Monday, May 20, 2013

Amy's Baking Company re-opens


Last week's Kitchen Nightmare's featured some of the most-hated instant villains in reality T.V. history. Amy and Samy Bouzaglo of Scottsdale, Arizona, stole their staffs' tips, fired people on the spot for minor transgressions, and refused to consider any of Gordon Ramsey's suggestions to improve. The pair was so insufferable, Ramsey finally walked out and stopped production, the first time he's ever done so. And the drama didn't stop there. A few days later, a string of nasty Facebook posts, reportedly from the restaurant (they claim they were "hacked"), set off a social media firestorm.

The couple have been bellyaching for years about their "bullies" and "haters," to little sympathy from the rest of the world. Many bloggers and entertainment writers out there have summed this couple up quite nicely, but perhaps ABC's Alex Alvarez did it best. Wrote Alvarez this week: "The reality is that most people do not know or care enough about you to hate you. The internet will always be populated with trolls, but those people are entirely distinct from people who disagree with or criticize you. People are able to not enjoy your service, product, or performance while having no opinion of you as a person. People are capable of not enjoying a pizza dish while also not actively plotting to bring on your demise and that of your restaurant. And those are the people worth listening to. They can potentially make you and what you do better." 


This whole saga set off an interesting discussion of what haters and bullies really are and what role social media plays in one's interactions with their clientele, fans, and non-fans. It highlighted the simple fact that many times, "hate" is just constructive criticism that the recipient just could not handle. 

Tuesday, Amy's Baking Company will re-open for dinner service. With boobyguards in place and a sold out house, this ridiculous saga is probably not over yet. The drama has already started, with Kitchen Nightmares reportedly sending what sounds like some kind of cease and desist to the couple, which caused them to cancel a planned press conference tomorrow. Darn, that press conference could have been good!

You can watch the Kitchen Nightmare's episode in full on Youtube.

986 sediments (sic) from readers:

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Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

https://twitter.com/passantino/status/336618143105568768/photo/1

This picture. This baby. Into the arms of plain clothes men, perhaps just volunteers off the street. God bless that poor community.

Melissa NV said...

From "Amy's Baking cancels presser; Cites legal threats":

"The bakery said trained security guards and off-duty police officers will be onsite."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&7

As opposed to untrained security guards or 'friends' from Samy's past?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Yes, as opposed to hit men. That would be a good thing.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Also, isn't "legal threats" an oxymoron?

Not only are they nasty people, but they are also pretty stupid too.

silimom said...

Fox and the Kitchen Nightmares production company have had enough apparently:

http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2013/05/kitchen-nightmares-lawyers-threaten-restaurant-owners-amys-baking-company/

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Just my take, but you know, I understand Kitchen Nightmares must feel like this is getting out of hand and they need to do something. But I don't think they need to get involved in this fight. Just let them self destruct all on their own, they're doing fine at it.

NO ONE....or at most a few really blind people, believes for one second that the way Amy and Samy behaved had a single thing to do with the show portraying them in any kind of false light.

I actually thought the show came out the most reasonable in all this. I have always thought Ramsey can be a real jerk, but in this case I thought he was very patient and reasonable. That might be diminished if they start playing the tit for tat game.

Ex Nurse said...

After reading the comments here on this show, I broke down and watched it today. The resemblance to Kate is chilling, down to her glares and eye-rolls, her stacks of labeled tupperware and her incredible denial. Amy's completely delusional sense of entitlement and her insistence that no one else is qualified enough to work for her is insanity and she is clearly on the verge  of a breakdown. So they are going to take down Gordon  Ramsey. Good luck with that, Amy.

Gordon Ramsey came under fire when it was discovered that some of the food served in his London restaurants were made in a central facility, not on site. I was in London when the news broke, and it was a really big deal. Mind you, the food was made by his staff, unlike Amy. So, I thought it was interesting when he stopped the serving of the ravioli and made the point that it came from more than 500 miles away.

The only other episode of KN I have seen was filmed at one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants (Yanni's in Seattle)  While there was a similar level of denial and delusion, that family faced the truth and pulled together. So, if anyone wants to see what a normal family does in response to a healthy dose of reality, that episode is a good one to watch--it was also aired this season. 

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Uncanny, isn't it?? Don't forget her extreme, over the top organization in the kitchen. Clean as a whistle and everything organized and labeled. And her arrogance in saying she had won some kind of inspecting award or something, forgot what she said about that. You can see in the background of this photo how neat as a pin their bar is, it's magazine worthy.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/05/15/article-2324641-19C81B4B000005DC-29_634x389.jpg

One of the waitresses made a good point, that Amy thinks being organized means that everything else is great too, and that the organization was just a way to cover up all her other inadequacies. I thought that was great arm-chairing from a 20 something year old.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

The Ramsey pre-cooked food controversy was no controversy at all. Apparently due to space restrictions (if you've been to London, you'll understand) a few of his restaurants with the smallest kitchens were prepping some of the food off site and bringing it in. So for those few restaurants, someone else, though mind you someone on HIS payroll, not some outsider, was cooking it and then shipping it that same day. The alternative is restaurants with small kitchens wouldn't be able to offer some of the choices the larger restaurants do, and then people would complain about that. You can't win. I don't see how that's any different than catering, in which your team cooks the food in one location, then transports it to another to reheat. It's not the location of the cooking that is the issue (unless of course, it's cooking days or weeks in advance-that's different!), it's the fact that it's not your company's food that's the issue.

That's apples and oranges from what Amy was doing, buying someone else's food, like raviolis or baked goods, and passing it off as her company's. If Amy had a different, larger kitchen off site her company was cooking at and then bringing it in, I don't see the problem. That wasn't the case.

Millicent said...

I wonder if Steve Nield offered his crack security services to these two.

They apparently had to have a "job fair" to hire enough staff to get the restaurant up and running again. With all the media hoopla, I have to believe most people who submitted an application know about these two, their drama, their tip theft, etc. So perhaps people are hoping to get a job there simply so they can sell their story to a tabloid.

JoyinVirginia said...

One of the best articles about the mess is in Forbes online by Kelly Clay: ” Lessons from Amys Baking Company: Six Things You Should Never Do On Social Media”.
it points out helpful tips like Don't Respond to Trolls, Don't Insult People, Learn When to Walk Away, and Don't Lie. It was the owners initial blowup on Facebook that gave this story legs.
A local free paper has an online food blog with articles going back to the beginning of this war with online reviewers. It's called Chow Bella.
Blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/chowbella

JoyinVirginia said...

According to a story posted in Chow Bella on Monday afternoon, the PR firmthat was hired less than a week ago has already parted ways with the restaurant owners.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said...

From the link Joy provided:

"Although tomorrow's press conference has been cancelled, the press release goes on to say that Amy's "Grand Re-Opening" event (now referred to as a "Grand Re-Opening Week" but with the same objective -- to let customers decide who is right: Kitchen Nightmares celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay or the "marketplace that has supported the small, locally owned business for six years") will commence Tuesday as planned. Interested? Good luck getting a table in the near future. More than 1,000 reservations have been made since the event was announced last week."

Mel said...

Kate must have paid a boatload of money for twitterbots yesterday.

Today there are a gob of them retweeting the exact same thing...referring to an article posted way back on April 2nd.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

The news out of Oklahoma this morning is just tragic. This photo says the adults pictured are actually teachers.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130520232945-ap-22-oklahoma-city-tornado-0520-horizontal-gallery.jpg

What an incredibly moving portrait of two teachers, covered in blood, leading frightening students to safety.

TLC stinks said...

Wait.for.it. Will Kate make the OK tornado tragedy about her?

NJGal51 said...

As of now there are 96 autobot tweets of the following.

@zackteperman: Check out our clients @BullyVille & @BretLockett26 talking to @FoxNews about @Kateplusmy8 and online bullying - http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2013/04/02/anti-bullying-site-exposes-identities-alleged-kate-gosselins-cyber-bullies-to/

Who is paying for them? Kate? Zack? BullyVille? It doesn't matter. It just shows that Kate's twitter is basically dead in the water when all she gets are autobot tweets and tweets from a handful of fans.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Wait.for.it. Will Kate make the OK tornado tragedy about her?

&&&

I just checked and realized she hasn't tweeted in two whole days. Jeepers. Milo must be peeing herself by now. This has to be a world record. Usually when she's quiet she's getting the VIP treatment somewhere.

Tucker's Mom said...

Another radio interview with Amy:
http://consumerist.com/2013/05/20/owners-of-amys-baking-company-say-yelpers-are-endangering-their-lives/

She's so delusional. When exactly did grown adults start bellyaching about being "bullied". That belongs in the schoolyard.

Amy has abused her power over and over and over. She has stolen others' works to claim as her own, duped diners at every turn and treated her employees like dirt.
But, poor victim Amy, let's all feel sorry for her.

In news that I won't say it good, but less tragic-- the medical examiner in OK has decreased the number of dead to 26 (24?). Could increase again, of course.

My mind is racing as to how I can help. Red Cross donation, of course, but I feel like I need to do more for the people and their pets.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

When exactly did grown adults start bellyaching about being "bullied". That belongs in the schoolyard.



&&&&

I'm actually really curious about this question. At some point, in the past couple years or so, it's suddenly okay for grown adults to cry about bullying instead of addressing their criticism in a mature fashion. They have hijacked the term from legitimate persecuted young people who use to to describe legitimate negative behavior toward them. Given that many students have even committed suicide over bullying, I find it highly offensive when an adult uses the term to describe things like what is happening to Amy. (In my opinion, there is a rare exception when I don't mind the term used on adults, when there is an imbalance of power, namely disabled adults.)

Could it have been that leave Brittany alone video? Or was it before?

JudyK said...

The news out of Oklahoma this morning is just tragic. This photo says the adults pictured are actually teachers.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets/130520232945-ap-22-oklahoma-city-tornado-0520-horizontal-gallery.jpg

What an incredibly moving portrait of two teachers, covered in blood, leading frightening students to safety.
_______________________________

Moore is South of Oklahoma City and about 1 hour, 40 minutes from me. All three of the local NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates have shown nothing but coverage of this nightmare devastation since yesterday. People have been very caring and generous in assisting the people of Moore.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I still like on the show when Amy almost immediately launched into her tirade about being bullied to Gordon Ramsey, he just kind of looked at her like ....ooookay, but could I see your kitchen and taste your food? That's all I care about.

He completely shut down her juvenile agenda, which set her off on a BAD foot from the beginning. She wanted him to say oh Amy how terrible those mean awful people! And he wouldn't. Narcissists hate when you change up the agenda.

TLC stinks said...

You guys have hit the nail on the head with this Amy character. Never heard of her before but wow, she is just like Kate. That must make Kate not too happy since I suspect she is pining away for a cooking show. Who the heck would want her drama and dealing with her demands?

BTW, did you guys see the question on Kate's blog about how great it would be if Kate had a cooking show? Well, Kate answered it like the thought never occurred to her. I suspect it was a question from Kate herself. And those twitterbots all hot and bothered about Kate's new cookbook. Too funny.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


She says she was misled by producers.
“They told us they were coming to help and we believed them,” explains Amy. “That’s why we invited them into our kitchen; we had nothing to hide.”

&&&

This sums her up perfectly. Amy, they WERE coming in to help. They TRIED to help. They bent over BACKWARDS to help. You were not misled. But in her delusional mind they were there to get them and make them look bad I guess?

According to them it was actually Yelpers who referred the restaurant to Kitchen Nightmares. Because that show has worked miracles. They were trying to help TOO. There is no hidden agenda here, not from the majority of people anyway. Most people actually want local, non-big box stores and restaurants to succeed. Most people LIKE supporting their local economy, and would prefer there are alternatives to Applebee's and Olive Garden. If they made a real effort to change I bet you the locals would get right behind them again. The people of Arizona are good people.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I love this part too. That they were "set up". How does a patron "set up" not bringing out the pizza they ordered for an hour and a half? How does a yelper mastermind such a thing? Perhaps telepathic powers to the kitchen?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

http://thepioneerwoman.com/blog/2013/05/oklahoma/

Pioneer Woman immediately put up a post with a beautiful photo she took of the Oklahoma landscape, letting everyone know they were fine and far away from the storms, but listing all the prayer needs, as well as half a dozen options to donate, including the bigger charities like Salvation Army and American Red Cross, and some local smaller options if that's what you prefer.

This is just something Kate doesn't get, that when you are this big of a presence on the internet, being a participant in what is going on in the world is righteous and relatable, and simply just the right thing to do.

Formerly Duped said...

I'm sure if non-press or non-family members booked dinners at Amy's, it's more to watch the fireworks than to try the new food. I am curious to know how this turns out. I have a feeling they're beyond help, like a certain person we know ;) but maybe they can make it work, maybe? Is that naive?

Btw there is an interesting Gordon Ramsey show I came across on Yutube, about starting a kitchen in a prison, Gordon Behind Bars iirc the title?

