The problem I have with Haley is her attitude ... her pouting, rolling of her eyes, snide comments, etc., when the judges or Jimmy Iovine give her any constructive criticism, is very immature & disrespectful ...
I disagree. I feel that to draw that conclusion one would have to place an expectation of submissive behavior on someone that is unreasonable. Turning it around: I view Scotty's over-the-top deferential behavior negatively. The difference is that I realize that that's natural for him, just like Haley's more assertive demeanor (which is, as others have pointed out, actually pretty average and mainstream) is natural for her. If anything, Scotty's behavior is far more immature.
Also, to some extent, I think you're confusing disagreement with disrespect, but I'll give you this much: In some cases Haley has "disrespected" what some of these folks have said (but not the people, themselves). Some of those comments that she's "disrespected" are comments that I have personally "disrespected" in this thread. And, since she's actually got talent, Haley is far more qualified to judge how respectable some of the criticism that has been directed at her than I am, and so her disrespecting of those comments is even more valid.
The reality is that a lot of the comments you see her "disrespecting" are comments that highlight just how arbitrary, capricious and random what some of these people say on AI. It's something many of us fans regularly disparage the show for: Inconsistent, conflicting, and often wrong-headed advice, given seemingly
solely to have something to say, to (in the case of the judges) justify being there after the Top 12 are chosen. This year is a little better than past years, in that regard, where the contestants were often forced to sing songs that were totally counter to any reasonable extension of the genres that fit their talents well. There is still a little bit of that going on, though.
One more comment about "respect" - Scotty holds the distinction of the most disrespectful comment made, this year, when in his blurb several weeks ago he relayed that what he's learned from this is basically to ignore advice and just do what he feels he can do best. What's more disrespectful? Having someone critique you, nodding your head, and then ignoring them? Or having someone critique you, engaging in a dialog with them, and then internalizing the portions of the critiques that you are convinced about? I feel the latter is far more respectful, and so I see Haley as far more respectful, in this context, than Scotty.
if she can't handle what these judges have said to her, (which IMO, has not been harsh at all), how the heck is she going to make it in the entertainment business where criticism will be even tougher? ...
From where I'm sitting, she's handling it just fine. I think you're projecting about what's happening inside her, internally, based on your discomfort with your watching her assert herself on-screen.
Which leads me to another issue regarding the judges this season ... where I do appreciate their kinder, gentler approach with the contestants this year, I also feel that it may have been a bit of a disservice to the contestants ...
Personally, and I've said this before, I think they can fix everything, all at once, if they just switch to a voting system where the votes are $1 purchases from iTunes between the end of the performance show and the beginning of the results show. Make voters put their money where their mouths are, and that'll give the contestants the truly "real" taste of the business, where if you do well, people buy your records, and if you don't, then they won't.
Of course, I would hope that they'd also allow and count purchases from Zune Marketplace.
I don't!
She is also on Simons new show
