Taylor the Teacher

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I’ll have to be in and out on the Vanessa Hudgens thing because entering into this conversation reminds me of the bolt of realization than comes a split second after taking the bait when some smart-ass student says something designed to rile me up.

But I’ve read too much about it now, and I’ve already taken the bait. So could someone explain to me what the problem is with this photo? People are really overreacting. Disney, everybody.

She is almost 19. She is young and beautiful and in love. She posed for a photo she thought was private. Posing for the photo certainly shows poor judgment, especially given her career choice.

I guess poor judgment from teenagers is shocking to some. Maybe this is why so many people think schools can be easily fixed – American teenagers are all well-behaved, hardworking models of responsibility.

So, on with the obvious:

1. Despite some blog headlines, this is not an X-rated picture, nor does it constitute a sex scandal.

2. Being naked with a lover does not make her a slut. It doesn’t make her unusual.

3. Any number of teenagers are, at this very moment, a point-and-shoot away from being caught on camera doing something they shouldn’t. From there, it’s just a double-click to the Internet.

4. If any adults are disappointed in her it’s their own fault for being stupid enough to believe her when she said that she would always be a “good girl” in the Disney sense. She was a child. Didn’t people know that child would be confronted with adult life?

5. If any children are disappointed it’s their parents’ fault for teaching them to find role models in Hollywood.

6. There are worse things than nudity. Do I have to start the parade of atrocities?

7. Talking disparagingly about people’s pubic hair is rude.

Showbizspy really works fast. They’ve already got another exclusive. And they’re cracking on Americans! Funny!