Susie Cincinnati said...

msgoody2shoes21
@Bullyville @Kateplusmy8 @zackteperman What the heck just happened? I saw HUNDREDS of tweets mentioning you on Twitter.

Apparently Goody doesn't understand what a twitterbot does because the sheeple claim that all of Kate's followers, tweeters, are legit. Perhaps someone should explain that you can BUY retweeters. But of course Kate never does this!

All she needs to do is to check them out and see that everything the bots do is retweet and that they always have some kind of photo (of themselves) as their avatar. Kate was down to four tweets per hour. She had to do something.

Ex Nurse said...

Admin--
I said essentially the same thing you did--the food was prepared by his staff. But, it was considered a scandal because he never disclosed this and represented that it was all made fresh to order. I don't consider a big deal either--but then I am not a food critic. It was all over the front pages of every newspaper in London. My point was that I think that he emphasized the distance the ravioli traveled so that it wouldn't reignite his own controversy.

Ingrid said...

I was reading some of the last posts on last blog and I had wondered this for a while.

Does a manager like Julie May Carson or an agent get steady income from their client or do they only get a percentage IF they get the client some work?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I love when the sheep unwittingly point out things that are embarrassing to Kate.

Tucker's Mom said...

Is Kate living in a hole or somehow unable to tweet about the tornado? She must be traveling with Steve.

TFGOT said...

I would agree that it is ridiculous for people like Amy or Kate Gosselin claim to be victims of bulling. In fact, if you look at their behaviors, both these women appear to be accomplished bullies in their own right!

I do think, however, that it is dismissive and inaccurate state that bullying is restricted to children and teens. It can be an adult problem too, and not one that is restricted to the internet.

"Workplace bullying" is a known issue and is being taken more seriously these days by state Departments of Labor, some employers, and the EEOC. Just Google "Massachusetts Registered nurses workplace bullying" for just one example of horrendous workplace bullying. It can be a big problem.

What bugs me about the Amys and Kates of this world is that they trivialize important issues with their fake claims of being bullied.

Just my opinion.



Millicent said...

My heart goes out to everyone affected by the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma, and I understand that some severe weather is predicted to follow :( I'm so sad over the loss of life, but as always, surprised that more were not killed considering how massive that tornado was! Bless those teachers for literally shielding children with their bodies to protect them. And for all the brave souls who rushed to help with rescue efforts. Donations always help, to the organization of your choice. I heard a great suggestion if you want to do more, or cannot donate money - you could donate blood. Just a thought.

As to Amy of Amy's Bakery - it's eery how similar she is to Kate. From a scientific point of view, it would be fascinating to be able to study both women, to see how their behavior under a microscope as it were. Both absolutely cannot accept blame or criticism of any kind. Nothing is ever their fault. They are amazing and incredible at whatever they do. When faced with reality -- they shut down or run away. Amy could not take Gordon Ramsey pointing out the very real flaws in her cooking, and I think if she had been tied to that chair, she would have had a mental breakdown. She literally had to run away from his words. Kate is the same way.

The differences are just as interesting. Kate chose a passive, easily manipulated man with a wealthy father as her mate. I think she also chose him because he was part-Korean and their children would be distinguished from "average" children. He had the money (indulgent wealthy father), the personality, and the looks she needed for her master plan.

Amy chose a man who was wealthy (although I am so curious to know where he wealth came from), with a temper and forceful personality. However, he does seem to pamper her, cater to her, and continually feed her ego. They apparently met in Vegas. In one of her nonsensical stories to Gordon, she talks about how Samy was some sort of playboy, with a lot of beautiful women at his table every night, but that she won out over them. Then she said something about how they both had beautiful women at their table (?). It was strange.

Could Amy's in-your-face craziness just be a more advanced version of Kate? Or did producers of Twist of Kate and the Sarah Palin misadventures in camping already witness this level of crazy?

Do confidentiality agreements have a termination date?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

TF I agree with you that adults can pick on other adults but I think that's harassment not bullying. Adults are usually in a completely different situation emotionally and maturity wise to deal with harassment. They are in a much better position, usually, to cut it off at the knees. Unlike a helpless emotionally immature fragile teen. I suppose there are exceptions, there may be some rare cases where adult harassment more closely resembles a situation a child being bullied faces in school. But it's not the norm and as you said, def not what Amy is up against. Any is not a helpless child. Amy can respond to the criticism and have her say, or she could refuse to serve those she doesn't like, or she can report legitimate threats to the police, or shut down her facebook, or she could cook better food, or all of the above. By no stretch of the imagination is there a power imbalance here essential to define it as bullying. If anything she holds the power!

Formerly Duped said...

Millicent, all I can say is ditto to everything in your terrific post! It's amazing how alike the women are, even in appearance!I wonder if either is aware of the other?

Agree also about the tornado disaster and donating blood is always a gift of life.

willowmom said...

No Kate tweets for a couple of days. May there be a DWTS (audience) appearance tonight?

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

My God. I can't get over the destruction in Oklahoma. So sad.

Even warning sirens could not save those poor souls.

God bless and protect Oklahoma.
They need our help.

Tucker's Mom said...

This is perhaps the best summary and insight into the Crazy Amy and her ABC restaurant yet-

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bella/2013/05/amys_baking_company_overcooked.php

Blowing In The Wind said...

Do confidentiality agreements have a termination date?

------------------------

It depends on the CA and how it's written. Some may expire in two years or five years, and I know that some non-disclosures are written for the duration of a lifetime, particularly those that have to do with the settlement of a lawsuit.

Blowing In The Wind said...

I love when the sheep unwittingly point out things that are embarrassing to Kate.

----------------

They are so dumb. They are just like Kate. They don't THINK before they tweet. Birds of a feather...

TFGOT said...

Admin, I completely agree that Amy is not being bullied. As I said, she is trivializing a real problem.

Respectfully, I still disagree with you quite vehemently about bullying of adults in the workplace. In many workplaces there is a huge imbalance of power and bullying occurs. Although legislation against harassment is some protection if an individual is targeted, it doesn't cover all the tactics used by bullies. Setting up an employee to fail in a task being one of them.

FWIW, 21+ states are now considering specific anti-workplace-bullying legislation. It reminds me of the need to establish individual state child labor laws in the absence of adequate federal legislation. I realize that employment law is not your field of legal practice, but before you dismiss the concept of workplace bullying I'd ask you to consider a bit more.

Certainly HR professionals deal with the results of workplace bullying every day, and law suits have been won. This is just the tip of the iceberg though. There is also research going on internationally into the negative impacts of workplace bullying. Quite aside from the effects on the "targets," it negatively affects productivity and increases staff turnover.

So as not to go completely off-topic. Amy could (allegedly) be a good example of a workplace bully. So could Kate (allegedly). Massive staff turnover, public verbal abuse of staff, stealing of tips . . .

ABC's wait staff are adults, but their only recourse is to leave. Now consider this hypothetical: A person who has built up 10 years seniority at a company with excellent performance reviews. A supervisor is hired in over him. The new supervisor bullies him (impossible workload, poor performance evaluations, and verbal abuse). The employee either quits with a poor reference, or takes it to higher levels and is labeled a trouble maker.

Sorry to ramble on. We can agree to disagree but I wanted to get another point of view on the record about the bullying of adults in the workplace.


Tucker's Mom said...

If anything she holds the power!
****
Agree with your whole post @35. Adult workers have HR departments, labor laws and a host of options for recourse. Of course not all companies or those in power do the right thing, but most times, they do.
Children do not have power, whether in school or in their neighborhood or at camp.
Adults also should have restraint, insight and maturity and when you see the people who cry "bullies!", by and large, they are the worst offenders.
Both Amy and Kate have shown very ugly sides, very publicly. They've both gone through employees like unnawears. Both have treated people like peons and think they are chosen by God.

rainbowsandunicorns said...

Apparently Goody doesn't understand what a twitterbot does because the sheeple claim that all of Kate's followers, tweeters, are legit. Perhaps someone should explain that you can BUY retweeters. But of course Kate never does this!

-----
-----

Good gosh but they are stupid!

stashcache
@msgoody2shoes21 @FireyTopaz1 @Kateplusmy8 I don't think for one minute that Kate is wasting money on bought bots. Haters made this up!

msgoody2shoes21
@FireyTopaz1 @Kateplusmy8 Why the heck would anybody buy a retweet bot to inundate their TL that effectively *buries* legitimate tweets?

msgoody2shoes21
@FireyTopaz1 @Kateplusmy8 Somebody is pranking Kate & @bullyville. Not nice.

msgoody2shoes21
@FireyTopaz1 @Kateplusmy8 What fact? Hater fact? Did Kate tell you? Do you have receipts? Did trash man tell you? Jon? WE'LL NEVER AGREE

stashcache
@msgoody2shoes21 @FireyTopaz1 @Kateplusmy8 Made up because they refuse to believe that she has FANS and FOLLOWERS. She does!

my_3bcollies
@stashcache @msgoody2shoes21 @FireyTopaz1 @Kateplusmy8 Bullies spend all their time spreading lies & twisting the truth. They're THAT bored

Do they really believe that hundreds of fans and followers showed up all at one time, got together on the internet and planned to "prank" Kate, all saying the same thing, with OLD news from the beginning of April -- all to support her about bullying? Shaking my head here...

Tucker's Mom said...

Heartwarming stories for all the 4-legged creature lovers here-- Tornado survivor, Barbara Garcia, was giving an interview, standing amongst the unidentifiable rubble of her leveled home, talking about her losses, including her beloved dog, when the interviewer saw movement underneath some siding, and it was her dog!
They removed some debris, and there the little black schnauzer was, somehow not crushed in a tiny, tiny space. He looked a bit dazed, but walked away unharmed.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/05/21/moore_tornado_found_dog_barbara_garcia_tornado_survior_finds_dog_toto_in.html

Grab a tissue...

Marie said...

I have nothing really to say about Amy or Kate, but wanted to share another cooking website for those of you who like just plain cooking. I get so many recipes from this site and every one I have tried has been great. Anyway, here is the site: www.thecountrycook.net. Enjoy!

Marie

rainbowsandunicorns said...

Respectfully, I still disagree with you quite vehemently about bullying of adults in the workplace. In many workplaces there is a huge imbalance of power and bullying occurs.

-----
-----

Where does one draw the line between bullying and harassment? Are the terms interchangeable, or is harassment just a lesser form of bullying?

PatK said...

miloandjack

@stashcache @Kateplusmy8 I can state definitely that Kate would #NevahEvahEvenThink abt buying twitter bots! Kids R her priority! :)

&&&&&&&&

And there you have it, folks. Straight from the horse's butt...err...mouth!

rainbowsandunicorns said...

And here comes Milo...

miloandjack
@stashcache @Kateplusmy8 I can state definitely that Kate would #NevahEvahEvenThink abt buying twitter bots! Kids R her priority! :)

Just like Kate would NevahEvahEvenThink about buying new boobs? Yeah, right. What does buying followers have to do with kids being her priority? Kate was busy contacting BV to out the haters and take them down. Didn't all her busywork to BV interfere with making kids her priority? I guess not, since her tweets during that fiasco were screengrabbed. She certainly had time to seek revenge on the "haters" with the help of BV. Is she making the kids a priority by allegedly filing a lawsuit against their father? Are the kids a priority when she bashes Jon and throws him under the bus?

Sheeple remind me of Orwell's Animal Farm. All sheeple are created dumb, but some are more dumb than others.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

My concern with carving out some kind of adult bullying thing instead of just leaving it to HR and legal definitions of harassment, is that people like Amy will abuse and misuse it to their own benefit and cry bullying to justify their own bad behavior. To a certain extent adults need to be free to criticize other adults as long as it does not cross the line into harassment. People like Amy should not be able to weasel their way through life hiding behind such statutes. If an HR department cannot handle a situation so bad as to be called legitimate bullying your problem really is with HR. TF you give us some great food for thought and discussion, thank you. As far as my state goes I can't think of a scenerio in which you are being bullied that is not adequately covered by restraining orders. Must not stalk, harass, intimidate, threaten, etc.

jh23 said...

TFGOT,

i couldn't agree more. it happened to me and negatively impacted my life forever.

Blowing In The Wind said...

@stashcache @Kateplusmy8 I can state definitely that Kate would #NevahEvahEvenThink abt buying twitter bots! Kids R her priority! :)

&&&&&&&&

And there you have it, folks. Straight from the horse's butt...err...mouth!

------------------------------

I doubt if Milo even knows that RTs can be purchased. How does she explain that Kate's tweets per hour go from 3 to several hundred in a matter of minutes when, for the last few days, she's been averaging less than 10 tweets per hour? I'd love to hear her explanation for this, especially if she reads those RTs and sees that those bots say the exact same thing and all they do is RT.

Come on, Milo, explain this, and don't blame it on the haters. Why would haters spend their money giving Kate more tweets on her timeline? Kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

Lord, what fools these sheeple be!

Millicent said...

