Allison Stokke, or why the internet is a bad, bad thing.

[brewers19]

she isn't any more attractive than the dozens of 18-21 year-olds who work at the phone bank in our office building.

 

Unless you've got some really weird dress code there, I'm pretty Allison Stokke has them beat.

[dadofandrew]

Most wear short skirts, but other than that, just business casual.

[sbrylski]

DOA, are you guys hiring? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[dadofandrew]

Not my workplace, but in the same building. Sorry I can't assist.

 

Just today, while I was out front, a group of 5 walked out for lunch or a smoke and I'd say 3 were every bit as pretty. And, while 18 is young, 21-22 seems "mature", at least in comparison.

[FVBrewerFan]

It's always amusing to me that as liberal (small l) we are in the U.S., we 're still quite uptight about sexuality. This young woman is hot, and there's nothing perverse about that. It doesn't mean I want to leave my wife for her or stare at her picture for hours. She's sexy, why be in denial or act like it's wrong to admit it?

[JimH5]

I'll agree that she's very attractive (hard to argue that point).

 

But if she had nothing to do with her sudden "fame", and doesn't want it, and just happened to be photographed while at her high school track meet, then isn't this clearly a case where the argument can be made that the internet is harmful to her and her family?

 

Hopefully it will all blow over and she'll soon be back to life as normal.

[EdgarDiazRocks]

This young woman is hot, and there's nothing perverse about that. It doesn't mean I want to leave my wife for her or stare at her picture for hours. She's sexy, why be in denial or act like it's wrong to admit it?

 

Here's the crux of it to me.

 

Why in this day and age are we still for the most part ONLY defining women in the public eye by their perceived "hotness" or lack thereof?

 

And this certainly cuts both ways, why can't we just say Rosie O'Donnell is an annoying twit without the added "and she's ugly too!"?

 

I feel great sorrow that we can't get past the fact that perhaps some attractive females in the public eye DON'T want to be featured in that FHM way and instead would rather be treated like they were normal people.

 

I know that for every cute girl who would rather be asked about their opinions rather than their bra size there are twenty Carmen Elecktra and Danica Patrick types who would much rather take the easy route and just bend over and squeeze a bottle of mustard. But why does that automatically makes us think that is what they ALL want?

 

Or to paraphrase Al (don't say anything mean, . . don't say anything mean . . .don't say anything mean) . . . .

 

Quote:

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if she can turn this into a single ad after her NCAA days are over, she'll probably be happy with the exchange.

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why do we assume she WANTS to do ad work? That everybody craves the attention?

 

And I do know of incidents like this on the "good" side. For example when the Mars Rovers were shiny and new, Jessica Collisson caused quite the geek boy stir when she was mission director and kept showing up on CSPAN and NASA-TV for briefings.

 

"You mean she's cute AND she works for JPL? Mmmm ........ Rocket Science . . . ."

 

zipcodemars.jpl.nasa.gov/...tate_id=CA

 

http://zipcodemars.jpl.nasa.gov/bioentry/images/background/colli-j-386-prof-th-a.jpg

[TooLiveBrew]

Don't know what there really is to it, EDR, but it just seems Americans are obsessed with body image. Ritchie, Hilton, Spears, Aguilera, Sharapova, Pitt, Depp, Fabio, Oprah, Crawford, Olsen(s)....

 

It's not just women, but men too (although admittedly less frequently) whose bodies are under constant surveillance - in some cases, quite literally. Magazine after mag, newspaper after newspaper, the public just can't seem to get enough. I feel like, as a culture, we are addicted to this - and in denial about being so.

 

Take this thread, for example. I saw the pic, and thought, 'Yea, she's pretty....so?' It doesn't make me go crazy, but I agree that it is silly to deny that she's good-looking (not that you are). The whole thing would be best handled by the young lady saying, 'I don't want to be known as a sex object' (which she has), and then letting the buzz die off. I suppose we're in the early stages of that process.

 

Until/Only if she actually starts embracing her 'fame,' the situation won't go anywhere. Which is the way it should be. I don't get the Danica Patrick slam you break out, as I've never seen her as anywhere near Carmen Electra (although I don't follow the driving stuff).

 

If a young man or woman wants to capitalize on something like this, fair game. If not, they simply won't, and will most likely fade back into relative obscurity. Sure, she'll be a student that gets stared at a lot, but I'd guess she's probably used to that already (as in, before "the pic" ).

 

Perhaps a site such as bf.net won't turn up too many "Check out this hot boy!" (pic) threads, but I can assure you that plenty of gossip and the sort sites do.

 

I simply disagree with you that we're "for the most part only defining women..." by their sex appeal. Perhaps it's just that I'm in the minority that doesn't do so, but I just think Nancy Grace is an obnoxious blowhard, just like Bill O'Reilly. It doesn't have anything to do with 'sexiness.' Some might call her attractive, some may not, but I honestly don't care...and can say the same on darn near anyone I encounter, male or female.

 

(I just think our culture is addicted to body image & sex)

[EdgarDiazRocks]

Until/Only if she actually starts embracing her 'fame,' the situation won't go anywhere. Which is the way it should be. I don't get the Danica Patrick slam you break out, as I've never seen her as anywhere near Carmen Electra (although I don't follow the driving stuff).

 

I threw Patrick up there simply as an athlete that craves to be taken seriously for her abilities yet doesn't turn down a whole lot of opportunities to cash in on her attractiveness.

 

She certainly not in the Carmen Electra / Girls Next Door class.

 

I simply disagree with you that we're "for the most part only defining women..." by their sex appeal. Perhaps it's just that I'm in the minority that doesn't do so, but I just think Nancy Grace is an obnoxious blowhard, just like Bill O'Reilly. It doesn't have anything to do with 'sexiness.' Some might call her attractive, some may not, but I honestly don't care...and can say the same on darn near anyone I encounter, male or female.

