Betty White is everywhere these days. This spunky,slightly saucey senior is the hottest thing in show business. In fact, "Hot In Cleveland" is her new TVLand sitcom and she was razor sharp in its premiere. When J Z dedicates a rap song to you and you're 88, well,that's one of the ways you know you're happening.
Last night as we watched Betty's SNL hosting gig rerun, a friend brought up an unexpected topic. He contended that way back when, Betty was even saucier than she is today. In fact,she appeared without a great deal of clothing on a deck of 1940's playing cards.
That's the stuff you could discuss without resolution for days when Betty was 50. You'd have to write TV Mailbag or Parade Magazine to find out if Betty ever approached the buff. But these days,a few computer keystrokes and any fact can be verified or voided. And sure enough, I was soon staring at the Inquirer website screaming "Betty's Nude Shocker." There was a picture of Betty at 88 next to a 1940's playing card that had her sitting on her legs,wearing earmuffs and not much else,with strategically located stars added by the Inquirer. In fact,this picture was shown on David Letterman's show in 1985 with Betty as guest and back then, she joked about it. The details are online now.
The purpose of this essay is not to judge Betty on her decision to bare most of it or her current dismay at the re-emergence of the pictures. Betty's bare facts got me booted off the FB friends list of a buddy I've known for a good many years.
In order to show the picture to others in the room with me at the time, I put it on my FB page as a profile picture for no more than 60 seconds that morning and it may not have been that long. I removed it quickly,not because I think it was objectionable (nothing is on display) but because I didn't want it as my profile pic,. I just used it as a forum to briefly display the pic to folks looking over my shoulder.
I got back to my FB page moments later and had a message from a buddy telling me I would have to be banned from their FB page for my profile pic which was now an american flag. I thought it was a joke until I checked my own friends list and found myself one short.
I know that kids who probably shouldn't have FB pages might gravitate to my former FB buddy's page and see a scantily clad but discreetly covered former starlet and I'd like to think I'm wise enough to get that though I find nothing inherently wrong with the picture. But the lightning quick speed at which I was consigned to the internet ether by a buddy who should have more faith in my judgement was disturbing. If BP could move half this fast, the mess could have been cleaned up a lot oilier. I mean earlier.
So Betty White has cost me a FB buddy and now I may never get my fan page. But let this serve as a cautionary tale. You're on Facebook and someone is always watching. But maybe only for a few short seconds and with an itchy delete finger.
Deal the cards,Betty!
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