So as not to go completely off-topic. Amy could (allegedly) be a good example of a workplace bully. So could Kate (allegedly). Massive staff turnover, public verbal abuse of staff, stealing of tips . . .
*******
At least one of these things is illegal - and if I were one of the former employees of Amy's Baking Company, I would have already sicced the Labor Dept. on them for stealing tips.

As to verbal abuse - it's not illegal, per se. However, if it crosses certain boundaries, it can be considered discrimination and/or harassment. If I were being verbally abused by a supervisor or employer, I think I would speak to an attorney who specializes in labor law, to see if my employer has crossed the line from mere verbal abuse into something illegal.

As to creating widespread workplace bullying laws - I think we run the risk of becoming even more of a nanny state. I've seen first hand the general worthlessness of "zero tolerance" policies within the public school system. Sounds good in theory - but in practice it's absolute crap. I would hate to see this junk spread to the general workplace. Schools don't even try to get both sides of the story now - if a kid is involved in an altercation with another kid - both get in trouble. Is that fair? No it is not! Does it stop bullying? No it does not. It's a terrible way to approach the problem.

So that's my 2 cents on why I don't want to see something similar instituted across the country in work places. Imagine the red tape; imagine if you were being verbally abused, both you and the abuser get fired. How does that help you? Your employer says, 'sorry, but we have a zero tolerance policy for bullying and you were involved in a bullying episode. Here's your pink slip."

Millicent said...

Tucker's Mom said... 32

Is Kate living in a hole or somehow unable to tweet about the tornado? She must be traveling with Steve.
******
I wouldn't be surprised to find out Kate has been home all along and is simply unaware of the OK tornado. After all, it has nothing to do with her gr8 life.

Somewhere In Time said...

According to MIlo, Kate would never ever buy bots? I guess, then, Kate would never ever grift. There's no time. Kids are her priorities. All of those @'s to the companies are just praises for something she loves. Right, Milo? She would never ever accept freebies. She has too much pride for that -- she supports the kids all on her own.

Milo is so far up Kate's butt that she's looking out of Kate's eyes, breathing through her nose, and speaking through Kate's mouth. The only way to extract her is a visit to an eye, ear, nose and throat physician.

At least she's not falling down on the job...still trying to sell those cookbooks.

miloandjack
@Kateplusmy8 Eternal question we keep asking...What 2make 4dinner 2nite?? Solution>> Pre-Order #LoveIsInTheMix! at www.kateplumy8 Gr8 ideas!

lukebandit said...

Didn't think that kate had a twin out there somewhere, but does she ever! lol

That picture of Amy looking horrified is kate 100 percent. I wonder how many times those poor kids have seen something like that since they were born!

So sick about the OK tornadoes. The children, teachers, volunteers, rescuers, animals, adults, I pray for them for strength and peace and faith beyond comprehension in Jesus's Holy Name.



Somewhere In Time said...

Those eyes are scary, even demonic. Isn't there a photo somewhere of Kate, with the same expression and same eyes?

I wouldn't eat anything that Amy opened from a can, let alone something she prepared in the kitchen from scratch. I wonder if she was up all night baking her famous cakes and preparing her homemade lasagna. She must be a very tired chef by now. I guess Samy gave her a hand, or maybe even a finger.

Improbable Dreams said...

Maybe she IS going to be on DWTS tonight, who knows? Worth a reprise of this video, which might also remind you of her doppelganger, Amy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcIasVO6l4

Children First said...

Some tweets are really funny...

bieber318
@Kateplusmy8 It would mean the world to me if you retweet me . I love you & the kidding so much !

bieber318
@Kateplusmy8 I love you . and mady cara alexis Hannah adian collion leah and joelll!

Adian and Collion? She loves the kidding so much? I don't think that Kate loves the kidding so much!

bieber318
@Kateplusmy8 omg I am a HUGE fan . Ive been watching your show since the first to the last & I still watch it. I have been to your house

Now that's kind of scary!

lukebandit said...

Read on ROL that Kim K is getting slammed for tweeting about bronzer during the OK tornadoes. I went to her time line to see what was going on and she hasn't even mentioned anything about the tornadoes.

She has tweeted that they just launched their Kardashian Kollection, she won an award for her new perfume, a letter that Klohe wrote her, her pregnancy lips are out of control, whatever that means and posted a picture of her and a guy in a wow pose, look like they are together, and it was not Kanye.

Oh, and she is in Paris and just posted a picture of the Eiffel Tower at midnight about 38 seconds ago!

What a role model!

Tucker's Mom said...

Radar posted parts of an interview that Brad Pitt recently did. Of course, Brad has many kids with Angelina, and he is also one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. But, his sentiments about being away from his family differ greatly from Kate.

"“I always thought that if I wanted to do a family, I wanted to do it big. I wanted there to be chaos in the house… there’s constant chatter in our house, whether it’s giggling or screaming or crying or banging,” he exclaimed.

“I love it. I love it. I love it. I hate it when they’re gone. I hate it. Maybe it’s nice to be in a hotel room for a day – ‘Oh, nice, I can finally read a paper.’ But then, by the next day, I miss that cacophony, all that life.”"

Compare to Kate, who WANTS to be away from her kids 50% of the time, to love them from afar, who actively pursues opportunities that will take her away from home, as opposed to finding a FT job near home (claiming all the while that somehow, inexplicably, being away 50% of the time will allow her to spend MORE time with her kids, whatever fuzzy math it takes to balance that equation)

silimom said...

Regarding bullying laws: I think, honestly, that there are already adequate laws in place that just need to be enforced more. There's a tendency in our society to see a social problem, which this is, and in an effort to address the problem we go to one extreme or the other, rather than seeing what's already in place and what we can do to improve on that foundation.

Somewhere In Time said...

The sheeple don't understand that there is a difference between followers and Twitterbots, or purchasing RTs. They believe that if someone has legit followers, that means that the tweets are legit, also...never considering that tweeters and retweeters can be bought.

msgoody2shoes21
According 2 @Socialbakers these are @Kateplusmy8 Twitter follower statistics - 14% fake, 11% inactive & 75% good.

Or they really do know the difference between followers and bots, and they are doing what they do best, which is to deflect.

Tucker's Mom said...

I can't imagine camping out on someone's Twitter timeline just hoping for a a tiny little nugget to be thrown my way. To sit there all day, just waiting for a response to the hundreds of tweets I've sent to get a "granule" of attention, for some semblance of validation.
It's like a love sick teenager girl waiting by the phone all day, just in case a boy calls, because you can't imagine missing that opportunity.

TFGOT said...

I agree workplace bullying has to be carefully defined. Better minds than mine are working on the subject. I'll also state that existing harassment legislation doesn't even begin to cover the problem. That is why states are considering new legislation, and why researchers are working overtime on the issue. Careful definitions are important.

I guess if you haven't seen it you can't recognize it. I have worked in a toxic environment and my husband works in HR. We've seen a lot. I have given references (peer, indirect report, and just people that I have seen bullied mercilessly) on several occasions. My husband, the HR professional, wants anti-bullying laws in place.

"Stalk, harass, intimidate, threaten" doesn't cover it. Good, experienced, bullies use other tactics.

How about "shunning." Refusing to interact with a colleague or subordinate. The experienced bully can infect others and make a "target's" work life unbearable. How about refusing to give relevant information necessary to perform the job. I've seen that. Verbal abuse and denigration are hallmarks of a bully. It doesn't always reach the harassment threshold but is still destructive.

There is no magic age at which a juvenile bully quits bullying. There is also no magic age at which a person becomes immune, or empowered enough, to withstand the effects of bullying.

Power imbalances exist at all stages of life, as does bad behavior.

You can verbally abuse someone without crossing the threshold for harassment of a "protected class."

This will probably be my final post here on the subject of workplace bullying. You can lead horses to water, etc. Honestly, Admin, please do look into this issue a little further.

I actually like this site, but I'm a little disappointed right now. It is OK. We can agree to disagree, I'm just disappointed in you.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

TF, I thought we were having a good discussion until you said you're disappointed in me. Come on. Just because myself and many others don't believe there should be bullying laws for grown adults?? I think HR should handle shunning, denigration and refusing to give information and that they should be sued if they can't handle that. I am with Millicent, Sillimom and those who say this has become a nanny state. We don't need a law because someone's coworker has decided they don't like them. Go to HR that's what they are there for and trained for. We are adults and that is the point. Adults who can put on our big girl and boy pants and confront our problems like mature grown ups. And so maybe someone still doesn't like you. That's life. Millions of people manage to go to work every day and either confront those they have conflicts with or suck it up and ignore it. The laws proposed are going to be abused by people like Amy and I find that frightening.

I HATE when adults cry bully and I doubt thats going to change.

But, I don't think anyone disagrees that some people have a hard time at work. We simply disagree with how to handle it. That's okay!

Improbable Dreams said...

TFGOT, as someone who's researched (and reported on) this subject at great length, I want to compliment you on your measured tone and respectful arguments.

It's perhaps more difficult to acknowledge something's existence if you've never witnessed it for yourself, but workplace bullying DOES exist as a well-documented phenomenon. It's different, perhaps, than childhood bullying, but it manifests itself in many dangerous forms. I'm not here to convince anyone of that, but I just wanted to let you know that I hear you, and I echo your suggestion that doubters might want to tap into the anecdotal and research-based evidence that's out there.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Improbable like I said I don't think anyone is denying incidents happen but a great many people object to the term bullying when it comes to adults.

Frankly, how to define something is very subjective. You cant really prove that with research. The incidents themselves that no one disputes happen is not as subjective. I believe harassment firmly covers all such incidents, others don't. I find harassment to be a much stronger more encompassing word anyway.

The reason I don't like calling it bullying is because people like Amy hide behind it, it is misused and poorly defined, and, it takes something away from children who are bullied. It also conjures up silly images of a pimple faced bully calling you stupid. Frankly, I think the word bullying actually cheapens what is happening. The examples given are much more than just a school yard spat. On another note I never believed in the notion that you can't understand something unless you've been through it. Sometimes that sounds patronizing.

chefsummer #Leh said...

miloandjack

@stashcache @Kateplusmy8 I can state definitely that Kate would #NevahEvahEvenThink abt buying twitter bots! Kids R her priority! :)
________

What does raising kids have to do with buying twitter bots????

Anonymous said...

Why wouldn't everything you say be covered under intimidation, TFGOT??? Harassment doesn't have to be a direct threat. I also don't want to live in a Nanny state no thank you!!!!

Fleecing The Sheeple said...

I can't imagine camping out on someone's Twitter timeline just hoping for a a tiny little nugget to be thrown my way. To sit there all day, just waiting for a response to the hundreds of tweets I've sent to get a "granule" of attention, for some semblance of validation.\

===================

I think Milo would want more than just a tiny little nugget thrown her way. She's hoping for Kate to throw herself Milo's way! At least she's doing her job, though...she's tweeted the "buy a cookbook" thing twice within the past two hours. I wonder if there's a quota of plugging the book that she has to fill per day.

MiloandJack
@jman6466 @msgoody2shoes21 @Kateplusmy8 HaHa...well, I am REAL too! We R the #DieHardNevahGonnaLeaveHer supporters! Always here 4her! :)

Milo is real. A real what?

Whatever person told Milo about hashtags should be given a few lashes with a wet noodle!

chefsummer #Leh said...

bieber318
@Kateplusmy8 It would mean the world to me if you retweet me . I love you & the kidding so much !

bieber318
@Kateplusmy8 I love you . and mady cara alexis Hannah adian collion leah and joelll!

Adian and Collion? She loves the kidding so much? I don't think that Kate loves the kidding so much!
____

Such wonderful fans.

Anonymous said...

When did adults become such babies? It's embarrassing. I'm retired so I can offer to hold your hand and walk you to your human resources representative. I'm in Indiana!

Gilly said...

If u live in a place called tornado alley wouldn't making a basement be the first thing you would do when you have a house?

Anonymous said...

Forgive my anonymous just this once. But I'm a firm believer in asking yourself gee whiz why don't people like me? Is that why I'm being bullied, because maybe I'm annoying or something? Am I doing something that is disruptive to others or hurting others? Do I just plain suck at my job? Am I a bully who can dish it out but can't take it? Bullying doesn't always come out of thin air, look at Kate. OP said usually people crying bully are bullies themselves! So true!

Tucker's Mom said...

Gilly said... 74
If u live in a place called tornado alley wouldn't making a basement be the first thing you would do when you have a house?
May 21, 2013 at 4:19 PM
*****
The short and simple answer is "yes", but alas, it's not so short and simple.
It sounds like basements are not the norm-- nowhere near the norm. Basements can be difficult to built, depending on the soil, and they add cost to building houses.
One woman on TV today said that her storm cellar was the best $2K she'd ever spent and I thought that was a very fair price for life. But, I could build one without blinking an eye, while others aren't in my financial position.
Plus, people just "whistle past the graveyard" and think if they pretend it's just not going to happen, it wont.
I hope that when they rebuilt, that there are rules and laws that each dwelling MUST have a storm cellar, and I'd go for Federal funding to assist in that initiative.
The school that was taken by the tornado and killed the children was over 50 years old. Newer technology in building and building materials could have saved those kids.

