All-Star Dangers Of Cheerlebrity

[Callmeboots]

I don't see anything wrong with going up to someone from a gym and asking for a picture, as long as it's at an appropriate time and done with respect...it's when it's more about the INDIVIDUAL than the gym that they're from that things get scary.

 

[kristenthegreat]

True. But I don't agree with those that say this is all the gym's responsibility. I am only looking at the safety aspect during competitions that the gyms do have responsibility for. The media issue is something parents can already control for minors, to some extent. Their kids may not like it, but nobody ever said parenting is easy.

My thought is that you could make it possible to control access during the time when the parents can't be there and the gym is at least partially responsible. To and from the venue and the competition area (athlete-only entrances) and in restricted access to warm-ups. I can't think of any of the major venues where this is not physically possible.

I firmly believe when they aren't in one of those places, it is the parent or guardian's responsibility to protect their child and this would give all parents options they can choose to take...or not if they are reveling in and perpetuating the attention themselves. Then they take full responsibility for the consequences.

Have the EPs make the backstage area more restrictive when possible (ain't that bad an idea for a NUMBER of reasons, this being one). Athletes/Coaches/Gym Owners ONLY, may ONLY go back if checking in with a team that needs to be there. Maybe 1 to 2 passes per gym TOTAL may be given to additional people (if Team Moms need to go with them), and can only be given to adults registered with the gym, proof of ID required if attempting to go into the area. Teams are funneled from the mat to a designated area before moving back to the arena. That's at least a few set areas where you can keep things down a bit.

You don't want to completely cut kids off from interacting, as that's a social function and it'd be a shame to lose that connection (I just think of that photo with the F5, WC and SE girls at college)..but at least make it less open to chaos.

 

[King]

Have the EPs make the backstage area more restrictive when possible (ain't that bad an idea for a NUMBER of reasons, this being one). Athletes/Coaches/Gym Owners ONLY, may ONLY go back if checking in with a team that needs to be there. Maybe 1 to 2 passes per gym TOTAL may be given to additional people (if Team Moms need to go with them), and can only be given to adults registered with the gym, proof of ID required if attempting to go into the area. Teams are funneled from the mat to a designated area before moving back to the arena. That's at least a few set areas where you can keep things down a bit.

You don't want to completely cut kids off from interacting, as that's a social function and it'd be a shame to lose that connection (I just think of that photo with the F5, WC and SE girls at college)..but at least make it less open to chaos.

Why not just ask the athletes to give up their twitter / instagram for a month (Close the accounts) and see what happens?

 

[TheUltimateFan]

Why not just ask the athletes to give up their twitter / instagram for a month (Close the accounts) and see what happens?

Yes! And have at least the most prominent gyms go back to what some did years ago - not allow posting of pictures in uniform and do what someone recommended early - forbid use of the gym name in external media. They can legally do that.

It would be interesting to see what effect disassociating the current or potential cheerlebrity from their gym would have and how quickly. Maybe not a long-term solution, but certainly some good research material.

 

[King]

Yes! And have at least the most prominent gyms go back to what some did years ago - not allow posting of pictures in uniform and do what someone recommended early - forbid use of the gym name in external media. They can legally do that.

It would be interesting to see what effect disassociating the current or potential cheerlebrity from their gym would have and how quickly. Maybe not a long-term solution, but certainly some good research material.

I bet you it would work far better and faster than you think it would.

 

[TheUltimateFan]

I bet you it would work far better and faster than you think it would.

I bet you're right.

 

[xoxotumblerforeverxoxo]

The whole cheerlebrity thing is madness. Okay, I get it if you look up to Susie on Crapstars Elite because she throws an amazing tumbling pass. If that were the case, maybe going up to them at a time that is obviously an okay time (not heading to warm ups, watching a team compete, or when they're talking to their team), introducing yourself and starting a conversation about how they have an amazing tumbling pass and asking for advice for getting better skills, and maybe a photo. But when you're asking for autographs, crowding them, and making these crazy comments on twitter, it gets out of hand. Hearing these stories of what you guys have seen this weekend is crazy. These kids are minors, and it's weird to think that kids my age can't even enjoy a competition to the full extent without getting mobbed every other minute for pictures and autographs, it's just ridiculous and very overwhelming.

 

[kristenthegreat]

Why not just ask the athletes to give up their twitter / instagram for a month (Close the accounts) and see what happens?

I just have the odd feeling that would end up being like those times my mother said I was punished and banned from the computer for X amount of time and I would just go online when she wasn't home..

Underground non-cheer twitters! So-and-so getting kicked off of 'X' team for having a twitter, even if it was a non-cheer one..

 

[King]

I just have the odd feeling that would end up being like those times my mother said I was punished and banned from the computer for X amount of time and I would just go online when she wasn't home..

Underground non-cheer twitters! So-and-so getting kicked off of 'X' team for having a twitter, even if it was a non-cheer one..

I meant anyone where the cheerlebrity is threatening their well being.

 

[kristenthegreat]

I meant anyone where the cheerlebrity is threatening their well being.

You lost me..let's try this again lol

 

[King]

You lost me..let's try this again lol

haha, sorry. I would like to see what happens if some of the cheerlebrities gave up twitter and instagram until the end of the season. I think the problem of being hounded would go away.

 

[BlueCat]

For what it is worth, the whole scene was much more under control today than yesterday. ACA put guards at the doors to the warmup room & made announcements regarding approaching athletes while they are with their teams. Props to them for handling it as quickly and efficiently as they did.

 

[King]

For what it is worth, the whole scene was much more under control today than yesterday. ACA put guards at the doors to the warmup room & made announcements regarding approaching athletes while they are with their teams. Props to them for handling it as quickly and efficiently as they did.

Congrats on the bids, btw.

 

[NEliteSteven]

I think it's kind of a catch 22. Our culture is very celebrity driven. I'll use Matt Smith as an example. Clearly talented, and he's been given many opportunities that he obviously wouldn't get as a Level 3 athlete from Glitz & Glam Allstars. However, that obviously comes with what we've been talking about; no privacy at comps, having to have a bodyguard, etc... So what if he just deleted his twitter/facebook/instagram and stopped doing photo shoots for magazines? Would it all go away eventually? I think it would. I'm thinking it's one of those things where you just have to weigh the pros and cons and I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. It's up to the individual to make that decision. I think it sucks that a kid can't "have it both ways" per say, but I guess it is what it is.

 

[BuegeSmalls]

I think it sucks that a kid can't "have it both ways" per say, but I guess it is what it is.

Maybe it could....Hannah Montana cheer edition. Normal kid by weekday, cheerlebrity by weekend.