Yes, I did make statements. However, one thing I have always done is to find sources of information for myself. I'm not sure why you refuse to do that. The information is available...and it isn't just some gossipy rag type of stuff either.

And the fact that you have done coursework on organized crime in American means what exactly? I don't really know where you are going with that. Even the most extensive research on organized crime in America won't turn up every single name of every mobster or everyone who was associated with them. I have a friend whose dad was definitely involved in mob activity, but I doubt you would find information about him in doing your research. Typically organized crime in America just focuses on the bigger names and most well-known families.

I lived in Short Hills, NJ for years when I was younger, and trust me, I never ran across anyone who would dress in tight leopard print, talk like a truck driver, or carry around $100,000 in cash.

Last month, I spent a week racing in a regatta at NYYC in Newport, RI, and stayed with a couple from NJ who are members and own a cottage by the club. They were extremely genteel and well mannered, and dressed in a way that (according to GC) could be considered "southern," complete with VV, Polo, khaki slacks, needlepoint belts, topsiders, etc. They would have fit right in had they dropped into Mississippi :)

So, I guess some "northern old money" is different than others, just as it is anywhere.

I like the people on this show, they are fun to watch, and perhaps they are completely the norm in the area of northern NJ that is heavily populated with Italians, but they are not the norm for all northern old money.

And, not all southern monied folks are "prim and proper" - that's why they get cut. ;)

But you essentially overrode all of that understanding when you went on that soapbox.

You're right. I should have added that that was my opinion now, and not when I was a young, uninformed GCer back then. (it doesn't just come with years on GC, it comes with age. I was young back then)

Srmom: that was my point. That not everyone who has money... or who doesn't... acts the same. You just can't assume things about people from the way they look or act. This comment:

makes me even MORE glad that I was raised up here. I know the comment was meant to be light-hearted, but many Southerners do feel that way. (and I learned that on GC) I'm so glad that I could join an organization and be myself and I didn't have to worry about impressing everyone under the sun. And that I could wear jeans and a tshirt to football games. Splinters wouldn't feel so great on those wooden benches.

Thank You! That's what I was trying to say. I've lived in Ct all my life and spend my summer on Nantucket. What you see on this show is not "northern old money" not by a long shot.

Thanks for the entertainment. I could have found them myself but you claim I'd only support my ideas with my research. If you went back many posts I mentioned my coursework as I was going to use it to back up what I said. The annotated bibliography and sources from my papers and course actually show that the stereotypes and much of anything related to Italian organized crime wasn't true, and isn't true. I would still like to know how these people are connected (according to YOU).

You won't provide any supplementing information because you don't have any, if it does exist post it, but since you refuse to, you know how it makes your statements look. I won't ask again for any supporting evidence or documentation because you don't have it, and honestly I never thought you did.

Are you talking about Italian organized crime, in general, or just this show?

If you're talking in general, I want to know the names of these researchers and the specific research methodologies.

It was four years ago this summer, I'll work on digging out what I've got that isn't my own research. Mostly it was that Italian organized crime, and the stereotypes that come with it, are not in the majority of organized crime in America. The class spanned the origins in Europe with Black Hand and how the traditional Italian groups are being edged out by Russian, Asian, and groups from Central and South America. We repeatedly discussed Mafia Myths and how things from the 20s still permeate today, especially with popular culture and the media.

When I learned of that episode, my friends and I were so excited that they were running something about us. Within 5 minutes, we realized that MTV seems to think Jersey Shore Girls live in North Jersey. Uhm, no. There are actually people who DO live here year round with more interesting lives than that. But I digress. :p

Actually, one of my personal favorites [on an Italian note] is the "I'm getting married." ... "I WILL GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!"

Has anyone else made the 'real' connection to The Sopranos? Danielle worked at Satin Dolls, the shooting location of Bada Bing.

Haha the "I'm getting married" one was my favorite. As crazy as he was, they were my favorite couple.