Kokomo, Cocktails And Dreams said...

When did adults become such babies? It's embarrassing. I'm retired so I can offer to hold your hand and walk you to your human resources representative. I'm in Indiana!

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

The last thing we need is to make the work place a nanny state. If HR can't handle a problem among adults, then it's time for the HR person to find another department in which to work. I don't envy someone in that position...dealing with problems on a daily basis has to take its toll, but if it's your job, then you do your job.

My parents owned a large company for more than 50 years. There was no HR department. I doubt if they even knew what that was. My mother was the "HR" person. Of course there were disagreements and problems among the many employees. Not everything is sunshine and roses in a place of business. She handled it. Employees loved and respected her, but knew that when it came to problems and decisions to be made, the buck stopped there.

"On another note I never believed in the notion that you can't understand something unless you've been through it. Sometimes that sounds patronizing."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

I totally agree. Of course experience, and walking in another person's shoes is undeniably a great learning experience, but one certainly can understand a situation even if you've never been through it. To say that you can't is very condescending. I've never experienced a plane crash (thank goodness) but that doesn't mean I can't understand the horror, fear and widespread panic that takes place among passengers who have been told to prepare for an emergency landing.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said...

silimom said... 62
Regarding bullying laws: I think, honestly, that there are already adequate laws in place that just need to be enforced more. There's a tendency in our society to see a social problem, which this is, and in an effort to address the problem we go to one extreme or the other, rather than seeing what's already in place and what we can do to improve on that foundation.
__________

I wholeheartedly agree!

Unknown said...

Gilly said... 74
''If u live in a place called tornado alley wouldn't making a basement be the first thing you would do when you have a house?''
~~~~~~~~~
I live in Fort Worth, Texas, which is in tornado alley. In order to have a basement, you would have to dynamite a LOT in order to get a hole large enough to have a basement. It would be very expensive.

My oldest lived on a ranch, and went on vacation. When they returned, they found a dead (for many days) cow and calf in their pool. After they got the mess cleaned up, she got a shelter, put it in the pool and covered it all up with dirt. It still was expensive.

I think for a small tornado shelter built inside your house it is a few thousand dollars added to the cost of a house when building. I believe it is more expensive to add one to an existing house.

If anyone has different information, please correct me.

People who live in Tornado Alley learn as toddlers what and where ''the tornado closet'' is. My granddaughter and I played ''tornado closet'', and she would grab her ''tornado purse''...with her small toys and tornado flashlight in it, and off we'd go. We'd sit in the dark and eat cookies, drink water and shine her flashlight. When we had actual tornado warnings, she wasn't scared in the least. I keep mine stocked year round. When the tornado is near, I grab my purse, car keys and my bag of meds on the way to the closet. Two minutes tops!

Kids in school have drills. Everyone knows what to do without being told.

Any other Tornado Alley people want to weigh in?

Improbable Dreams said...

Admin~I'm sorry if my comment came across as patronizing in any way. Good-hearted and well-meaning people can and do have disagreements. I was just weighing in with my opinion, same as anybody. Right or wrong, I'm willing to own it. :)

Peace.

TFGOT said...

Thanks Improbable Dreams. Thank goodness there is someone else here that "gets" what I'm trying (quite badly) to say. :-)

Admin, we ARE having a civil discussion. I do reserve the right to say that I am a little disappointed in your take on this. I did say "probably" my last post on the subject. So I'm trying again because I have previously respected your judgment on many things. I'm surprised and, yes, a little disappointed, that you don't seem to be "getting" me on this one.

It may just be a matter of semantics, but I don't quite think so. "Bullying" is "bullying." Present legislation doesn't quite cover the phenomenon.

I'm definitely open to discussing this more, if you want and are open to it. I'm not the bad guy here. I just saw some judgments that I didn't like and wanted to put my 3 cents in.

Peace and goodwill. And, yes, we can agree to disagree. :-)



Kate is a slag said...

Gilly: I live in Texas. I don't know of a single home that has a basement. Want to know why?

Because the ground shifts too much here. We HAVE to build our homes on a concrete slab foundation, and even that sometimes cracks.

We could put an underground storm shelter in our backyard, but that's $8000-10,000. Can't afford it.

It would cost $1.4 million on average PER SCHOOL for schools to put in storm shelters.

Your question might have been innocent, but it really struck a nerve with me. I live outside of Dallas and when tornadoes roll through, we get into an interior closet and pray we don't die.

Why don't we have a basement, INDEED.

Kate is a slag said...

Just to add: if my daughter's high school (built in 1971, no basement) were to build an underground storm shelter, it would have to be able to hold approximately 3,000 students plus faculty and other personnel. Good luck paying for that.

We choose to live here. We know the risks. Every place has unique problems. We just learn growing up: most interior room, duck and cover, hold tight, first aid kits, pray to God it passes you by.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said...

Fired Up 4 Kate ‏@MiloandJack 21m
@RealZiggyFlo @Kateplusmy8 What's obvious is haters follow every move/tweet/breath Kate takes! And they can't stop tweeting abt her!
----------------

It's weird how Milo doesn't see herself doing all that. The haters have about disappeared.

rainbowsandunicorns said...

People who live in Tornado Alley learn as toddlers what and where ''the tornado closet'' is. My granddaughter and I played ''tornado closet'', and she would grab her ''tornado purse''...with her small toys and tornado flashlight in it, and off we'd go.

-----
-----

From what I am watching on the news, for many, a tornado closet wouldn't have done much good in yesterday's storm. The only place to be safe would have been in an underground shelter. With the total destruction of those homes, it's amazing that so many people did get out alive.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

TFGOT I don't have a problem with anything you say except that you are disappointed in me. It's out of line. Reasonable people here disagree with you. Millicent, Tucker and Sillimom are always incredibly reasonable, but they disagree with you at least in part. It doesn't mean any of us don't get what you are saying. I get what you are saying, but my philosophy has always been we should try to fix something with less laws or existing laws and mechanisms. I did once witness something pretty bad that happened to my friend, also an attorney. It involved some inappropriate texts that were either bullying or harassment, whichever term you prefer. She was a big girl, was brave and reported it. I also witnessed HR handle it quite well. The offender was put on a six month suspension and never bothered her again, and she says her workplace is just fine now and she was very happy with how it was handled. I don't see how a law would have improved the situation. HR handled it because she used existing mechanisms that do work, as I think Tucker said, most of the time. But you have to make use of them. And therein lies the difference, grown adults usually have the maturity to problem solve so much better than children. They can say, okay, I just got some nasty texts and work will be awkward now, I understand that this could be a problem HR could solve for me, here is my phone, I'm going to call Janice down there right now and let her know what's going on and set up a meeting. A child, conversely, cannot think that rationally yet and would probably let this go on and on before anything was ever discovered or done about it. I do not have much sympathy for a grown adult upset over some "bullying" texts if they haven't gone to HR and tried to deal with it properly. We've got to take control of our own situations, and piling on a bunch of laws from outside forces threatens that.

You know it's funny even as a lawyer I always tell people, look, the more you can work out yourselves without involving the law, the better. If the law had to get involved in that situation, it probably wouldn't have even been resolved at this point. Sometimes we can problem solve and trouble shoot all on her own to good results.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Out here no one has basements either, I assume similar reasons, topography. But where I grew up we had a huge basement and everyone did but that's because they were easy as pie to dig up. Everyone uses their garages like basements here which has always been so weird to me because I thought garages were for cars lol.

I agree there are risks anywhere you live. You do what you can within reason and leave the rest to God or if you like, chance! Most of America simply cannot afford the kind of bomb shelter-like protection we would need to protect ourselves from most acts of mother nature. And even if they did, in five or ten years it needs a new repair. It would be very hard to keep up. I can see that even becoming something dangerous, in heavily populated areas you might have neighbors banging down your bunker door trying to get in. People could get hurt.

Unknown said...

rainbowsandunicorns said... 8
''..The only place to be safe would have been in an underground shelter. With the total destruction of those homes, it's amazing that so many people did get out alive''
~~~
You are correct, in an F5 tornado, the only safe place to be is underground. I'd say that most of those that survived did so by being in a tornado closet or a bathtub. My bathroom has two exterior walls, so that isn't a choice for me.

Walk On The Wild Side said...

sweetishgurl
@Kateplusmy8 how many books have u wrote about cooking? I must buy it I love your meal ideas

Not only does she ask how many books Kate has wrote (sic) and loves her meal ideas, but the poor soul thinks she's having a conversation with Jon:

sweetishgurl
@jongosselin add me plz :) no questions asked jus love u as a dad n a person ...thnks

Sometimes you just don't know whether to smile at the sheeple, or to really feel sorry for them!

I was a target of workplace bullying said...

I don't know if Amy is being bullied or not.

To me, harrassment is based on sex, creed, religion, etc. Bullying is all those playground things: exclusion, tee heeing behind hands, eye rolling when you say something , demanding things you can not possibly give, or setting you up to fail.

I was bullied at work. It felt like I was back in school. The people even used facebook to make comments regarding it. They never used my name but the comments were so specific to my situation, I knew it was directed at me.

They felt threatened by my presence. I took a stand and it escalated. I turned to management. An internal investigation occurred and although not fired, consequences and expectations were put into place.

I am amazed at the changes they made. It took months before they got over licking their wounds and we were able to get back to working together, and now it's really good. Will we be friends outside of work, no, but today, work is no longer toxic.

Bullying and harrassment are 2 different things. Sometimes the lines are blurry. After my experience, I often wondered if the adults ( remember Postal workers who shot many people in a few different events) had been bullied and were taking revenge. Similar to what we now see occuring in our highschools.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Target, good to hear another example of HR handling the situation. Kudos to you for going to them for help and kudos to them for solving it. How awful.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I don't know if Amy is being bullied or not.


&&&

I think we can settle this one. She's NOT. :)

I was a target of workplace bullying said...

Defining Workplace Violence and Harassment

by OWJN, May 2008


Q. What is workplace violence or harassment?

A. Workplace harassment is when someone harasses you while you are doing your job, or on your way to or from work. Harassment is not a joke. It is cruel and destructive behaviour that can have devastating effects.

Harassment is any unwelcome action by any person, in particular, by management, customer, client, or co-worker, which humiliates, insults, or degrades. “Unwelcome” or “unwanted” in this context means any action that the harasser knows or ought reasonably to know is not desired.

Harassment is an expression of perceived power and superiority by the harasser(s) over another person, usually for reasons that the victim has little or no control over, including sex, race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, place of national origin or immigration status. People can harass other people on the basis of more than one aspect of their identity. For example, a man harassing a woman of colour may use language that insults her both as a woman and as a person of colour.

Workplace violence, as defined by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, includes any act of physical, verbal, or sexual abuse; harassment (including sexual harassment); threats; intimidation; and anything that offends or humiliates that is the result of a person’s employment. Workplace violence is further defined by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety as:

*
Threatening Behaviour: including shaking fists, destroying property, or throwing objects
*
Verbal or Written Threats: any expression of intent to inflict harm
*
Harassment: any behaviour that demeans, embarrasses, humiliates, annoys, alarms, or verbally abuses a person and that is known or would be expected to be unwelcome. This includes words, gestures, intimidation, and bullying.
*
Verbal Abuse: including swearing, insulting or condescending language
*
Physical Attacks: including hitting, shoving, punching or kicking

Workplace violence can also include: spreading rumours, pranks, arguments, property damage, vandalism, sabotage, pushing, theft, psychological trauma, anger-related incidents, rape, arson, and murder.
Q. What is workplace bullying?

A. Bullying is a form of harassment and a form of violence in the workplace. Bullying can be based on the grounds set out in the Human Rights Code, or it can be a form of psychological or personal harassment apart from the grounds set out in the Human Rights Code. Bullying can include humiliation or intimidation. Bullying can be cruel and aggressive. A bully may constantly criticise. A bully may incite fear through their behaviour.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

A. Bullying is a form of harassment.

&&&

Agree. All these behaviors fall under the intimidation aspect of harassment. So why hijack the word from children?

Tucker's Mom said...

I was a target of workplace bullying said... 86
******
Great example of using the system to help yourself. I have to say that I'm amazed at the excellent result for both sides. Usually, someone is fired or just says, "fuck it, it's not worth it", and moves on.
I was in a situation where it was like high school, with the female managers forming a mean girls clique. As Heidi Klum says, "One day yo' in, and the next day, 'yo out". And I was out! No idea why.
I really wish I had turned to HR for help in handling what turned into harassment.
It just turned out to be one of the reasons I moved on and it all turned out to be the best thing I could have done. I'm very happy I did, but miss working there many days, because it was so damn stimulating and rewarding on many levels.

Walk On The Wild Side said...

truth_teller201
@msgoody2shoes21 @Kateplusmy8 Hmm, just because you don't tweet doesn't necessarily mean it's fake. Maybe they just like reading tweets!

my_3bcollies
@Truth_Teller201 @RealZiggyFlo @msgoody2shoes21 @Kateplusmy8 I totally agree, many & mean MANY use Twitter just to read tweets & never tweet

Then why have a Twitter account or follow Kate? If all you are going to do is read the tweets, you just need to go to Twazzup, TwitQ, or her tweet page!

