee, a teen girl was thrown a six-figure 15th-birthday party including 150 guests and a BMW Z4. (Check out the videos, especially “grand entrance.”) In addition to the conspicuous consumption of food, the suggestive dancing, and the extravagant gifts, we have the objectification of young men. Five bare-chested teenage boys carried in the birthday day girl on a sedan chair and then did the bump and grind around her.
Five young hunks didn’t require an invitation to the party. The five Webb High School athletes were handpicked to mingle and dance with partygoers. Their uniform: pink bow ties, jeans, and a coat of spray glitter on their bare upper bodies.
“Basically, our job is to be eye candy,” said Jeffrey Johnson, a 16-year-old football player at Webb. “It’s an odd request, but we have a good story to tell for the rest of our lives.”
Jeffrey and the gang weren’t the only ones recruited to shake their moneymakers. Leslie hired dancers from the Performer’s Edge Dance Studio on Western Avenue as part of the entertainment.
Imagine if this had been a 15-year-old boy and these were teen girls. Then again, don’t.
What we have here is an over-indulgent mother living vicariously through her daughter. One thing you will not notice in the whole story is a mention of the girl’s father. Perhaps he’s deceased. Maybe they’re divorced. Maybe he’s just so embarrassed, he’s content to write the checks and stay hidden. In any case, mother and daughter are the main act here.
“The reason we are having all of this is because of the car,” Leslie says. “She had her heart set on a BMW Z4 in this certain shade of blue. Grayson (car dealership) searched all over and found one in Oregon. I didn’t want to have to wait a year to give it to her.”
That’s right. She won’t be old enough to drive it until her next birthday.
And for those of us who are old fuddy-duddies clucking our tongues at conspicuous excess, the girl’s mom has a message:
Many would opt for a more modest kind of birthday recognition. They will view the car and the party as obscene and overindulgent.
“I don’t care,” Leslie says. “To each their own. It’s about her. It’s about me making this the best for her.”
She continues, “Brittany’s my baby, my princess. If I could do it even bigger, I would. She’s so good (Brittany brought home straight A’s on her first report of the school year). If she was a snot, a little brat, I wouldn’t do this.”
I’d pay good money to see what Brittany (of course) is like in 10, 15, 20 years down the road. In the end, we’re not the ones who will judge Brittany and her mom. They will judged by the One who has given them all they have and He alone will determine whether they followed the dictates of the Gospel or not.
The question is if parents are doing this for 15 or 16, then what’s left? What do you do for graduation from high school or college? What’s left for a wedding? What 15/16 year old needs a car like that?
The list can go on and on.
It’s sad.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) [ip: 38.113.130.33] on 10/3/06 at 01:47 PM
“This is what happens when middle class families decide they want to live just like the super-rich people they see on TV.”
Somehow, I doubt this was a middle class family.
Posted by Kevin J Jones [ip: 24.8.98.57] on 10/3/06 at 04:54 PM
Caligula would have been impressed.
Posted by Dennis_Mahon [ip: 24.60.255.49] on 10/3/06 at 05:34 PM
Somehow, I doubt this was a middle class family.
If you read the article, it says the mom is a transportation coordinator for a brokerage firm. While it may be a lucrative position, I doubt it would qualify them in the “rich dilettante” class.
Posted by Art Deco [ip: 24.59.253.3] on 10/3/06 at 06:06 PM
What only adds to the irony of it is that this isn’t an over-the-top, embarrassingly decadent “Sweet 16” party—oh no! Waiting till 16 was too much!
Posted by Fr Martin Fox [ip: 71.74.204.80] on 10/3/06 at 08:13 PM
I always love these opportunities on Bettnet, when everyone gets to write in and point their finger at some person, saying “You’re bad!” “You’re a bad parent!” “Your choices are wrong!” “You are a sinner!” “You should be in jail!” I love it. I hope someone got the family’s name and address from the newspaper and is sending in these remarks. They should know what we all think of them. What good is feeling superior to others if you don’t tell them?
Comments are being moderated. After you submit your comment it could take up to a couple hours, but usually only a few minutes, before it will appear. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you may contact Domenico Bettinelli.
Taking spoiling your kid to a whole new level
Welcome to the Roman Empire, 2006 edition. This is what happens when middle class families decide they want to live just like the super-rich people they see on TV.
In Knoxville, Tennessee, a teen girl was thrown a six-figure 15th-birthday party including 150 guests and a BMW Z4. (Check out the videos, especially “grand entrance.”) In addition to the conspicuous consumption of food, the suggestive dancing, and the extravagant gifts, we have the objectification of young men. Five bare-chested teenage boys carried in the birthday day girl on a sedan chair and then did the bump and grind around her.
Imagine if this had been a 15-year-old boy and these were teen girls. Then again, don’t.
Conspicuous consumption and they don’t care
Technorati Tags:birthday, excess, Knoxville, culture
What we have here is an over-indulgent mother living vicariously through her daughter. One thing you will not notice in the whole story is a mention of the girl’s father. Perhaps he’s deceased. Maybe they’re divorced. Maybe he’s just so embarrassed, he’s content to write the checks and stay hidden. In any case, mother and daughter are the main act here.
That’s right. She won’t be old enough to drive it until her next birthday.
And for those of us who are old fuddy-duddies clucking our tongues at conspicuous excess, the girl’s mom has a message:
I’d pay good money to see what Brittany (of course) is like in 10, 15, 20 years down the road. In the end, we’re not the ones who will judge Brittany and her mom. They will judged by the One who has given them all they have and He alone will determine whether they followed the dictates of the Gospel or not.
COMMENTS
The question is if parents are doing this for 15 or 16, then what’s left? What do you do for graduation from high school or college? What’s left for a wedding? What 15/16 year old needs a car like that?
The list can go on and on.
It’s sad.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) [ip: 38.113.130.33] on 10/3/06 at 01:47 PM
“This is what happens when middle class families decide they want to live just like the super-rich people they see on TV.”
Somehow, I doubt this was a middle class family.
Posted by Kevin J Jones [ip: 24.8.98.57] on 10/3/06 at 04:54 PM
Caligula would have been impressed.
Posted by Dennis_Mahon [ip: 24.60.255.49] on 10/3/06 at 05:34 PM
If you read the article, it says the mom is a transportation coordinator for a brokerage firm. While it may be a lucrative position, I doubt it would qualify them in the “rich dilettante” class.
Posted by Domenico Bettinelli [ip: 24.128.184.216] on 10/3/06 at 06:03 PM
Gag me with a spoon.
Posted by Art Deco [ip: 24.59.253.3] on 10/3/06 at 06:06 PM
What only adds to the irony of it is that this isn’t an over-the-top, embarrassingly decadent “Sweet 16” party—oh no! Waiting till 16 was too much!
Posted by Fr Martin Fox [ip: 71.74.204.80] on 10/3/06 at 08:13 PM
Kind of like what you’re doing now?
Posted by Domenico Bettinelli [ip: 24.128.184.216] on 10/5/06 at 07:41 AM
Comments are being moderated. After you submit your comment it could take up to a couple hours, but usually only a few minutes, before it will appear. Thank you for your patience. If you have any questions, you may contact Domenico Bettinelli.