On today's Oprah.....

[TimeforMe]

Janette: I actually do agree with you in theory. What bothered me, (and in actuality it didn't really "bother" me enough for me to never watch her show again, etc.) was the fact that she seemed to take enjoyment in the fact that she "never wore it" or "wore it only once" and that people were bidding on HER clothes. You didn't get any of that at all? To paraphrase someone else, she seemed to be getting off on it.

 

[minniecarousel]

Ya know, Oprah was a little uncomfortable too. She has had a hard time realizing that she wore something only once and now she's getting rid of it. She came from very humble beginnings, and she knows that she is very fortunate to be where she is today. She does more than her share for others...lighten up people!

 

[TimeforMe]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
Ya know, Oprah was a little uncomfortable too. She has had a hard time realizing that she wore something only once and now she's getting rid of it. She came from very humble beginnings, and she knows that she is very fortunate to be where she is today. She does more than her share for others...lighten up people!

I didn't sense she was uncomfortable at all. And yes, she may know she is fortunate, but I think she's far enough removed from that now that she's lost touch just a little.

And no, I wouldn't say she does "more than her share". She may do more than some do, but that's not necessarily one and the same.

And why "lighten up". We're having a conversation here, that's all.

 

[fireplug]

Originally posted by minniecarousel
She does more than her share for others...lighten up people!

I disagree. My choice.
I have no plroblem with her spending money on expensive clothes or even auctioning them off to raise money for those poor kids half a globe away while thousands live here where she EARNS the money to buy the clothes . But I took offense with making it a big TV production. And did I watch it? NO, not all of it. 10 min was enough to turn my stomach.

I realize there are poor kids in south africe that probably do appreciate the fact that they were given new things. I just think with all her millions she could help U.S. kids more!
Must not be enough advertising revenue doing that though!

Steve

 

[janette]

Originally posted by fireplug
I disagree. My choice.
I have no plroblem with her spending money on expensive clothes or even auctioning them off to raise money for those poor kids half a globe away while thousands live here where she EARNS the money to buy the clothes . But I took offense with making it a big TV production. And did I watch it? NO, not all of it. 10 min was enough to turn my stomach.

I realize there are poor kids in south africe that probably do appreciate the fact that they were given new things. I just think with all her millions she could help U.S. kids more!
Must not be enough advertising revenue doing that though!

Steve

Sure she could help US kids, I know she's given many scholarships out and probably helps in other ways. I do wonder though what US kids would have thought about the package she gave to those South African kids. I don't think they would have been excited. I've never been there but the reports from people who have and are there talk about poverty that we just don't have in the US. South Africa isn't the only country you can find it but even the poorest here have much more than those there.

We are all spoiled in this country, kids helped by the Salvation Army etc at Christmas don't ask for a doll, school supplies and a school uniform. They want a bike or a play station, maybe a certain brand of tennis shoes. Whenever I've done angel tree type things I've always made sure they got what they've asked for and then some. Who and why someone bestows their generosity is beside the point. It's theirs to give however they see fit.

 

[kathyk2]

Of course kids want bikes and video games. They want to fit in with their classmates. I think Oprah's ego has gotten too big. Yes it's nice that she helped those children however she didn't need to televise it. She never misses a chance to remind viewers that she went to South Africa. I admire Paul Newman. His products raise thousands of dollars for charity and he doesn't even advertise them on tv.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by TimeforMe
Yes, of course. But if Oprah's true intent was just to give $ to charity, why would she televise it. Many wealthy people give $ to charity without publicizing it.

Ratings, pure and simple. The Oprah following loves to see her houses, cars, closets, & clothes.
We enjoy the 1 mil makeover she does to someones bedroom, house etc...
It is like peeking into "the rich".

Speaking of "the rich" did anyone see "Rich Kids"?????? It was on HBO yesterday and WOW that was pretty insightful into the mind of the "REAL RICH".
OPRAH HAS TO WORK FOR HER MONEY...they don't.

 

[BuckNaked]

Originally posted by TnKrBeLlA012
Let me ask this. What has Oprah done to give her the right to wear thousands of dolllar dresses.

What has she done that gives her the right to wear thousands of dollars worth of dresses? She earned the money, that's what she did.

 

[RitaZ.]

Frankly, I didn't see anything wrong with the show. I think that she was surprised that people would be willing to pay so much money for her clothes. She has worked hard to get to where she is, and works in an industry that rewards with mega $$$.

 

[tiggersmom2]

Originally posted by Buckalew11
But truly, people who spend 60,000 in one afternoon and have gold faucets in the bathroom need to use that money for the poor.

Why? Why is the poor more deserving of someone's hard earned money than the person who EARNED it? If you work hard and make a lot of money it is your right to do whatever you want with it......and that includes throwing it away.

 

[goofy4tink]

In my opinion, Oprah earned her money, she can spend it as she chooses. If I choose to believe that she is a big-time good samaritan, then terrific. If I choose to believe that she does these 'good works' in order to impress others, then so be that too.

What got to me on the show was Gail's closet!! My master bedroom isn't that large. ANd she doesn't have a TV show!!! She is the best friend of a TV star. Go figure. Does anyone know what Gail actually does for a living? I found all those scarves and shoes and pocketbooks really annoying, to say the least.