Kate is now down to 8 tph. Time for the twitterbots to come out of hiding! Where is Kate? Doesn't Milo know, or hint that she knows?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


It's weird how Milo doesn't see herself doing all that. The haters have about disappeared.

&&&

Poor MIlo. Not really. Kate hasn't tweeted in over two days. We've been having interesting discussions about recipes, the awful tornados, and Amy and Samy. And Milo!! lol.

If Kate goes away, there is nothing really to be said, and these two days prove it. Other than folks said, eh, Kate's probably doing something VIP with Steve.

Kate is a slag said...

Anyone who thinks I should have an underground storm shelter, I agree. Anyone who is willing to pay for it, I have PayPal. I can hook you up.

(I'm finding this line of comments insensitive, but I think it's because I'm upset. I have dear friends who work and live right near the elementary school that was destroyed. They are ok, but they can't find their mother/mother-in-law or their pets. They didn't have a basement or a storm shelter, much the pity, HUH?)

Tucker's Mom said...

Agree. All these behaviors fall under the intimidation aspect of harassment. So why hijack the word from children?
*****
That's my thought too. As adults, can't we use our big words? What's next, calling bullies "meanies"?
I don't say this to dismiss being treated unfairly. I believe as adults, we can describe behaviors more specifically and express what we are experiencing far better than children.

Kate is a slag said...

My first comments to Gilly, the ones you're responding to, admin, were never published.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

From what I've heard sometimes you need only put an employee in their place once to get it to stop. Most people who have gotten to the point where they can hold a steady job, have a healthy respect for authority.

I remember 20/20 said something about how there was some guy who was raiding their fridge stealing stuff (ugggh WHAT?!!) All they did was put a fake camera up and he stopped cold turkey. Problem solved. Sometimes it's just that simple.

Tucker's Mom said...

OK, DWTS is starting here, and I'm on Kate watch in the audience.
Do you want to know if she's there/ spoiler??
(of course I will say nothing else!)

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Agree Tucker. And we need to not use words that are far too easy for the bullies themselves to hijack to justify anything they do. Like Amy did. It's like some nasty people walk around fingers in their ears bully bully bully!!! But no one does that with harassment or sexual harassment because they are real legal words that people are much less reluctant to throw around unless their complaints are legit.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said...

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 94

It's weird how Milo doesn't see herself doing all that. The haters have about disappeared.

&&&

Poor MIlo. Not really. Kate hasn't tweeted in over two days. We've been having interesting discussions about recipes, the awful tornados, and Amy and Samy. And Milo!! lol.

If Kate goes away, there is nothing really to be said, and these two days prove it. Other than folks said, eh, Kate's probably doing something VIP with Steve
-----------

ADMIN, the above seems to be a reply to my comment, however my comment never showed up.

I was a target of workplace bullying said...

I think the words are very interchangeable, and most policies are called Work place Harassment. Where I work, we have a Workplace Harassment Policy. I believe my co-workers were "cited" under the "Conduct" portion of our policies.

Bottom line is: Everyone has a responsibility to tell the offender to stop. If they do not, they have crossed the line.

I was a target for a period of time. I tried ignoring it but it was getting to me. I tried telling the person I wasn't okay with it. I then became aware that my predessors had suffered extreme burnout/breakdowns from this job, and rumor was, my position was often targeted for abuse from this person. So obviously, the people before me, did not feel they could step up to management for help.

Then one day, it crossed a line. The other person blew up at me, and then refused to speak with me to work the issue out. A co-worker said " that's not okay, you know that right?" That was the validation I needed to have to truly know that it wasn't just me being all thin skinned, sensitive and in my head!


It was hard. The very next day, I had tattler's remorse. I had to keep reassuring myself the persons were going to get the help and support they needed, which they ended up getting and are much better people for it.

I am not going to enter any discussion about whether more laws are needed or not.

I do want to say... even as an adult, do NOT be a bystander. If you see a co-worker being bullied or harassed, let them know they have your support, or at least validate it to them.

Not everyone is an extrovert or find it easy to speak up. Children targets become adult targets. Children bullies become adult bullies. Whatever term you want to use, it exists. We all need to work together to stop it.

A tactic of bullies, whether a child or an adult, is they will cry being bullied, when their target points a finger at them. I think this is what we are seeing in both Kate and this Amy!

So, HR people, be aware of the tactics that bullies will use when confronted.

I will now step off my soap box. Thanks for letting me tell my story.

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

Wow... the anger continues. While looking for any information on ABC's "re-opening" today, I discovered this website:

http://www.amybouzaglo.com/

Improbable Dreams said...

Tucker's Mom ~ Yes, please! About Kate only, down to the last detail. :)

Walk On The Wild Side said...

Apparently Goody doesn't understand what a twitterbot does because the sheeple claim that all of Kate's followers, tweeters, are legit. Perhaps someone should explain that you can BUY retweeters. But of course Kate never does this!

All she needs to do is to check them out and see that everything the bots do is retweet and that they always have some kind of photo (of themselves) as their avatar. Kate was down to four tweets per hour. She had to do something

&&&&

lanalanabobanna
i'm sort of twitter dumb..I don't c anything.what do i do to see.

Sigh. I guess if you can't see hundreds of retweets, all saying the same thing, one right after the other, you really do have a problem and it's more than just a case of being "twitter dumb."

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

More Amy crap...

Apparently she likes to use other people's photos, and call them her own.

Amy’s Baking Company Food Search:

http://www.wilmunder.com/ABC/Food_Photo_Match.html

Melissa NV said...

It's weird how Milo doesn't see herself doing all that. The haters have about disappeared.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

...and the fans have been on Kate's timeline, trying to stir up something -- anything -- but nobody's taking the bait.

Isn't it about time for another shout-out to buy her cookbook? Looking at you, Milo!! :-)

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Omg that's flat out Paula Deen's cake haha. She's pathological. Have any of these people sued for using their photography?

Any word how the reopening went?

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

Get a load of their YELP reviews:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/amys-baking-company-scottsdale

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Oh chef I thought the same thing what do bots have to do with raising children? LOL.

I like the poor sheeple's attempt at cookbook promotion that said something like stumped for dinner tonight, preorder Kate's cookbook! Now how does a cookbook you will receive in September help you with dinner TONIGHT?

The yelp reviews are funny. Someone said something like the mods at Yelp cannot delete them fast enough lol. Too, too funny.

Someone said this "A friend and I stopped in here a few weeks ago. We had a coffee and a pastry which were both remarkably mediocre. "

NOoooo not MEDIOCRE!!!!

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 101

Omg that's flat out Paula Deen's cake haha. She's pathological. Have any of these people sued for using their photography?

Any word how the reopening went?

************************************************

I haven't seen anything yet.

Not a peep.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Assuming some of the 5-21 reviews are from tonight, they are all 1 stars and people are saying they were rude and had long wait times. Sounds like they learned nothing.

A couple of people are giving them five stars but a terrible review. That's kind of funny I don't know why. Maybe because you know Amy will read those because she'll think yes see a five star review! Then it's terrible. LOL I so love the sense of humor of these folks.

Sherry Baby said...

Oh no -- Milo's being bullied!

miloandjack
@Truth_Teller201 @PuffOnly @RealZiggyFlo @msgoody2shoes21 @Kateplusmy8 Ditto on that. They harass/stalk/ridicule me just w/my twitter ID!

___________________
She's just like Kate, isn't she? There's absolutely no self-awareness. She doesn't see that she puts herself out there with her over-the-top obsession for Kate and then wonders why she's laughed at. I guess she thinks it's perfectly normal for someone to lust after a celebrity, be fascinated with body parts and rocking bikinis, and being worse than Gladys Kravitz ever was. Everyone peers in windows, names their dog after Kate, and demands to know what's for dinner and if the kids are in bed, and then has a melt-down if the celebrity goes a day without a personal tweet to them. Remember the "lets try this" tweet?

I'm not understanding "just w/my twitter ID." How else would anyone tweet her? Is her real name out there somewhere?

chefsummer #Leh said...

Kate Gosselin ‏@Kateplusmy8 2h
So.... I've been a bit busy... Have you noticed? I've been working, cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, working.... How are you all?

Kate Gosselin ‏@Kateplusmy8 2h
Omg! Was sitting here working and looked out the window and saw cloud of 'smoke' floating by.Went outside & realized IT WAS POLLEN! #achoo
_________

KK makes it to easy to snark on her.

Tweet-le De Tweet-le DUMB said...

Fired Up 4 Kate ‏@MiloandJack 4m
@Kateplusmy8 Well...I guess I just have 2give up 4the nite! No one seems 2see me & TL page is frozen w/tweets from an hr ago! :(
-------------

Twitter's messed up, Milo. Get a grip.

Sherry Baby said...

...and the fans have been on Kate's timeline, trying to stir up something -- anything -- but nobody's taking the bait.

There are a few non-fans who do take the bait, and I can't understand that if they have any smarts at all why they can't see that they are giving the sheeple exactly what they want, which is anything to keep Kate's twitter alive. They just can't seem to help themselves, and it's really too bad.

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 102

[excerpt]
I like the poor sheeple's attempt at cookbook promotion that said something like stumped for dinner tonight, preorder Kate's cookbook! Now how does a cookbook you will receive in September help you with dinner TONIGHT?

************************************************

Hah! They're hopeless, and lack logic.

Improbable Dreams said...

Well if Kate's tweeting, she's probably not invited to the DWTS finale. Again.

Over In Kate's County said...

OK, DWTS is starting here, and I'm on Kate watch in the audience.
Do you want to know if she's there/ spoiler??
(of course I will say nothing else!)

++++++++++++++++

I haven't seen hide nor hair of her. Maybe she and Tony are dancing later! :-) Her thousands and thousands of followers have demanded it!

Improbable Dreams said...

Someone on my FB feed just posted pictures of Amy's Bakery. I don't want to post that person's words verbatim, but she was a bystander & this is what she saw:
Lots of people loitering, taking photos. Security hired by Amy's & Mall cops kept crowds at a distance (est. 15 feet from Bakery).
Media crews kept at perimeter of property. Reservations only; dining area packed but patio empty.
Hired staff prescreened for whether or not they'd seen Kitchen Nightmares (viewed = no job).
Nearby Pita Jungle was packed.

Tucker's Mom said...

Kate's tweeting again.. laundry, cooking... not at DWTS.
Can not believe she ignored the tornado...

A Pink Straight Jacket For Kate said...

Apparently, Amy is fond of platitudes- just like the other pseudo blonde we know.

http://pinterest.com/amysbakingco/amy-s-baking/

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

LOL, nice to see Pita Jungle benefiting!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I'm not sure she even knows it happened. The extent of her media consumption appears to be restricted to Twitter, her web site, Real Housewives, and The Voice.

Improbable Dreams said...

This person is a local. Said that Pita Jungle is always packed, but Amy's is never busy.

OrangeCrusher1 said...

For those who have been more actively following the Amy Bakery Saga, I have a question. If Amy is not doing the baking, where are these baked goods coming from? And who is doing the cooking?

Sleepless In Seattle said...

MARIE ‏@MY_3BCOLLIES
@Kateplusmy8 Yes it's hard to believe anyone would be that obsessed with strangers

LOL!! Talking about Milo?

-------------------------------

truth_teller201
@Kateplusmy8 Kate knows they are sick &disgusting! That's why she blocks

If she thinks that the haters are sick and disgusting, then why did she call out the Bullyville troops to out them? Why couldn't she just block them...problem solved.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Orange, I'm not sure if I know where she's getting them from but I think food distribution is a pretty huge business. Think hospitals, schools, and cheaper restaurants. In high school when I worked for a catering place a couple summers that did weddings, they ordered quite a bit of baked goods and food fresh and frozen from different companies, one I distinctly remember called I think Sisco. We used to joke when someone would say send our compliments to the chef, sure we'll tell Mr. Sisco! I still see Sisco trucks now and again and always think of what a good time I had at my first ever real job.

Ooops....it's Sysco, found their web site! http://www.sysco.com

Ex Nurse said...

I looked into whether Washington state has any laws regarding bullying several months ago, because of a situation involving my daughter. This is their document regarding workplace bullying, which includes examples:

http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Files/Bullying.pdf

Although L&I has acknowledged the prevalence of the problem, it is not currently illegal. If it involves a protected minority, there is legal protection under anti-harassment legislation. 

For my daughter, it really helped her to see that the problem was real, and that she was, in fact, being subjected to the precise behaviors as defined by the state. She felt validated and was relieved that she was not crazy for feeling that way when she was being systematically undermined throughout the day. After I spoke with someone from the state, I worked with her on submitting a formal complaint against her co-worker, who was actually her assistant. Although she was theoretically his superior, the administration diminished the problem and told her that she needed to loosen up. Her written complaint never used the word bullying--it was on the basis of unprofessional conduct. My daughter had witnessed some harassing treatment by that person to another female employee, but didn't report it because that person was fearful of the consequences. This was a really bad guy, who, by the way, worked with pre-school children. 

