Comments on: Open Thread for June 26, 2009

By: Gab

Gab — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:02:15 +0000

Yes, I think part of the tragedy is how those “friends” of his and his family let him behave the way he did in public and didn’t protect him from himself.

By: Marmaduke

Marmaduke — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:14:47 +0000

oh most definitely. I just wish those closest to him could have offered him better guidance. I’m not sure if he was getting help, though I doubt it. But they could have at least dropped some hints as to how this would look to everyone not living in Neverland. When Britney Spears shaved her head and the media had a field day, I was constantly reminded of him and his scandals.

By: Gab

Gab — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:21:06 +0000

@Marmaduke: Spot-on. I’d only add that because of his psychological trauma as a child, he was clearly suffering from multiple, diagnosable mental disorders: most notably, psychological evaluations of him state his mind regressed to that of a ten-year-old.

By: Marmaduke

Marmaduke — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:01:40 +0000

@ Ethan:
Michael Jackson was a mess. There’s no doubt about that. You say he was a complete shell of his former self, but are you aware of what he’s lived through up until that point? When you try to judge as to whether he’s worthy of your grief, you can’t separate the artist from the person because the artist was the person. His life’s work played a significant part in the individual he developed into. And while one shouldn’t use their upbringing as a crutch there’s no denying that a poor childhood (horrible abusive father + international fame at a young age) will do a number on your psyche.

But if you do want to look at him as a person, you would see that he was a guy who suffered from multiple physiological conditions, demonstrated extremely poor judgement in those who he surrounded himself with (i.e. needy, manipulative families of young boys), and as a consequence eventually ended up depending on prescription drugs for his stress.

But this guy was loaded and one thing he didn’t have to do was get involved in as many chartiable organizations as he did. One can write off a celebrity’s sincerity when they toss a couple million at one organization their PR suggests they support. But when they give significantly and constantly, when they make several songs and music videos, and when they actively participate in and organize socially conscious events it’s clear that this person has a compassion. Michael had a lot to give in the music world, the third world, and the world of those suffering through cancer, AIDS/HIV, and alcoholism.

He was eccentric. He was too trusting. He was socially immature at the worst of times. He was frivolous with his money. He had too many facial reconstruction surgeries. None of these character flaws can compare to the impact he left on so many lives. Please don’t say he wasn’t a good person because of what the media has spun.

And sorry about the rant. As a small disclaimer, I’m a fan of Michael Jackson’s music but I was never a diehard Fan. I just need people to realize that multiple factors create an individual and many events in their lifetime shape who they are and who they will become.

By: Saint

Saint — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:41:02 +0000

I think that, when someone especially famous dies, we get the impression that lots of famous people are dying, even if they aren’t. The especially famous person’s death is a story for a long time, and at a higher level than other less-famous people who may die. That means that there is the appearance of overlap as news outlets try to keep writing about the super-famous death while other people die.

It’s similar to the “election year” effect in politics: there are about the same number of elections on every even-numbered year, but on presidential election years, the added attention to politics makes more elections news, and the impression is that there are more elections happening on presidential election years.

By: Gab

Gab — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:38:14 +0000

Even more death: Billy Mays (the “Infomercial King”) was found dead this morning.

Good grief, what the blazes is going on?

By: Megan from Lombard

Megan from Lombard — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:30:29 +0000

@Gab: really? awesome! I had to work during it but I remember to set the DVR…I’ll have to squeeze in time between my summer class and work to watch it ^-^

By: Gab

Gab — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 05:23:20 +0000

Megan: Watched it. ‘Twas fun.

By: Amy

Amy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:32:41 +0000

Elvis died in 1977; John Lennon died in 1980 and while I wasn’t alive yet, I’ve seen footage and pictures of the aftermath. The response to MJ’s passing is very similar to the catharsis that fans experienced for them. People form serious bonds with iconoclastic artists like these, because music often provokes such visceral responses within us; we imprint the songs in our memories and lives. All three men were so influential in music and subsequently our lives. We should give pause, we should let it all out, and then move on in a healthy way. What’s sad, is that the media outlets are going to use and abuse this story for weeks to come. Until those toxicology reports come back. The firestorm has only begun in the US and maybe worldwide. In Germany, “Der ‘King of Pop’ ist tot” graced the papers this morning.

I am upset by his death, because I’m a child of the late 80′s, early 90′s and I grew up with his music, but by the same token, I’m very glad I don’t have a television here.

By: Megan from Lombard

Megan from Lombard — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:26:06 +0000

a slightly different topic- anyone gonna watch the Doctor Who special on Saturday? It was the Christmas special and the beginning of it aired as the shows ‘Children in Need’ special.

It looks like it could be really good and (unfortunatly) it starts the countdown to Tennants final episodes :(