No one thinks that spelling bees are accurate predictors of future success. Most people agree that they are novelty competitions designed to capitalize on -- exploit? -- a narrow skill that appears in a select group of children and is often correlated with social awkwardness.
This year's National Spelling Bee winner, Evan O'Dorney, is a poster child both for spelling and for, well, the other thing, and while it's poor form to make fun of kids, it's great form to post videos of kids so that people can draw their own conclusions. In this interview with CNN's Kiran Chetry, the home-schooled O'Dorney corrects Chetry's pronunciation of her name (she calls him "particular" in response), refuses to answer a straightforward question about what his mom said after the victory, and generally seems bored. He does everything but walk away from the camera. He's a tougher interview than Barry Bonds, and almost admirable for it. I mean, pinning this kid down is tougher than trying to differentiate between Grammatorcynus bicarinatus and Grammatorcynus bilineatus in a school of scombridae.
[Ben Greenman's acclaimed new book of fiction, A Circle is a Balloon and Compass Both, is now available. Order it here.]
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
"Excruciating? E-X-C-R-U..."
Posted Jun 7th 2007 9:16AM by Ben Greenman
Filed under: Media, Pop Culture, TV, Video, Comedy, Bizarre
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- fanman on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- The Joe Lieberman Debate: Good Jew or Bad Jew? Or Just a Dumb One?
- Joblessness Causing Crisis, Cutbacks and Stress for Unemployed Americans
- U.S Officials Push For Drone Attacks Deeper Into Pakistan
- Abu Dhabi Throws Dubai $10 Billion Lifeline
- Hill Democrats, Republicans Match Up Closely in Two "Generic" Polls
- We Won't Cure Obesity With a Label Makeover
- Voters, Especially Independents, Give Low Marks to Both Parties on the Hill
Reader Comments ( Page 5 of 25)
61. I am neither a proponent nor an opponent of home schooling but I would like to duly note that this is indeed the first time that a home schooled child has won and this contest has been going on for how long? Anyone? Anyone? We need fight for the future of the children as public schools are where majority of us were educated and will continue to be in the foreseeable future.
Robb at 9:20PM on Jun 7th 2007
62. I think the kid was a little rude, you don't go "Oh, did you say my name wrong?" during an interview saomething more friendly and not harsh like "actually, it's O'Dorney", and the interviewer's questions were totally legitamate.
Tanner at 12:01AM on Jun 10th 2007
63. "TO NUM 4 YOU STATE THE PEOPLE WHO R THE LOSERS R PEOPLE WHO CANT SPELL LOSERS HMMMM HOW ABOUT THE ONES WHO CANT TYPE SENTENCES CORRECTLY
LOOK AT YOUR STATEMENT REALLLLL CLOSE U LOSER"
Jake, I just thought I'd let you see where I was coming from on this. Maybe u were joking or something, I dunno.
Pat at 9:38PM on Jun 7th 2007
64. Did anyone consider that it may have had nothing to do with a lack of social skills and that he may have just been bored? I was the same way when I was a kid but it was just because I didn't enjoy talking to unintelligent people. Also, you can't completely blame the parents for it. He's old enough to have his own attitude. Most parents teach their kids to be polite but you can't help but make fun of the ditzy girl. I understand that her interview content is scripted but she could have slowed down and pronounced it correctly for him.
Jessica at 10:04PM on Jun 7th 2007
65. wow....this kid has a hard time talking in public...god I can't stand him!
Myke Elton at 11:11PM on Jun 8th 2007
66. This kid's obviously got that new-fangled disorder, whaddya call, Assburger Syndrome. Only EQ on this poindexter is in the 'Extra Queer' department. The kid's voice is cracking and he can't even come across for that babe-alicious talking head?
ernie at 1:16AM on Jun 8th 2007
67. My husband and I saw this kid on Good Morning America last week, and both remarked at the time how "weird" he was. He responds to adults in a disrespectful manner, and apparently has few social skills. Nothing wrong with being homeschooled, but some contact with the outside world is needed as well to have a child that relates well and is not a recluse.
