Living on Planet Dumb Arse

Are you following the NZ Herald’s daily updates on The Bachelor? I thought not. But have you thought to question why they are even there? It seems somewhat innocuous to have the smirks and scandals of a reality TV series as the daily staple of a once reputable new source. Is this yet another example of the dumbing down of New Zealand news coverage? Other dumbing downs would include coverage of Dancing with the Stars, The Green Party Annual Conference and anything to do with Teddy Sinclair —AKA Natalie Kills, and Mrs Moon. It is not that I am necessarily against dumbing down. In certain constituencies dumbing down can be an effective tool, look at Donald Trump—and what a tool he is. But in our major newspaper, and not even in the lifestyle section? I have a couple of friends who used to work in the Herald. They would be turning in their graves had they not had the good fortune to have not yet died or moved to Hamilton. I know what they are thinking on this issue; it can be summed up by one word: disappointed. In this morning’s Herald stories about the Bachelor are accompanied online by an article on why men fake an orgasm, why boredom is good for you (the Herald defending itself, perhaps?), and a piece about the worst lies you can tell at work. On the distaff there is a good investigative piece on why companies move profits off-shore and there is coverage of “prominent sexual violence advocate” (for or against, the Herald’s writer doesn’t declare), Louise Nicholas, opining that after recent judicial decisions, some New Zealand judges are living on Planet Dumb Arse. Well, I don’t know about judges, Louise, but apparently here in New Heraldland all the rest of us are.

As Clear as Chrystal

In these days of highly technical and proficient playback equipment, it is possible for us to see things that film-makers and certainly those in front of the camera never intended us to see. Instant pausing and high resolution clarity have opening up a new vista of nip-slips, cameltoes, crotch shots and pantie-peeks for those so inclined to search for them. I am not. I did once, when I had a “did I see what I just saw” moment concerning Debbie Reynolds. But it was enough, and I haven’t bothered again. Debbie will I am sure feel most obliged.
Which is why I find Chrystal Chenery’s disgust at having her unwitting and certainly unintended “crotch shot” posted on social media so understandable and hardly surprising. Yes, the poster, Wellington DJ Dom Harvey, has taken the post down and apologised to Chrystal for it, but that hardly absolves him from what, at our kindest, should be seen as a deeply immature act.
You know the story: Chrystal Chenery appeared in a relatively scanty costume to dance The Jive for the Dancing with the Stars final. At some time in the 1:45 minute dance sequence her underwear is on view for a split second. Harvey found it, captured it and the published it on on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. He said he did it as a joke.
But I have to say (and here I do not have the hypocrisy to claim moral ascendancy) the act displays more of Harvey than it does of Chenery. Think about this: to do what Harvey did, he must have first had the prurient thought that Chenery’s leg split warranted a closer look. He would have then rewound his player, paused at the approximate place, and advanced frame by frame until he found the exact moment. He then either took a screen grab or photo of the still shot and published it. All of which takes quite a lot of work and none of which is particularly appetising.
But let’s look again at the first part of the process: Harvey must have first thought that it, the leg-split, warranted a further look. Really? Is that really how you get off, Harvey? Not much different really is it to those who sneakily take upskirt shots or hang around girls changing rooms. Pretty immature, really.
And one final thought on this: Harvey’s wife, Jay-Jay Harvey, also appeared as a dancer on that programme, and has rushed to his defence. All very laudable. But what if it had been her rather than Chenery who had been subjected to this intrusive indignity?
Somehow, I don’t think Dom Harvey would have found that quite so funny…or interesting.