Once she wrote a complaint, citing specifically dangerous, inappropriate and unprofessional behavior which violated the preschool's own policies,  he was removed from direct contact with children and he resigned within a few weeks. She also stated that the stress of working with him was affecting her health and other aspects of her life.

He made my daughter's life a living hell, so count me among those that think that referring to protective laws as overreaching or being a nanny state is completely offensive. If you have never had someone close to you affected by this, I can understand how easy it is to be flip about this problem. Bullies are masterful in avoiding detection by staying just under the radar, and most people do not have the tools or resources to even recognize, let alone address the problem. It is a huge problem, and I don't think that many people see Sammy and Amy as anything but bullies. Total strangers have started petitions and notified the IRS about the stolen tips. I haven't seen a single person defend them, other than some editorials and articles about the effects of social media on business. So, I don't understand the fear that anti-bullying will somehow work in their favor. In any case, since when do we refrain from passing protection laws because someone might exploit it?

OrangeCrusher1 said...

Thanks. I do know about Sysco, have a friend whose daughter works for them, manages the catering dept at Huntington Library and Gardens. I have never known a bakery to sell baked goods that way, oh sure, restaurants do often bring in desserts from off site, but to claim to be a bakery and not actually bake . . . Boggles my mind a bit.
As for the stolen web site pictures, does she actually sell items that look like the pictures? What a crazy mess.

Improbable Dreams said...

Ex Nurse, I'm sorry for all your daughter endured. You, too, as her advocate and ally. She was lucky to have you at her side. Your situation helps validate what some of us were saying: If you haven't witnessed and/or experienced it firsthand--or been involved with organized research projects--you can't know with a certainty about all the loopholes and exclusions in HR Policies and state laws. That's not to say that there aren't remedies available in some cases. But they aren't always sufficient to the day.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

If people are fearful to report it in the first place, then more bullying laws aren't going to help much. We need to do better at getting people to feel comfortable about reporting legitimate concerns. How do we know HR doesn't work just fine if we can't get people to report it in the first place? That's a false premise.

Piling on more laws doesn't address that issue. If anything it could make people feel even more overwhelmed and scared--good gosh now the behavior I'm scared to report already is ILLEGAL?? People are often scared by laws, but may be more comfortable having a direct, clear line of communication just with HR and not involve a law. People sometimes feel like once they take legal action, it's become this whole other beast that is frightening, and so they hide from doing anything. Laws get shot down all the time every day for various reasons, just one being that the law is too vague and could be misused, misinterpreted, or oppressive. There is a reason that adult bullying statutes are not getting passed and it's not because people don't care about bad behavior.

That document from Washington is FANTASTIC Ex nurse. It identifies the problem and explains every day solutions. I don't see why you need to confuse things with a law when you have guidance that clear and concise. What I like about that document is it distinguishes between normal, acceptable criticism versus specific examples of crossing the line.

I think the nanny state comments stem from concern that it could do more than just stop legitimate bad behavior (if it even does) .... the workplace environment needs to be a place free to exchange ideas, to praise, and even to criticize, all in the name of moving forward. When you tighten the reins too much, people get afraid to say or do anything that might be perceived as bullying, and ideas and progress could be stalled, and people who are legitimately not that great at their jobs might not be criticized or even let go because, well, we wouldn't want to bully. To me that's a scary thought. I don't believe in a lot of governmental interference with the great businesses that make up America.

Nanny state comments are not meant to offend. Some people find piling on of laws offensive. The NYC soda law is a good example. I don't think anyone thinks that those big gulp soda drinks are all that good for you, just like no one thinks that bullying is good for you. But that's not the issue. The issue is, how much regulation are we willing to tolerate in the name of stopping it?

Much like "bullying" there are many other things they could do besides a law to stop people from buying big gulps--more education, restaurants having a zero tolerance policy for refills or certain big sizes, reformulating the recipes to make them more water based and less sugar, things like that. There are many other solutions before resorting to a law that often is just more legal blah in the books that doesn't accomplish anything. The best solution is not always the law and just because someone rejects the idea of a law does not mean they do not care about the issue--another false premise.

Huh, interesting said...

Hmmm, interesting how everyone wanting more laws does admit that any time they went to their complaint department their employer handled it very well. Proud libertarian!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous this time. You have to wonder how our ancestors survived at all in the days before regulations for every little thing. I know! They handled their problems like grown ass men and women! Hey, libertarian here, too! Shout out!

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Orange, HUntington uses Sysco? Awesome!

I have been meaning to go there for years and years. I drive by it every time I go to my hair dresser. As Kate would say, it's on my to do list.

JoyinVirginia said...

Just finished watching Dancin With Them Thar Stars with my neighbor, we have fun watching that show. No spoilers! It was a very enjoyable show with all this seasons contestants returning. Nice to see Dorothy Hamill and Andy Dick especially. Very entertaining show, maybe we can discuss tomorrow to hear what everyone thinks.

fidosmommy said...

Robert Irwine, who is a chef and also has a Food Network show about revamping struggling restaurants, does ads for Sysco. He says he uses them in his restaurants. (I think his show is called "Restaurant Impossible")

OrangeCrusher1 said...

Smile for the to do list. You won't find Sysco mentioned on their web site, but that is what I was told. The Huntington is practically in our back yard, by a few miles.

I read on one of the Yelp reviews that Amy has baked goods shipped from China. How could they possibly be at all fresh if that is true? Yikes.

Kate who?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Orange, no I don't think you're supposed to say you are a bakery if you buy from a different company.

The catering company would say we were a catering company, and if anyone asked about food origin (some was cooked from scratch on site, some wasn't) the owner was honest and said our supplier is Sysco they are a well respected, excellent company that provides excellent quality ingredients and play a role in helping us keep our prices down and pass the savings on to you. The wedding cakes were always homemade by the manager's wife, they were beautiful. But, without hiring a bigger staff, no way would she have time to do all the other necessary baked goods.

This has made me reflect a lot on my time there. They were wonderful people and my experience was all positive. Despite most of the food being from sysco, we would all be pulling a two day shift of prep work before the wedding even began. So if a wedding was Saturday night, you'd come in Friday and work prep all day at least eight hours, then come in Saturday around 10am and prep all day. ALL that prep for a lot of sysco's food. I have no clue how a restaurant does it with all made from scratch but kudos to them.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Orange, reaching far, far back into my memory, but I'm pretty sure Sysco also supplied fresh ingredients too....fruits and veggies, huge bins of salads, uncooked meats, etc. In that case, I don't see anything unethical about saying it's all homemade right on site if you only used their fresh offerings. Which maybe the Huntington does, they are pretty high end. You COULD go through local organic farmers and farmers markets but then you'd have to jack up your prices. I don't think there is anything wrong with being a catering or restaurant place that makes a nice event possible for the mediocre by going through a distributor like Sysco. There is a niche area for all types of restaurants and skills, the only catch is everyone should be honest.

But they definitely have a laundry list of frozen products. I remember their raviolis filled with sun dried tomato, other pastas, various little cakes and scones for brunch, french fries and chicken fingers for kids menus, the works.

Orange, I'll wave to you next time I get my hair done! :)

Sleepless In Seattle said...

Nurse said -- "He made my daughter's life a living hell, so count me among those that think that referring to protective laws as overreaching or being a nanny state is completely offensive."

Offensive to whom? I don't think it's anyone's intention to be offensive. These are opinions, not comments made to get under anyone's skin or demean anyone.

Admin said -- "If people are fearful to report it in the first place, then more bullying laws aren't going to help much. We need to do better at getting people to feel comfortable about reporting legitimate concerns. How do we know HR doesn't work just fine if we can't get people to report it in the first place? That's a false premise."

And I don't think that anyone is being "flip" about it. Everything I've read here shows that people are aware that there are problems in the workplace. Nobody has made a joke about it, or said to ignore it and it will go away. There may come a time when there are laws upon laws upon laws and it's going to become so muddled that nobody is going to know where to turn or what's legal and what's not. I think that's what many people fear. Too many hands in the pot, too many cooks in the kitchen, with people not knowing where to turn when the solution may simply be to go to those in charge and let them deal with it.

Someone brought up a good point. What was done years ago when HR didn't exist? I think we've become a society where, as adults, we want our hands held far too much and it's so easy to cry "bully" instead of being mature enough to figure out how to handle a problem. If there's something that we can't handle, then it's our responsibility to know exactly where to go to report it.

OrangeCrusher1 said...

I will wave back. I also have no problem using sourced ingredients, if the quality is high, and you use said ingredients to enhance your prep and cooking. BUT you do not pretend that everything is 'from scratch' either. Hmm, who else do we know that does this? Could it be organic K8 and her original recipes?

Susie Cincinnati said...

MiloandJack
@Kateplusmy8 But FiredUp...never gives up completely! I'll be back! Don't U 4get me Kate! :) U know where 2find me!

Oh my word, Milo. Get a grip. And then she complains that she's the butt of jokes. You play right into the non-fans hands, Milo, with tweets like this. Can't you see that?

miloandjack
@Kateplusmy8 Have we noticed....ur absence is always noticed! Ur missed 4sure! So big question...Whatcha workin on Miss Kate?? Hint Hint

Oh Gladys, Gladys, Gladys. Abner is calling you. He says it's time for lights out and to give Kate a break!

hendersonsgirll
@Kateplusmy8 I think we miss you more. Or i do anyway :) you and the kids should come to philadelphia :) because I NEED to meet you all!

Yes, of course, Kate will pack everyone up tomorrow and drive to Philadelphia because a fan NEEDS to meet her. Hear that, Kate...drop everything and fill the needs of someone who misses you desperately! It's probably a life or death situation.

Susie Cincinnati said...

mydmaxx
@Kateplusmy8 Are the kids ready for the pool?

What an absolutely stupid question. I wonder how long it took her to come up with that one. No, mydmaxx, the kids hate the pool. With a passion. They don't want it opened. Ever.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Seattle, wow that was so well said. I agree with everything. It has long concerned me that our ability to tackle life's bumps, potholes, and even cliffs is being slowly stripped away. Always with the best intentions. There's a pretty even division in this country with half of us wanting less governmental intervention the other half feeling more intervention is warranted. I see both sides of it, but I know where I fall. The only thing I don't like about it is the common implication (not usually here, but definitely elsewhere) that those who want less regulations must just not care or understand the seriousness of the situation. It kind of drives me crazy really. It reminds me of parenting decisions. One parent may feel strongly a child needs a lot of oversight. Another parent may prefer their child be free as a bird to do what he likes. But the free as a bird parent usually cares, too, he just feels it's fundamentally better for his child to make his own way in the world and make his own mistakes. It's just a different approach to handling the situation.

Call Me Crazy said...

TFGOT - I appreciate that you brought up the fact that adults can be and are bullied in the workplace. Many of the tactics are very much the same as in bullying that happens in school - verbal abuses that are difficult to prove.

Please bear with me through this story.

When I was just out of college, I got a decent paying job right away at a mid-sized company. I worked very hard and was promoted to manager within a year. There were about 8 people who reported to me, almost all of whom were older than I was.

One woman who was about 20 years my senior got a major bee up her butt about me for reasons that I could never figure out. Maybe she resented my promotion; maybe she didn't like that I had to inform her when she made errors with clients; maybe she just didn't like me. Whatever the reason, this woman hated me and made my worklife as miserable as she possibly could.

As most bullies do, she pulled a co-worker into her web of cruelty. These women would talk about me and make nasty comments and even pass notes to each other about me. It might not sound like much, but it was a constant and pervasive nastiness and degradation that is difficult to describe.

I have always been the type of person who is able to "fix" things, but I couldn't fix this. I am also a very easy-going person, but the daily stress over the situation became unbearable.

I didn't go to HR because I had no concrete
evidence to prove what they were doing. So I did my best to ignore them. But they created such a terrible and stressful atmosphere for me that I was on the verge of quitting many times.

What happened to me in the workplace was virtually identical to some bullying I endured for a few months in 8th grade. I was a new student at the school, and two girls in my gym class tormented me relentlessly. They were very clever to not let many others hear their hateful, foul words to me. It was torture, and I dreaded going to that class. I did my best to ignore them, and the torment finally ended when they found out I was a good athlete and I kicked their a$$e$ in B-ball.

The point is, the stress and anxiety and tension I felt in the workplace felt EXACTLY the same as the stress and anxiety and tension I felt in 8th grade. And my reluctance and refusal to report the problem was exactly the same in both cases because I feared that people would think I was a "baby," and I worried that the problem would get worse.

My work situation improved greatly when the woman who hated me was let go and her cohort in crime, no longer feeling quite so powerful, ended up apologizing to me.

I agree with others that we must be careful to not fall for the Amys and Kates of the world who cry bully. But adult bullying does exist.

Thanks for listening.