M. Lawson at 10:42PM on Jun 7th 2007
68. When I'm bored I hate talking to unintelligent people who are inferior to me. When i'm in front of hundreds of people I feel insecure so I respond by being nasty. I'm not a bad person.
Mig at 10:43PM on Jun 7th 2007
69. Homeschooling vs. Public Schooling are not the issues. Some people are so gifted in one area of the brain and lack other skills. It seems that Evan's attitude is not the way he was brought up in his environment but more of a unique wiring of his cognitive process: what many people would call a brain 'defect.'
Ted at 11:16PM on Jun 7th 2007
70. Wow... This kid... amazing. He's a smart kid; it's granted. Yet he has NO social skills. That's the case with most home-schooled kids in my opinion. Notice how I said MOST. Most home-schooled kids barely know how to keep a conversation, and most of them are highly rude. Now, before parents of home-schooled children come and call me "Ignorant", I honestly DO not want to hear it for many reasons, but mainly because you're child is PROBABLY an anti-social, just like the young man in the video. Jeesh, I understand the need for smart people, but if all smart people were like the young man in the video... No thanks.
jlee10 at 11:18PM on Jun 7th 2007
71. It cracks me up that everyone is trying to label this young man..... I consider myself intelligent & outgoing, but I cannot guarantee you that I would not be uneasy during a television interview. Add to that his age. Also, my name has be mispronounced for as long as I can remember. I applaud his correcting her. He will grow up & gain some tact & learn how to converse. If not he may end up working in an environment/industry using intelligence not personality. It looked as though there was a delay in his hearing the interviewer so that could add to the awkwardness.
I have a couple friends that were home schooled & you couldn't pick them out in a line-up. The number of home schooled is growing so large there are sporting leagues & private schools that accommodate these children in extra curriculum activities.
Give the young man a break!!!
Kristin at 11:47PM on Jun 7th 2007
72. I am in my forties and was home schooled before the term was coined. Since graduation I have earned a BA with a minor in public speaking, two masters degrees, and an honorary doctorate. I live in two countries and have traveled to almost twenty, speak two languages fluently, and have given lectures through interpreters all over the world.
My nature was not to be socially awkward. (When I was thirteen, people encouraged me to become a comedian.) For some, social skills come late regardless of the social climate. Who cares where they happened to go to school...or not. I have a friend who was not married until he was in his thirties because he was too shy to look at a girl. He went to a wonderful public school. He eventually won the heart of and married a beautiful young lady.
I know of rude kids who are home schooled just like you might. I know of socially awkward kids who go to public schools just like everyone does.
But statistically the social and intellectual CALIBER of home schooled kids consistently outpaces those who go to public or private schools when their parents put in half the time a private or public school teacher puts into teaching. (Yes, socially awkward or irresponsible parents sometimes produce socially awkward or irresponsible students when home schooling--just like irresponsible parents of public school children.)
Check out the movie "RV." Then check with Harvard on the largest single newly identifiable group of students accepted there recently. They are certainly not public school students!
Phil at 12:17AM on Jun 8th 2007
73. Here is a simple solution, everyone stop having kids so that worrying about how they are raised wont be a problem.
wisegirl at 12:40AM on Jun 8th 2007
74. LOL? Are you really LOLing? The height of irony is a commentary commenting on a clip that asks questions about intelligence and social graces and then inserts the ludicrous, rediculous, overused, nonsensical LOL.
Laura at 4:20PM on Jun 11th 2007
75. "4. I think the real "loser" in all of this is people you can't spell "loser" and there are a lot of them!
Marilyn at 11:24AM on Jun 7th 2007"
How about "...people WHO can't spell..."
Julie at 1:26AM on Jun 8th 2007