I caught the book episode last night. Danielle is crazy! I fear for Jacqueline sticking around. I really like her. She seems so down to earth. And I loved her comment about getting plastic surgery on her ovaries so the sperm would like them more.

That's a completely different topic. What you learned in your course is only dispelling the myth that organized crime = Italians.

Regarding this topic, the scholars who acknowledge the existence of organized crime (not all do) tend to acknowledge that Italian organized crime has a distinct culture from other organized crime groupings. This culture is essentially Italian/Italian-America culture, but it takes on a stigma and exaggeration when it is associated with organized crime.

This is why it is offensive that in many movies and shows the Italians are playing organized crime roles or are loosely associated with it. People who don't know any better associate Italians/Italian culture with organized crime, period, because of this media saturation. I think the promoters on RH of NJ knew that when they did the commercials and preview show. They wanted to spark viewer curiosity.

I was using it in support of stereotyping these people as being Italian and living in New Jersey, and therefore being connected, as wrong since it isn't true (sorry if I didn't make that clear) that connected people are like this, or people like this are connected. In essence that it doesn't work both ways. I'm not saying there aren't people out there like this, but it isn't the current trend in Organized Crime.

I find former USSR (aka Russian) Organized Crime rings fascinating as they are quite prolific on the west coast.

Dirty confession, I considered reading the book about Danielle's ex, to the point I looked it up on WorldCat.

You're blurring the topic, but I think the main point has been made.

less camera time on Lexi, please. thanks.

Theresa's kids are annoying as hell. Screaming at the dinner table and saying "no...nooooo..." when the mother tells them to close their ears. Ugh.

What's the kid's name who was doing the photoshoot? Yeah...she's a bitch.

Milania is the name of Theresa's (the housewife I think you're referring to) youngest daughter. She's so cute but a brat. The kid's name that was doing the photoshoot is Gia and yes I totally agree she's a bitch! lol. I wonder how they'll behave once they're teenagers.

They might become annoying and uncontrollable teenagers.

Jacqueline's daughter, Ashley? Yeah, she was being a major bitch at the photo shoot. If she wants to be a model/actress, she should learn to respect the photographer, and she should be thankful that her mom gave her that opportunity in the first place.

I'm happy for Theresa getting her new "bubbies"; she didn't go overboard with them.

DrPhil, you can take the "might" outta that. those kids are destined for brattiness:rolleyes:
and Ashley, i hope she has another dream in mind 'cause modeling isn't it. no one wants to work w/that attitude plus she wouldn't go far on ANTM. her personality is so unbecoming, it makes her less attractive...

Danielle knew it was a bad idea to bring the book to the table which is why I think she did it...she has no tact, or class. I think that the other children (Lexi and Danielle's kids, basically) should have been told to leave the room because they really shouldn't have been exposed to what all was going on. Money definitely doesn't buy class.

Those children shouldn't have been exposed to it at all! Why didn't the mothers stop and leave? Why didn't the men say something? What is wrong with all of them? Fighting over a book that has nothing to do with any of my business? I don't think so...

DING DING DING!

As i watched, i was so shocked that the men didn't quell things earlier.

Y'all are forgetting this is TV. Every season ends with a big dinner/party, etc where things are hashed out. The producers probably wouldn't have liked it if anyone tried to stop the fighting.

Either Jacqueline's or Caroline's daughter said something along the lines of "wait I wana see this!". Theresa tried to stop Danielle because she wanted her kids out of the room but Danielle kept going until someone put their foot down and I don't remember who it was that took the kids. Lexi and Danielle's should have been out but from everything that Danielle talks to her kids about, I'm not surprised she didn't ask them to leave.

Theresa is a bad ass. I love her. I love Caroline too cuz she just laid it out there and was calm as hell. I loved the "thick as thieves" comment. I could totally hear one of my family members saying that.

