I need help, but not your help. / myLot

United States

January 19, 2026 1:27pm CST

I feel sorry for my sister. You might remember me talking about judging a state drama competition, and also being a room monitor. She’s still looking for judges, but my sister clearly said to my dad she can’t let a certain lady from his church judge the art portion again. Judy is certainly qualified having an art degree and showing at galleries, but she didn’t read the instructions last time, gave a kid a zero (that’s not possible if you’re judging correctly) and made a few other mistakes as well. The child who got a zero (an 8 year old) sobbed. My dad and his wife are on their way to San Antonio with that Judy and her husband. Diana apparently says to the lady Mindy needs judges, and the lady tells her to call Mindy (right then and there) to tell her she (Judy) can judge art again. Apparently, my dad said nothing (I know he’d tell me that’s not his job), and Diana calls and puts Mindy on speakerphone. But Mindy DOES NOT know she’s on speakerphone! Can you guess what happened next? I’m told it got really awkward because my sister very nicely explained to Diana why that was a horrible idea. Oh, boy! She had no clue Judy was listening. And no, Judy is STILL not going to be a judge.

8 people like this

9 responses

LooeyVille

@LooeyVille (70)

• United States

11h

Our # rule is that you ALWAYS tell the other party on the phone if they're on speakerphone and who can hear them.

2 people like this

Amber

@AmbiePam (110485)

• United States

11h

Yes, absolutely! Absolutely! And they are so out of that habit, that when I talk to either my dad or Diana I ask them if I am on speakerphone before I say anything else.

2 people like this

@DaddyEvil (165927)

• United States

I always say if I have the speakerphone on and who is listening with me. Your sister didn't do anything wrong. The woman needed to know why she wasn't being asked to be a judge again. I hope it discourages her from trying to judge any other art shows, too. What she did to that child was inexcusable.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (110485)

• United States

I don’t understand how she didn’t read the rules. I darn near memorized those suckers because I didn’t want to mess anything up. And I agree, she needed to know.

1 person likes this

@DaddyEvil (165927)

• United States

@AmbiePam She didn't read the rules because she didn't care. I wouldn't want her back as a judge, either.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (110485)

• United States

@DaddyEvil That’s a very good point.

1 person likes this

Stacey

@xstitcher (37572)

• Petaluma, California

10h

Someone with an art degree judging an 8-year-old's work...like the 8 year old had an art degree? That sounds so wrong.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (110485)

• United States

10h

An 8 year old was one age group. The contestants are mostly older. You have to use the same judges for every age group or there won’t be enough judges. And her art degree is from Podunk USA. And man, that sounds so mean.

Marie

@Tampa_girl7 (54050)

• United States

Oh my goodness. Your poor sister.

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (110485)

• United States

Yeah. I’d have been upset with my dad, but honestly, I wonder if my dad even remembers she told him she didn’t want Judy to judge. But you have to tell people when you’re on speakerphone. It’s just the polite thing to do.

RasmaSandra

@RasmaSandra (93101)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

I hope you sister can get over all this,

1 person likes this

Amber

@AmbiePam (110485)

• United States

She has a pretty no nonsense attitude. At least she only sees her like once a year.

Judy Evans

@JudyEv (369593)

• Rockingham, Australia

Oh dear but at least Mindy now knows why she can't be a judge which in some ways is better than have to fiddle-faddle around the truth and make excuses for not asking Judy to judge.

1 person likes this