 

[RitaZ.]

Originally posted by tiggersmom2
Why? Why is the poor more deserving of someone's hard earned money than the person who EARNED it? If you work hard and make a lot of money it is your right to do whatever you want with it......and that includes throwing it away.

I agree. I will never understand why some people think that if a person makes a lot of $ or more money than they do, that they should just give it away to those that have less. Don't get me wrong, I believe in donating to certain causes and helping out needy people, but I do it because I want to.

 

[TimeforMe]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
Go figure. Does anyone know what Gail actually does for a living

She actually used to be a newscaster for a local news station here in CT--not sure if she still does that, though.

 

[princesspumpkin]

I believe that everything is relative. Oprah makes millions, so she spends hundreds of thousands. Many dissers make hundreds of thousands and spend tens of thousands (I've seen you all talk about your vacations - two weeks at the Poly followed by cruises ) . Many dissers make tens of thousands and spend thousands. Some people make thousands and spend hundreds. Some people are homeless and may look at those that spend hundreds on having internet access like some of you are looking at Oprah for having closets full of clothes she hardly wore. The things she has in her closet are just pocket change to her, like your internet access may be to you. You also must understand that for all the things that we see a celebrity doing (and advertising), there may be many other things that they do that aren't advertised. Why not make a show out of it, if it will earn more money so that she can give more money? I'm not mad at her

 

[Jeafl]

Originally posted by TnKrBeLlA012
Let me ask this. What has Oprah done to give her the right to wear thousands of dolllar dresses.

To be honest with you, anyone who can afford expensive clothes has the right to wear them. The money she pays for the clothes helps keep the designer's seamstresses, pattern makers, fabric mills, etc. employed.

As far as not giving money to the Americans, that's exactly what the Angel network does. All the money that she raises all year round, not just on that one auction yesterday goes into the Angel Network fund. Thousands of people have been helped, mostly by providing funds for education. She even mentioned that on her "Oprah After the Show" show yesterday. There was a woman in the audience from New Jersey who directly benefited from the Angel Network and came to Chicago just to specifically thank Oprah for changing her life. I forgot what her organization was, but it was very small.

I personally loved the part of the show where they taught you how you organize your closet, and how to decide what to keep. Yes, most people do not have a closet the size of Oprah's or Gail's, but the principles taught can be adapted for any size closet. I guess I just view the show as pure entertainment and nothing more.

 

[Jeafl]

Originally posted by goofy4tink
IDoes anyone know what Gail actually does for a living?

She is editor-at-large of O Magazine. She used to be a TV anchor.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

First off, she was named Mother Teresa, not Sister, and deserves to be a saint. Oprah Winfrey is an entertainment mogul, a celebrity, not a saint.

It is not just millions we are talking about. She is worth over a billion. She is not spending hundreds of thousands, it is millions and millions.

She has to work on television. Everyday she has to have a completely different expensive designer outfit for the show. Then if she attends an event, she has to have a separate expensive designer outfit. This does not include the clothes that she wears at home, to travel, etc. This adds up to a lot of clothes, the majority of which are work related.

The Angel network and the charity activities that we see her doing on the show are involving Harpo. We are unaware of what charities that she contributes to with her own personal fortune.
Maybe we should ask celebrities to publish all their contributions. I am sure we would then see what some of our most beloved stars really give. Until that happens, I don't think any of us should question the motives of someone who has obviously given a lot to a lot of people all over the world.

As far as the people buying the clothes, there are a lot of folks in the world that have $5000. The ones on the Oprah show that bought a dress for $5000 probably think we are insane for spending that much to take a trip to WDW. Different strokes.

I think the vast majority of middle class and upper class people in the US don't understand the kind of money that the super wealthy are dealing with. A family that is doing well, making $70,000 per year, has no clue what it is like to make 200 million a year.

 

[beattyfamily]

I enjoyed the show. I believe she televised it to raise even more money so we'd know to check out ebay for the rest of the dresses.

How can we fault anyone for earning their money and judging how they spend it? How do we know exactly how much she gives to charities besides what we hear about on her show? I'll bet it's a lot.

I saw the Africian Christmas show and was very moved. These were VERY VERY poor children, mostly orphans who've been raped and live in huts and can't go to school, who've never owned a pair of shoes or any toys. I was moved by it.

Oprah can't win no matter what kind, generous acts she does, to some it's still not enough. This is a very judgemental thread based on not enough info.

 

[OhMari]

Ratings, pure and simple. The Oprah following loves to see her houses, cars, closets, & clothes.


Oprah just bought a home in Wisconsin, that she will probably visit once a year.

Oprah wearing something once-Oprah sometimes wears clothes that don't fit right. She wiggles around, and pulls this way and that way-that is probably why she never wears it again. I also heard once that she has someone that shops for her clothes, she doesn't even have to time to do it.

 

[TerriP]

This thread, for me, just proves that old adage:

"No Good Deed Goes Unpunished"

Well done Oprah, Harpo Staff, Ebay, & all the bidders!!