 

really here I just wanted people to think and discuss these ideas so this paragraph is worth the whole thread.

 

I know what the culture is. That I can do little or nothing to change it. I just wanted to know if most people are happy with it.

 

And what are you talking about? Bill O'Reilly is smoking hot!

 

http://www.ewiseradiotools.com/station_files/jockitems___77_1125004382.jpg

[JimH5]

There should be different rules for high schoolers. There should also be different rules for people who aren't seeking the attention.

 

What if she needs security protection from a sexual predator as a result?

 

This goes beyond a "hot or not" question, but one of "are we willing to post pictures of an unwilling minor, knowing there is a possibility that the exposure could put her at risk?"

[TooLiveBrew]

his eyes look straight into my soul....*bats eyelashes, sighs happily*....then devour it

[PKBadger]

She wasn't a minor, and the pictures were taken by sports journalists covering the track meet, not by some perv. They're public domain (copyright issues aside).

 

I don't see a way around this unless all news outlets decided to only run text (no pics) about high school athletic events, which is frankly impossible.

[TooLiveBrew]

To be fair here, although I hope no one thinks I'm the 'It's her fault!' type...aren't there less revealing shorts to be worn? Bc I feel like there's not really anything else to be worn on the torso, but those shorts are.....short

 

Aside from that, what can really be done? This, as mentioned, will likely fade away soon enough. But I do agree that I have concerns regarding the aforementioned 'sex-predator' comment.

[JimH5]

I don't see a way around this unless all news outlets decided to only run text (no pics) about high school athletic events, which is frankly impossible.

 

One way around it is for adult bloggers to show a little restraint when it comes to posting pictures of high school students.

 

I thought I read on Deadspin that the attention started when she was a HS junior--hence my thought that she was a minor.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Quote:

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To be fair here, although I hope no one thinks I'm the 'It's her fault!' type...aren't there less revealing shorts to be worn? Bc I feel like there's not really anything else to be worn on the torso, but those shorts are.....short

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I suppose part of that is the fact that she's a pole vaulter. There might be shorts that are a little longer, but they'd still be skin tight since a vaulter wants to be as streamlined as possible.

[rluzinski]

B.S. Mechanical Engineering and B.S. Aeronautical Engineering, University of California, Davis

 

I think I'm in love.

 

I hope everyone discussing this has googled, "Allison Stokke", because it's kind of creepy what you'll find.

[Principessa21]

oops, sorry! (deleted post)

[TooLiveBrew]

Quote:

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There might be shorts that are a little longer, but they'd still be skin tight since a vaulter wants to be as streamlined as possible.

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Exactly what I thought. I realize streamlined is important, but those shorts look to be intended to be 'booty-licious.' And if it wasn't intentional, what girl at that age isn't going to understand the kind of attention wearing them will garner? (as in, most likely undesirable)

 

Swimmers recently have started to swear by the full-length (men & women) bodysuits to cut down as much as possible on friction in the water, so I probably can't be convinced by the 'less is more' argument in regards to drag/streamlining.

 

The problem here is, as mentioned, creepy quasi-cyber-stalkers. However, it's not like she's an innocent 'Daddy's little girl' either. Those shorts are designed to fit the body in a very risque manner, IMHO.

[BrewCityUnit]

Amanda Wenk is somewhere smiling bitterly

 

For anybody who hasn't googled the world of Amanda Wenk...you have got to check her out. Incredible how much is out there focusing on her amazing assets.

[jaybird2001wi]

ESPN and all sports media have always exploited female athletes at the fringe of their jailbait/legal statuses. Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova come to mind and I am pretty sure Amanda Beard was exploited. Only difference between Stokke and the above mentioned three was that they were already established and had an entourage to protect them in case they do become targeted by predators.

Only difference for Stokke is that she hasn't done anything in the college or olympic level, so she may be more vulnerable to predators who want her.

For the legal crowd, what did ESPN do when Brandy Chastain won the Soccer World Cup? Her and her sports bra were put on photo display for the whole world to display.

Most female athletes who are deemed beautiful tend to do things outside the realm of what a professional should do.

Do a google search on Seattle Storm's Lauren Jackson and you would find pictures of her almost nude in an Australian magazine and she was also featured on the SI Swimsuit issue. Even Steffi Graf, a conservative sports figure, was in the SI Swimsuit issue.

Also do google searches on Jennie Finch, Lisa Harrison (WNBA player who posed for Playboy), and other semi-hot female athletes.

Another difference is that these more prolific athletes CHOSE to be pictured in these elements, whereas Stokke may not have chosen to be exploited the way she has.

 

By the way, who is this Amanda Wenk and what does she do?

[AdvantageSchneider]

If the girl is feeling self conscious out in public, I think someone needs to explain to her, that guys were probably always checking her out, it's just that she's now just noticing that she is being checked out. Nothing has changed. I had never heard or seen her before this thread, but I imagine if she was walking down the street I would give her the once over. She is an attractive young girl and boys will be boys.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Quote:

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For anybody who hasn't googled the world of Amanda Wenk...you have got to check her out. Incredible how much is out there focusing on her amazing assets.

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Quote:

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By the way, who is this Amanda Wenk and what does she do?

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IIRC, Amanda Wenk is a very well-endowed young woman who made the mistake of putting up pictures of her hanging out with her friends on her personal website. Someone discovered those photos and spread the word - soon there were tons of Amanda Wenk websites out there, similar to the ones for Allison Stokke.

 

The difference there was that Wenk chose to put those pictures of herself on the internet, while Stokke was just at a track meet and a journalist took her photo and put it online.