________________________________

Anonymous said... 73

When did adults become such babies? It's embarrassing. I'm retired so I can offer to hold your hand and walk you to your human resources representative. I'm in Indiana!

** Anonymous, I found your post to be rude, insensitive, and uncalled for. You must have thought it was as well since you chose not to own your words. Instead, you hid behind the "Anonymous" moniker.
______________________________

Gilly said... 74

If u live in a place called tornado alley wouldn't making a basement be the first thing you would do when you have a house?

** Hi Gilly. I thought that as well, but CNN reported that basements are rare in Oklahoma because it is very prone to flooding. I'm not sure if this has been confirmed, but it has been reported that some of the children who died at the Plaza Towers School drowned in a basement area.

Ex Nurse said...

Improbable dreams--thanks for your kind comment. My daughter came through it, but it has definitely effected her. She has earned her teaching certificate, and will begin teaching kindergarten in the fall. Even though she is hiring her own assistant, she has some PTSD symptoms around the issue and has fears that she will be undermined again. Bullies have an amazing ability to target vulnerable people, who tend to internalize the comments and don't have supportive relationships. They are the least able to stand up for themselves and suffer low self-esteem and depression.

I think the Washington state document is very informative, but, the fact remains, offers absolutely no recourse or protection. I see it as a first step, and, since Washington state recently passed legislation that makes it illegal to comment or make any kind of a request of a nursing mother, it is just a matter of time.

Ex Nurse said...

I find comments about hand-holding and belly-aching to be flip, both of which have been said on this page. In light of what my daughter and the other female co-worker has, and is still going through, I am offended by the diminishing and judgemental characterization of someone who is relentlessly persecuted in the workplace. In this case, it was in full view of a classroom of pre-schoolers. My opinion. My reaction. I find commments like this to be incredibly insensitive and lacking in compassion. The entire premise of using Samy and Kate as the model for what is wrong with claiming adult bullying is a false one. NO ONE, except them, is saying they were bullied.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

But there is recourse. You go to HR. If HR cannot handle something as bad as the examples Washington cited in their pamphlet, the problem is really with HR. HR is an advanced college degree, if they are not learning how to properly deal with such situations, then reform starts there. I can't imagine people earning their HR degree are just learning how to calculate benefits. Of course a huge part of it involves handling workplace conflicts. But you must go to them first. They are not mind readers.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I don't think those comments represent most people, though I can understand frustration with an over-involved government just as much as frustration with an under involved. I think everyone sometimes reaches their "oh gimme a break" point. :)

Nah, that's too simple said...

Doesn't it make more sense to just better educate H.R. on all the modern issues in the workplace that have come up lately? Cheaper, faster and probably a hell of a lot more effective!! Isn't the point to stop it no matter how that is accomplished?

Call Me Crazy said...

Sleepless In Seattle said... 137

And I don't think that anyone is being "flip" about it. Everything I've read here shows that people are aware that there are problems in the workplace. Nobody has made a joke about it, or said to ignore it and it will go away. There deal with it.

... I think we've become a society where, as adults, we want our hands held far too much and it's so easy to cry "bully" instead of being mature enough to figure out how to handle a problem.
_______________________________

Hi Sleepless,

I chose to share my story because there were absolutely a few posts that were "flip" and contained rude comments about this very serious problem.

I think that the people you speak of who cry "bully" quite easily are those of Kate Gosselin's and Amy Bouzaglo's ilk. They use it simply as an excuse to blame others for their bad behavior. Those people tend to be the biggest bullies of all in their efforts to deflect legitimate criticism.

Fleecing The Sheeple said...

I don't think those comments represent most people, though I can understand frustration with an over-involved government just as much as frustration with an under involved. I think everyone sometimes reaches their "oh gimme a break" point. :)

===============

I also think that there comes a point on here where posters don't like to be talked down to...to be made to feel far inferior to a poster. It's those times when some say "oh gimme a break." It's a knee-jerk reaction to being regarded as somehow being intellectually inferior or just not capable of comprehending what a poster is saying, when actually it's understood quite well.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

I agree. When your opinion on something is met with "well, you must just not have understood me right, or perhaps because you've never experienced it then you'd change your mind" (how does anyone know what anyone has experienced in the office unless they share?) you do want to just throw up your hands. Discussion is harder, more frustrating, when that is the take on a difference in opinion. It's kind of in the similar vein of Heather's "do your research" which frustrated a lot of us, since, we had.

Ex Nurse said...

Admin said...
Of course a huge part of it involves handling workplace conflicts. But you must go to them first. They are not mind readers
__________
My daughter did take her concerns to the owners of the school. It wan't until she put in a formal written complaint that they took it seriously. She didn't ask them to read her mind. She happens to be a bright articulate person who has a college degree. Many people don't have those advantages and many of them don't know that they are being bullied.

Also, many--maybe most-- small businesses don't have an HR person. I didn't see an HR person at ABC--did you?

Anyway, I am going to move on from this...no point in arguing about it.

One of the things that was so suspicious was that Amy claimed to have produced all of the pastries and cooks all of the food. How is that possible? There are full-time pastry chefs in restaurants with small dessert menus--how could a single person do all of that, while labeling and dating every ingredient? Not possible. One of the sites that posted all of the side by side pictures showed one that was from Martha Stewart. The poster commented that maybe MS and Amy exchanged recipes in prison!

Anonymous said...

I am sure this will not go through.I will try again.As much as the haters here say they hate Kate.They follow everything Kate.I get yelled at,asking Why I might be a fan.Yes,I do follow Kate.My reason? I like her.The haters reason? They are appalled to even answer this question.Haters follow Kate,read all of her blogs,look at any picture posted,read every book,follow her twitter,research her followers,spend hours tracking her driving record.
WHY? Why spend so much time on someone you are so much better than?Why berate the ones who like her,giving her props,when you people spend more time trying to bring her down?I don't spend my time trying to figure out who the haters are.I could care less.I just get tired of you people calling us out and you never explaining what you want or who you are.Again,you want this from the fans.
Kate fans have a reason for looking up everything Kate.We Like Her.Haters excuse? You need someone to bitch about to make youre self feel superior.

Sleepless In Seattle said...

She happens to be a bright articulate person who has a college degree. Many people don't have those advantages and many of them don't know that they are being bullied.

----------------

I don't think that one needs to be a bright articulate person with a college degree to know that he/she is being bullied.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Now I'm confused since you said your daughter didn't report the complaint at first. She told you, then, you helped her file it formally and report it--now you're saying she did report it and was ignored? The point for me is that being proper action was taken after a formal complaint was filed. Any time any serious action is taken, they will probably want you to be serious too by filing a formal complaint. That seems more than fair. It's not really fair to just swing by HR or your boss or whoever is in charge at 5p.m. on a Friday and say such and such terrible thing happened now do something and now. No, you need to be serious, put it in writing and file it formally if you would like them to be serious and formal too. It goes both ways. Lots of people gripe to their bosses, a formal complaint distinguishes between the everyday griping and the real problems. That was an excellent thing to do and they responded in an appropriate manner, the system worked.

If people don't know they are bullied, then how will a law help? If they can't even recognize it's happening to them they're not even going to think to turn to a law. As I THINK someone else said, they just know they feel bad. I think there is a lot more education that needs to be done first. Oh well, I agree with one thing, agree to disagree. :)

Anonymous said...

Even a stupid person knows if someone is being mean to them, and even a stupid person knows that if someone is being so mean to you you can't do your job you need to go tell whoever is in charge. A kindergartener knows without even being taught how to complain about another student to the teacher. If someone can't handle something so simple a child can do it, I don't know what to tell them.

PatK said...

Anonymous 152,

I'm sorry your space bar is broken.

Fleecing The Sheeple said...

Also, many--maybe most-- small businesses don't have an HR person. I didn't see an HR person at ABC--did you?

===================

I guess in that case (without an HR person), if you can't stand the heat, you get out of the kitchen if you have no other recourse. Literally. Nobody is forcing them to work there. If working conditions are that bad, and they are being taken advantage of, you give your notice. I would think that you'd have to have a death wish in order to work for either one of them. It's not the only wait staff job in town.

Fleecing The Sheeple said...

Why berate the ones who like her,giving her props,when you people spend more time trying to bring her down?I

=====================

Kate doesn't need anyone to bring her down. She does a fine job of that all by herself.

I think that there are two groups of non-fans. There are the haters (the ones on Twitter who berate her unmercifully with vile, disgusting comments) and those who call her out for her lies, exploiting her kids, her greed and her grifting. They don't hate Kate -- they hate what she does, which is all of the above. Many on here have called out the haters on Twitter and want no part of their rudeness or cruel comments. Perhaps you've missed the discussion on this. Many are appalled at the remarks made directly to her on Twitter. They are uncalled for.

"I just get tired of you people calling us out and you never explaining what you want or who you are.Again,you want this from the fans."

Who we are? Want what from fans? If you're going to make a point, then you will need to be much more clear in your comments, and then tell us what you admire about Kate and why you like her. Otherwise, pot-stirring will most likely be ignored, as it should be.

Children First said...

Someone hiding behind anon said, "Haters follow Kate,read all of her blogs,look at any picture posted,read every book,follow her twitter,research her followers,spend hours tracking her driving record."

__________

I don't follow Kate. I'm not on Twitter. I don't read her blogs, I don't look at her pictures, I have not read any of her books nor researched her followers, and I've never seen her driving record. There goes your theory...

Walk On The Wild Side said...

Has Kate tweeted anything about the devastation in Oklahoma? So many celebrities have expressed condolences for lives lost and the damage done to that community. Katy Perry, Pitbull, and Kristen Bell have urged their fans to donate in whatever way they can. I just read that one of the NBA players donated one million dollars to relief efforts there.

Anonymous said...

IM not a die hard fan who has no clue to what being bullied means.Peoeple say very mean and nasty stuff to Kate.I dont agree that she is being bullied.Speaking your mind is not bullying.Calling her fans like Milo,stupid,scary,dence,stalkers,talking about god help her kids and husband is just mean.I dont see many Kate fans stalking youre tweets or MB's.You haters follow every thing Kate.We like her.You hate her.Why follow her?wouldnt it make youre life easier if you just moved on to bigger and better things?You are soooooooooooo smart right?Why waste all youre time and energy on someone who hate so much,yet giving her the attention you think she craves?Can you say hi my name is blabla and im a Kate Gosselin addict?

Walk On The Wild Side said...

PatK said... 156

Anonymous 152,

I'm sorry your space bar is broken.

**************

There's a space bar? Who would have thought it? ;-)

@152 -- Good grief...what a mess!

Anonymous said...

Sorry Fleecing.I owe you nothing.I like Kate.I think that pretty much says it all.What about you telling us likers what you dont admire about Kate.Other than,she is the one supporting her kids.So what if she sells a picture or 2 to do it?Kate is the one with the kids pretty much 24/7.Kate didnt walk awway like jon.How about telling us why you have nothing better to do other than track everything Kate?You all are so much better than Kate but you spend all day complaining about Kate.Telling bs stories on how you did this or that.If you were so beyound Kate,why do you have all the time in the world to talk about her?From what she wears to her hair to her shoes and lets not forget her big toe.ect ect ect.

Anonymous said...

Im sure my responses will be gone in a matter of minutes.Thats okay.As much as this board says they welcome responces from all.They forget to include,not if we the haters are called out on our bull.Home late from a concert LOM is getting upset saying im wasting my time.Wil be back tommorrow after i get the kids off to school.Will see whats left then.Im sure nothing will be.Other than the haters we are god posts.

silimom said...

Anonymous 152 - I think that there are some people like you describe. However, I can only speak for myself. I originally came to GWOP and then later here and Small Town Gosselins because of my son. He asked me one time why I would watch someone who is obviously bullying their husband and kids. At first, I didn't see it that way. I saw her behavior but I put it down to her being stressed and who wouldn't be? They had 8 young kids. Of course they're going to bicker. Of course she was going to be sarcastic and short with her kids.

But then I really thought more about it. My husband and I had five kids and we didn't behave that way. My friends didn't behave that way.

So I started googling about the Gosselins so I could learn more about Kate and that's when I read first hand accounts from their neighbors and others who had met Kate. I read Julie's blog. I read Jodi's account on her sister's blog.

What I noticed was that these accounts of Kate lined up with what I was seeing on the show, a show Kate herself said was "the realest reality show on tv. What you see is how it really is".

And her behavior, how she treated people especially Jon only got worse as the show went on. As her celebrity grew. And then I got to thinking about the kids and the effect the constant filming was having on them.

And then the separation and divorce happened. And she kept putting herself out there, first on Kate plus 8 and then DWTS and ET etc. etc. And I kept wondering why on earth this woman was being allowed to extend her 15 minutes of fame when other reality stars were forgotten much more quickly. What was it about this woman that allowed her to treat people so horribly (Tony Dovolani, Sarah Palin, etc.) and yet continue to be rewarded for such behavior? What did that say about our society?

So finally the show was cancelled. Yes, that should have been then end. But it wasn't because the Kate show continued on via Twitter.

