I don't get it. Did the rules say that the essay had to be real? Maybe I'm not sure what the word essay means, but I thought it meant a short story. If she won because the story was good, then I don't understand why it was wrong. If she won because the judges felt sorry for her, then yes, that was wrong of the judges.
Unless this contest was about finding the kid that suffered the most, I don't see what is wrong.
If she claimed the story is true, then she's not a bit mad, but I don't see what it would disqualify her from the contest, unless I'm missing the rules of the contest, that she broke.

ArielB said:

I was thinking the same thing. What rule exactly did she break? If no rules were broken, then nobody did anything wrong...

Ok, seems like there were no rules saying the essay had to be true. Folks should stop vilifying this poor mother and her daughter. I don't even see why this silliness made the news.

coolcat said:

From my understanding the essay DIDN'T have to be factual. So according to the rules the mother did NOT break the agreement.

The Thing that scares me is that this whole thing is bout seeing a Hanna Montana show??




The mother is teaching her daughter to be smart and crafty, which in todays world is something a young woman needs to know.

lazycrockett said:

This mother and daughter need to sue the pants off this contest. IMO, they did nothing wrong... morally or legally...

Again, the press has jumped the gun and tried to destroy innocent people.

Who is Hanna Montana anyway?

Whateva.



It was an essay, not a testimony.

They should go to that damn concert.

That'd be a punishment enough.

Damn... folks are talking about charging this poor woman... why are Americans this stupid. We get so caught up in hating the wrong people...

coolcat said:

Its the culture that we live in. Everyone that gets something for whatever reason becomes fair game to be humiliated and shit on by those who didn't.

The immaturity of this country amazes me.

We are our own worse enemy.

lazycrockett said:

Yeah, I have to agree with you. The media and the public are like a pack of wolves...

I am sure she has lied many times to get what she wants.

well speaking from a different perspective....
I think they the mom and daughter should at least get some sensitivity training. I mean, that lie they told is in bad taste. They should be allowed to talk to another family, one with a six year old girl, who's daddy really died in iraq, and learn that it's no picnic, its not something to be used for personal gain. All they have to do is come around here where I live, there are plenty of kids who have lost a parent to this war.

I know this girl who is a friend of my brothers, and her father has died 3 times over the last few yrs. The last time he died was because she wanted to stay at home from work to watch big brother. The world is full of strange people

Whitnail said:

It's all fun and games, until...

hahahah pwned

ArielB said:

I don't think the rules stated that it had to be a true or factual story but the outrage, I think, is because families really are losing loved ones in this way. There are other stories she probably could've written just as well.

statuesqque said:

There are many movies, and books and what not, with fictional people, but of real events. I don't see them getting such criticism from anyone. So yes, she was lacking sensitivity, but I don't see a reason to take away the prize for a well written essay, just because it's not a true story.

ArielB said:

I don't quite understand that part of it either.

technicalities...