first – i totally get that these things happen in all industries – the new guy comes in and pulls the wool over everyone’s eyes and leaves a mess when everyone finally figures out he’s full of crap and doesn’t know what he’s doing. that happens in life too – it’s what makes it not fair. i mean, we know that it’s not all about who’s the smartest and works the hardest, sometimes it’s about being in the right place at the right time, or having a rich parent, or great connections. but you can’t just complain about it and say it’s not fair, you move on and focus on your own work. i know it’s not that easy…but that’s what people do.

i also get your point about school inquiries – i suppose it’s a legit. question, but i feel like the direction was pretty nasty, at least from one of the articles. and like i said, i am quite soured on formal education anyway, so i have a different view…

at the end of the day, i don’t get why everyone thinks it’s any of their (our) business anyway – or why the “issue of tavi” deserves so much attention…

First, when you said “…like nearly any industry” it hit me how many times in the corporate world the wunderkind du jour came in, impressed all our bosses while we were ignored feeling like, “But we do good work and this person is a fraud”…of course, the wunderkind ultimately failed and left the company in worse shape than it had been. I once spent a year unwinding a horrendous deal that was done by someone who was popular for six months before he was ousted. So now, looking at it that way, I can relate to the wariness more. People have had these experiences.

And the questions about her education are legit. She is still a child who is in the midst of her education. To me, as a former journalist, that’s an unavoidable thing to ask about. You can’t write a merry little puff piece about a kid star without asking about education. It is normal for school to occupy most of a child’s day and year. You have to find out what’s going on there to tell the readers who would be wondering, “WTF? Doesn’t this kid go to school?” It’s totally a fair line of inquiry. Remember, you and I and other bloggers are reading multiple stories, but not everyone is online all the time engrossed in this issue.We forget that most of the world will read one story on her, if that, and that story better have all the facts.

There are two snarky paragraphs in that AOL story and otherwise I think it’s good.This jumps out at me, “Based on her observations of fashion and sometimes witty prose, it’s clear that Tavi is wise beyond her years. But we just hope she’s mature enough to recognize the fickle world she’s playing in.” Honestly, I think the same thing all the time. Child stardom is potentially damaging in any field. I’ve personally seen one person destroyed by it — absolutely beyond repair — while I know that other people come through with flying colors. We won’t know for a while. Honestly, it’s not anything I would want for my youngest stepchildren and they are 18 and 20. Too much pressure. They have plenty of time to be high-profile…it doesn’t have to come so soon. I happen to think that Tavi will be one of those people who benefits from her experiences but obviously I can’t guarantee it!

Anyway, one thing led to another and now Tavi is in a position where it is fair for people to ask what’s happening in her life and about her parents etc.
Acknowledging that doesn’t make me like her any less and I was thrilled by the giant Stephen Jones bow. I thought it was hilarious. Isabella Blow would have approved. (That said, I would have taken the picture of the view behind it too. Hell, I took a picture of Ivana Trump’s big ponytail.)

I hope Tavi stays around for a long time. But if she gets bored/aggravated/whatever and moves on to other interests, I’d understand that too.
WendyB´s last blog ..Gloria in Alaia