controversy: February 2007 Archives

Little did I know but my earlier post last night would serve as an ice-breaker for tonight's post.

Perhaps it only served as an, "American Idol" icebreaker since it's really only indirectly related to American Idol in that Antonella Barba, the hot 20 year-old from New Jersey appears to have posed for some rather provocative photos and they have been widely distributed around the Internet.

Ordinarily I'm the type that would not only provide the links I have found so far and freely distribute them via this post but also re-visit them myself for the next couple of weeks - or at least until the newness wore off. But, I have an agenda here. I have a point that I would like to prove.

First off, let me get the old fart thing out of the way. When I was considerably younger . . . we didn't have the Internet. If you went around letting people take pictures of you with half your clothes off, drunk or under the influence of anything else you could certainly take steps to make sure the whole world didn't find out.

These days that's not the case.

Anything you do and give to the Internet ( regardless of how intelligent or well thought out it feels at the time ) is recorded and there forever for the whole world to see. I'm beginning to believe that there's a significant number of people who just don't seem to get it. And it worries me because it has the potential to really screw up someone's life. Allow me to elaborate just a bit . . .

It seems that a day cannot go by without some story about Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan or even the latest in the never-ending saga of Anna Nicole Smith. Personally, I've never been that interested in any of them. Oh sure it's fun to criticize them and pick them apart. What have we to lose?

What truly surprises me is the great lengths the media will take to condemn their behavior while at the same time give celebrities the one thing they desire so much . . . fame and publicity. There's no shortage of talking heads that will suggest celebrities are role models and need to be held accountable for their actions. But how often does the media show the great things they do? They're more concerned about Paris' most recent, late night on the social scene or Britney's latest hairstyle ( or lack thereof ). Why? Because no one cares what great things they are doing. It doesn't sell. But . . . if Paris Hilton gets arrested for DUI that's news.

How many of us could live our lives in the spotlight the way most celebrities do? I, for one, would prefer not to. Knowing my desire for privacy, the first time some jerk jumped in my face with a camera I'd be up before a judge and my face would be splattered all over the TV screens. If you're old enough you might remember that little escapade with Sean Penn and Madonna and a certain photographer. That's what I imagine might take place.

We all know that life is a delicate balance of ups and downs, highs and lows, and good times and bad times. I can't imagine living a life with every moment on the front pages of tabloids or television. Although it would prove to be the definition of boring compared to Britney not wearing panties under her dress, the low points of my life would prove to be a major embarassment for me and my family.

For example, I remember a time, back in California, I was maybe 19 and had gone to a party with friends. Well, as things tended to happen with increasing frequency, I drank way too much. Stumbling onto the front lawn, my body decided it was time to purge itself of all that free alcohol. I vaguely remember a girl who tried to console me or maybe see to it that I wasn't going to die there on some stranger's lawn from alcohol poisoning in a pudlle of my own vomit. As luck would have it, more important events beckoned her and she left me - as did my friends who thought I had gotten a ride from someone else ( I found out the next day ). I awoke the next morning smelling very, very ripe and started stumbling home where I slept until seven or eight PM. Then I got up to do it all over again.

Like I said, it's not as glamorous as snorting coke off the bathroom counter in some exclusive, Hollywood nightclub with movie stars and pop singers to your right and left. But it's just as private and embarassing. Thank goodness no one was there with a camera.

Don't get me wrong . . . I'm not defending celebrities. Their obnoxious, conspicuous behavior truly is nothing short of offensive sometimes. It truly is entertainment to watch a super-mega star like Mel Gibson or Michael Richardson hit rock bottom. But ask yourself this . . .

If you were famous and rich what would you do differently? If Paris Hilton asked you to go out with her and a few of her famous friends would you go? If Britney happened to invite you to drink and do anything else with her would you? If money was no object would it matter what anyone else thought about what you did? If simply because no matter what you do will get your name in front of the public, movie producers, recording industry executives, etc . . . and you can do nothing wrong, then how might that shape your decisions?

I like to hear your take on this. Feel free to leave your opinions.