So why do I continue to come to this site? Because I enjoy the conversations here, I enjoy the people here. We talk about a lot more than just Kate, much the same way I'm sure you and your fellow Kate fans talk about other things on your websites aside from Kate.

Why do I continue to be interested in Kate? I guess because I still wonder what the draw is, what people find so fascinating about her. She's a narcissist. I personally don't like narcissists but obviously you and others do.

And Kate continues to market herself as this great mom, a sort of Carol Brady/Claire Huxtabel/Martha Stewart/Jillian Michaels hybrid. She continues to put herself out there as a public figure and public figures can be commented on, bottom line.

For the record, Anonymous, just because I post on this site does not mean I follow Kate's every move. I don't follow her on Twitter, I don't read her Stir blog unless I want to double check something somebody has commented on for myself, I don't research who her fans are nor do I harass them. You are perfectly entitled to like Kate. I say again, I don't understand what you find likeable about her but to each their own.

Here is something, though, I think we both can agree on: If you treat me with respect and courtesy, I will do the same to you. If you want to be part of our discussion and bring your perspective as a Kate fan, I for one welcome it. Not because I think I'm going to change your opinion but because I enjoy discussion, the free exchange of opinions and ideas. I truly am interested to know why you like Kate. How did you feel about her behavior in Alaska when she was camping with the Palins or about the way she treated Jon before they separated?

I hope you will post again and please choose a name. It doesn't have to be your regular screen name. It's still anonymous, whatever name you use.

pixie said...

http://www.azcentral.com/video/2400243186001

Chapter 2,672 of the Samy and Amy story. Good lord. Extortion, drug charges and he's banned from Germany and France. Wow.

Friend Up North said...

Also, many--maybe most-- small businesses don't have an HR person. I didn't see an HR person at ABC--did you?
*********************************************
In Canada we have the Ministry of Labour, and believe me, those two would be facing some serious fines $$$ and have already been shut down.

Friend Up North said...

Friday and say such and such terrible thing happened now do something and now. No, you need to be serious, put it in writing and file it formally if you would like them to be serious and formal too. It goes both ways. Lots of people gripe to their bosses, a formal complaint distinguishes between the everyday griping and the real problems. That was an excellent thing to do and they responded in an appropriate manner, the system worked.
********************************************

Yes, admin. To add to my previous comment, the employee must do THEIR due diligence, document, document, document EVERYTHING!

Vanessa said...

Ex-Nurse said
I find comments about hand-holding and belly-aching to be flip, both of which have been said on this page. In light of what my daughter and the other female co-worker has, and is still going through, I am offended by the diminishing and judgemental characterization of someone who is relentlessly persecuted in the workplace. In this case, it was in full view of a classroom of pre-schoolers. My opinion. My reaction. I find commments like this to be incredibly insensitive and lacking in compassion. The entire premise of using Samy and Kate as the model for what is wrong with claiming adult bullying is a false one. NO ONE, except them, is saying they were bullied.
and
My daughter did take her concerns to the owners of the school. It wan't until she put in a formal written complaint that they took it seriously. She didn't ask them to read her mind. She happens to be a bright articulate person who has a college degree. Many people don't have those advantages and many of them don't know that they are being bullied.
*********************************************

With all due respect Ex-Nurse, whenever Jon is the subject of a thread here, you seem to have the opinion that he should have, could have done more for those kids, should have could have left etc. etc., he TOO was a victim of BULLYING. He was relentlessly bullied in the home, in his marriage, by his employer, by the public-yet you seem to hold him up to a different standard. I usually find your comments on the subject of Jon to be quite insensitive and lacking compassion.

Mel said...

I think what most of us here object to is Kate selling sh*t as gold and expecting not to get called on it.

Her claim to fame is loving, Christian mom. She is only a mom. Not even a competent mom. She is a very sub-standard mom. And there is nothing loving or Christian about her.

She was offered fame without having earned it, and she still hasn't earned it. She hasn't earned anything.

She's a bad mother, an inept cook, a horrible dancer, a cheating runner, and a liar.

The emperor has no clothes. And she expects people not to call her on it?

TLC stinks said...

Sillimom, same story with me. Good post.

localyocul said...

Oh good Lord this guy on GMA who interviewed Jodi Arias just got called a hater by Jodi because he doesn't buy her self defense BS. He was awesome I must say pulled no punches. But again, with the "hater" whining....

JoyinVirginia said...

Hi anon,
I come here to discuss pop culture, reality TV in general like Kitchen Nightmares, Amazing Race, Dancin With Them Thar Stars and that darlin Saint Tony Dovolani of the Ballroom. I like to discuss documentaries like Jiro Dreams of Sushi and the abolitionists. I like to hear about books like Diary of a Stage Mothers Daughter. I like to snark and read funny snark on reality TV, that's why I love Vote for the Worst. (goodbye VFTW, i'm going to miss you!)
Ms Kreider is boring, and I have never been to her web site and I don't tweet. Snark from posters here is funny! I come here for humor.
Have a gr8 day!

TLC stinks said...

BTW, with the bullying discussion, I am particularly sensitive about bullying but I find Bullyville offensive in his tactics.

Bullying (in my case mean girls) has been power in numbers (4th grade, 6th grade and I did go to a teacher who did nothing) and 8th grade. In 8th grade I took the high road and finally those girls showed their ass, overstepped, and people turned away from them. I just sat back and watched them implode.

As for work place bullying, I have witnessed it and only once had to stand my ground with a female boss (no HR department and I would not go to HR anyway because you are labeled a trouble maker even if you are not the instigator). If you do your work, let the person know they have crossed a line, and don't gossip, you will be fine. Meanwhile, keep your options open because NO JOB is worth working with people who disrepect you.











Improbable Dreams said...

Anonymous said... 162
Even a stupid person knows if someone is being mean to them, and even a stupid person knows that if someone is being so mean to you you can't do your job you need to go tell whoever is in charge. A kindergartener knows without even being taught how to complain about another student to the teacher. If someone can't handle something so simple a child can do it, I don't know what to tell them.
@@@@@@@@@

That's okay. Don't give it another thought. Standing up to bullies takes a great deal of courage and compassion, neither of which can be derived from a finger-wagging comment, written by someone who goes by the moniker Anonymous.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/22/us/oklahoma-tornado-basements/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

One of CNN's top stories this morning is why they don't have basements. Really detailed explanation, it's good if you want more info.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Oh good Lord this guy on GMA who interviewed Jodi Arias just got called a hater by Jodi because he doesn't buy her self defense BS. He was awesome I must say pulled no punches. But again, with the "hater" whining....
&&&

Ugh, pathetic! This is what I mean, it's become such a convenient way for people like her to just write off any legitimate criticism they ever receive. It's a way to quickly dodge the reality of their bad behavior because hey, they're just a hater and a bully.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Jon was so intimidated by his employer he had to go to court to stop them from taking his children to Australia on HIS custodial time. And lost He was also prevented from making an incredible amount of money for doing a Super Bowl commercial that could have paid all his child support for ages.

They were invading his own home and children so despicably he had to put up a sign at his gate forbidding them from coming on his private property. Yikes, and employer who is trying to force their way, unwanted, into your own home to access YOUR kids who were, what, SIX? According to the Washington pamphlet, that's all definitely bullying. And he had no HR department, he could only go to Larry King.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Also at ABC, in regards to the tips, the employees could have called the IRS, the Better Business Bureau, even if it's illegal the police or the DA. Or, they could leave and go work at that pita place next door. There were other options besides HR to deal with their issues. It is also their responsibility to ask upfront how tips are collected, and their responsibility, if they are not okay with Samy taking them, to decline the job offer.

Vanessa said...

And he had no HR department, he could only go to Larry King.
*******************************************
When interviewed by Chris Cuomo, he tries to finally speak up, "stand up" to the bullies, own his mistakes. What happens? Cuomo tears him a new one. No matter what Khate did, JON was portrayed as being/doing worse. He was (still is) damned if he fights or damned if he still remains the victim.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Im sure my responses will be gone in a matter of minutes.Thats okay

&&&

Stop it. I published you. This whole, oh only Kate hate gets published, is ridiculous. No, I just don't publish comments that break the rules.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Vanessa, and doesn't that sound exactly like some horror stories we've heard of employers painting YOU as the bad guy if you ever try to complain about harassment/bullying? And yet, Jon gets no sympathy. No one says gosh if only Jon had an anti-bullying law it wouldn't have been so bad for him. No, people demanded Jon to stand up for himself and he gets no sympathy, from some. But it's different for other employees, they get sympathy? They're not required to simply stand up for themselves, man up (or woman up)? Double standard, big time. Thanks for pointing that out.

chefsummer #Leh said...

Realitytvkids.com (Administrator) said... 113

I don't get it either per-order the cookbook so it'll help you w/dinner tonight.

Um how does buying a cookbook that's due in Sept help me w/dinner tonight???

But that Milo for you.

I mean you saw this Milo say how could KK buy twitter bots she has kids to raise.

chefsummer #Leh said...

MsGoody2Shoes21 ‏@msgoody2shoes21 12h
@Kateplusmy8 "People who consider someone truly irrelevant don't cover their every move like hungry dogs." @JedediahBila
_____

Hmmm like you do with Jon?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Anonymous, I'm not sure where you've been but when Kate goes twitter silent, so do we. The vast majority of posts on this thread since Kate has been twitter silent have been about other subjects. You're the one who wants to talk about Kate. There is nothing to say about Kate other than she doesn't give two sh&&Ts about the tornado or even knows it happened probably, and she doesn't give two sh&&ts about her fans either.

Four of the last five topics here have been about other people, not Kate. We did one for the Kentucky Derby on Kate. Other than that, the posts have been about missy Francis, Charles Ramsey, Chip McClure and now Amy and Samy.

There was like two people here who talked about Kate's toe. I never looked close enough to notice myself. They have either left or stopped talking about it. I haven't seen Kate's toe mentioned in two years here. I also don't read her blogs, I really find it too painful. Some people here read them and report back so I comment on their reports if something strikes me as particularly offensive. What i would respectfully suggest to you is why you are so caught up in what Kate "haters" say. Who cares? Believe me, Kate really doesn't appreciate your defense of her. Or appreciate you at all. What are you getting out of this relationship?

Internet communities and pop culture snark are abundant and normal on the internet, and at the water cooler! But celebrity worship to a level that you would try to invade and derail such communities, is not.

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...

Chef, maybe Milo thinks that twitter bots raise children?

Maybe she's confused and that's why she said Kate is raising her children.

Tucker's Mom said...

localyocul said... 177
Oh good Lord this guy on GMA who interviewed Jodi Arias just got called a hater by Jodi because he doesn't buy her self defense BS. He was awesome I must say pulled no punches. But again, with the "hater" whining....
******
Raise your hand if your were surprised that Jodi is now begging for her life and not the death penalty. Beuller? Beuller?
She was so cavalier before, saying that "death is the ultimate freedom, I'd rather to free", until the needle became oh, so real. I think the only reason that she said she wanted the needle right after her conviction was to get a bit of rest in a psych facility, so she didn't need to go to solitary.
Kinda reminds me of Kate's claiming she'll work at McDonalds if she has to! The rubber would never, and will never meet the road. In reality, it's a lie and just put out there to elicit sympathy.
Now, Jodi wants to live and didn't kill herself before because her family would be in pain if she died. Come on!
Oh, and she wants to help people in jail by teaching Spanish and arts.
I don't know how she'll do that in a max security facility where she's in solitary 23 hours a day.

AuntieAnn said...

Anonymous said... 169

What about you telling us likers what you dont admire about Kate.

=====

Anonymous - At the left sidebar of this page you will see the archives from 2009 to today. You should be able to find the answer there.

OrangeCrusher1 said...

I'm sorry, but did Anonymous refer to LOM in her post, telling her she was wasting her time? LOM - Lights Out Man? Milo, is that you?

Realitytvkids.com ~ Administrator said...


Anonymous - At the left sidebar of this page you will see the archives from 2009 to today. You should be able to find the answer there.

&&&

LOL really. This is the only time I've ever heard a sheeple accuse us of not being clear what we don't like about Kate. That's a first!

"The 8's Exploitation" and "Essential Reading" are also good outlines of our case, Anonymous. See below.

Anon Anon said...

Anon is a pretendy fan. That is pretty obvious. Someone just wanting to stir things up.

Dmasy said...

Orange Crusher, great catch.

In post 170, Anonymous says that LOM is getting upset with her for wasting her time. Could that be "Lights Out Man".

Milo, if you are here. Use your "real" name and come on back to post. We would have so many questions to ask you.

Blowing In The Wind said...

msgoody2shoes21
The only family missing on TLC this summer is Kate+8 @Kateplusmy8

Geez, msgoody. Why not rub it in? Just keep reminding her that she doesn't have a show. I have to laugh at the fans who tell her that she should be back on television, ask her when she's getting a show and that TLC should do specials. If it were in Kate's power, don't they think that she would fly to the networks in a heartbeat?

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