What Image Are You Projecting?
The image above is a photo provided by the family of an extremely talented young swimmer Megan Romano as part of a story about her excellent chances for the upcoming Olympics. I mean this girl can swim and swim fast!
But, I think this picture completely derails the story. The display of Michael Phelps pubic area really puts me off the story.
I have studied and counseled the elements of human behavior for many years and I just can’t for the life of me, think why this picture would be run in a publication like Rivals High, a publication which so emphasizes student sports.
What do you think the message is here?
February 21st, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I think it projects a bit of skankiness, for lack of a better word. If you’re not swimming or modelling, you should wear clothes in a way that don’t make you look trashy and supposedly “sexy”. I’m talking about him, obviously she is swimming, thus the bathing suit,
February 21st, 2008 at 6:52 pm
A pity too.
He could be a striking young man, if it were possible to get past the unappealing first impression.
February 24th, 2008 at 3:46 am
if this boy was in his swimsuit only, as he may have on under those droopy pants, there would be nothing wrong with this picture - it would be two team members side by side after a meet - a completely natural thing -and more of his below the belly button area would be showing.
I think the pants might make it seem out of place - whoever took it was obviously catching the kid either coming or going to the locker room but it’s certainly not an intentional statement, just before he had a chance to get a shirt on
I’d say these 2 kids are far from anything skanky
just my thoughts
February 24th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Hi Karen,
I’m always delighted to read your comments because you have a very open mind and your comments help me to reasses my initial reactions.
After reading your comment I did a bit of research on male swim suits and olympic swimmers.
The first thing I discovered is I am extemely hetero-sexual and checking out these suits was high in the creepiness factor.
Next, it initially appeared that I was spot on. Very few of the suits and model I viewed (ick), displayed anywhere near the amount of area below the hip girdle as Phelps.
Finally, I did some more research on Phelps himself. It appears he is known for having an extraordinarily long torso.
With that in mind I suppose it is POSSIBLE that the appearance might not be intentionally designed for shock value.
Still, not an image I appreciate.
February 25th, 2008 at 6:11 am
you make me smile reg.
thank you for sharing that you are extremely hetrosexual and about your high creepiness and ick factor too
that also makes me smile
i am an artist and love the nude, it’s shapes, lines and nuances are fascinating to me - perhaps I view it all with a different eye - i’d agree with you in that Phelps indeed has a long torso
I am glad that I can cause a mind opening moment for you - with your kids being younger, it’s very fair to say that you as a parent are in for some interesting awakening as they get older - I know I was - my daughter, is still wonderfully not dating, I say this because to me there is lots of time for all of that - yet her friends and she are all into this very odd dancing - i am going to get the name of it mixed up - I believe it’s called crumping which is the non-sexual version of something else - no matter what it is…it’s a tad oh alarming. My daughter when crumping looks alot like her father does when he dances or a bit “polish” or basically ridiculous - oh dear!! Needless to say, in practice it’s harmless and it can’t be any worse than the dances we did in the late 70’s!!
You have so much to look forward to!!
February 26th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I don’t know Karen. My girls hear my wife and I discuss all the research connected with perception and reality I conduct for the teacher trainings I do on motivating males and the male brain. As we were taking a drive the other day, upon seeing a group of low rider wearing boys on the street side, my seven year old piped up from the back seat, “That’s gross! Daddy, don’t they know you can see their underwear?”
February 27th, 2008 at 3:33 am
Oh it’s totally gross, your son is right on!! I seriously never thought I’d be defending the saggy butt pant. I bet knowing your particular feelings about it your daughter might hesitate to think it’s cool? For fear of not supporting your perspective - being 7 after all. I don’t want to cross that familial line. I just think it might surprise you where your family evolves to 10 yrs from now.
Do you write down the comments your kids say? I use to be way better at it - each kid had an index card on the fridge and I’d write them down as they came
once upon a time while in mexico we came across very large speed bumps in the road - my daughter said,
“mom - they don’t have speed bumps here they have speed mountains!”
February 27th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
That is absolutely brilliant!
Of course, I should be logging their comments.
I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.
Imagine the “cuteness” and blackmail value. It’s incalculable.
I’m on my way to Staples, now!
I may even invest in moleskine’
February 28th, 2008 at 6:04 am
I love it - incalculable black mail value!!! Perhaps you could be fair and give them an opportunity to save you and your wife’s verbal treasures too!!