I've been thinking about it and there's no way this family is mafia. No Mafioso in their right mind would put their family and business out on display like that.

I missed it last night, I only caught the last 15ish minutes. All I have to say is "WTF?!?!?!"

I want to see the full episode, but I don't think they are showing it again until THursday

I am pretty sure you can watch it on hulu.

What children? Lauren, Ashley and Danielle's daughters? I'm pretty sure all 4 of those already know what is going on, and its really not like anything was THAT bad that they couldn't be exposed to it. And Jacqueline's husband did say something, at least in the end. I think it was better that the men didn't say things earlier, it wasn't their place to step in. This was something that needed to happen, and i think it was good they just stayed back and made sure things didn't go too crazy.

I'm pretty sure (please correct me if I'm wrong) that the Teresa's 3 baby daughters were there (Melania and the other two, at least at the beginning which means they were SOMEWHERE close nearby if not present). I mean, she was flinging a table for crying out loud!

And I'm sorry, but even if I had a daughter that was a teenager, if I decided to give someone a verbal ass whooping A) it would not be televised and B) She would not be present to see her mother act that way. The only exception is Caroline's daughter cos she is grown.

Thos kids should not be exposed to this petty drama and inane actions over pure foolishness.
I can not stand how people will do anything to be on tv. Even if it means embarassing their entire families.

Teresa's daughters had left the room waaaaaaay before the table flipping. She asked the nanny (i'm assuming it the was the nanny) to remove them from the room when Danielle first started getting upset about the book. If you can remember the episode, it was when Dina got up and shared a seat with Teresa. Lexi had already left the room as well, so it was only Danielle's daughters, Lauren and Ashley.

I doubt anyone knew Teresa was gonna flip a table, and seriously even if they had asked the girls to leave, it wasn't like they weren't gonna be listening or whatever.

Jacqueline's daughter is nearly 18. Caroline's daughter is grown. The only "teenagers" present were Danielle's and, like I stated in my last post, I'm not surprised she kept them there after hearing the things she talks to them about. And EPchick is right... right when Danielle started going off, Theresa tried to stop her so that her children could leave the room and Danielle kept going.

Deja vu. I just explained that in my last post.

Finally saw it. Danielle should not have brought that shizz out. That was not the time or place.

As an aside, for the last few weeks, I've been thinking "who does she remind me of???" And I have figured it out! She reminds me of JAFAR!!!!

http://www.sandersartstudio.com/cata...dSarcastic.jpg
http://static.thefrisky.com/images/u...s-danielle.jpg

I tried to search the thread a bit to see if I could find the correct response. She was definitely on "My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding".
http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/my_big_.../episode.jhtml

I'm a wedding show junkie.

OMG YES! She's been reminding me of someone too and I seriously think that's it. Best comparison ever.

Did anyone see the director's cut of the "TABLE INCIDENT" last night?

They did stop Danielle and asked that the kids left. Jacqueline's daughter decided to stay, as did Danielle's girls.

Danielle didn't seem to want to stop, but Caroline pretty much made her b/c Theresa & Dina didn't want their kids there.

Danielle said that she "just wanted to bring it up because she was hurt" or whatevs, but I call BS on that. If she REALLY wanted to do it then & there, she could have been classy about it and said "hey, i really wanted to talk to you guys about something" instead of being quiet all night and then placing the book on the eff'ing table and waiting for someone to say something about it.

I still don't think that was the time or place for that discussion though.

the men obviously like a woman with "balls". notice how the men lingered around Danielle in the end.

^^ I think that maybe guys also just aren't into drama.

I've never known a guy to get involved with BS like that.

Did it ever show which sister actually brought the book to the salon? I just remember, the two sisters and teresa sitting in a living room and reading it...

I don't think it showed them at the salon, but Caroline and Dina both said they were there and Caroline admitted to being the one who showed the book.

Yea, it kinda makes me wonder if they are going to show that clip during the reunion??? Hmmmm...