Michael Jackson is Dead!

[H.Starr]

You're right, he doesn't.

AAAHHHHHH then why are you arguing with me?!?!?!?!?!

That's what I've been saying all along!

[KayLady]

AAAHHHHHH then why are you arguing with me?!?!?!?!?!

That's what I've been saying all along!

So I guess you said all the same things when Princess Diana died and everyone was talking about that?

[Bec caV]

Princess Diana actually was a person who did a lot for other people to make their lives better. She also died tragically, if I find out Michael Jackson died of something that couldn't be prevented I may feel a little more sympathy, however, he did not contribute much to society in my view.

[H.Starr]

Yes. So she was a really good person who did really good things. It was sad that she died so young, unfortunate for people close to her.

But. No sadder or more unfortunate than when any other really good, not world-known person dies.

Death is death. It should be viewed and treated equally regardless of a person's bank account, status in life, or how many people knew their name. I don't think those material things should be what really matters. Its all the same, no matter who you are.

[H.Starr]

As for those little boys' parents, somehow I really doubt they were thinking, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, I bet he molests them and then we can get a ton of money!"

It was probably closer to, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, how cool to say I met him, and how cool for my kids to grow up and be able to say they played at a celebrity's house!"

Still stupid, especially considering WHO they were talking about and that he had already been accused of molesting little boys before, but not as much of an evil ulterior motive as the first scenario.

[Lilypad]

We have all seen this happen with the media when a celebrity has died and the media disects their lives. The difference between this and non-celebrity has nothing to do with their lives being of MORE value in my opinion.

What we need to think of when so many people are mourning is that this person in particular has provided music for multiple generations of people. His music has been played at weddings, birthdays, perhaps funerals. People will associate him with events in their own lives. We all know when you hear a song that is special to you, it has an effect.

Regardless, of what else was going on in his life, his music was huge and had this effect. So, why I agree with Becca that he may not have had made the contributions to society that someone like Diana did, he DID have a tremendous effect on MILLIONS of people. That is what people remember and that is why there is the coverage of his death.

[Bec caV]

Oh I understand covering his death (to death) in the media. I actually have no problem with that, but I do agree with Heather that on a personal level we don't have to feel any more sympathy than we do for any non famous person.

[KayLady]

H. Starr I think we agree on both points now, as long as you apply your points equally. My problem was with people convicting someone outside the courts when they don't have all the facts, especially since people have been exonerated by DNA after wasting their lives in prison. I think people were more likely to believe he molested those kids just because he was so eccentric. Again, I do think the sleepovers were wrong and agree that he had not matured into an adult, but it's not fair to assume he was a criminal.

[KayLady]

What we need to think of when so many people are mourning is that this person in particular has provided music for multiple generations of people. His music has been played at weddings, birthdays, perhaps funerals. People will associate him with events in their own lives. We all know when you hear a song that is special to you, it has an effect.

We Are the World and You Are Not Alone are two songs that still move me.

[Lilypad]

As for those little boys' parents, somehow I really doubt they were thinking, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, I bet he molests them and then we can get a ton of money!"

It was probably closer to, "I'm going to take my kids to Michael Jackson's house, how cool to say I met him, and how cool for my kids to grow up and be able to say they played at a celebrity's house!"

Still stupid, especially considering WHO they were talking about and that he had already been accused of molesting little boys before, but not as much of an evil ulterior motive as the first scenario.

Ok - so they already probably knew that he had been accused of this before -- they still send their kids...

Something did or didn't happen and then they go to trial, things start to go wrong because their story starts to unravel. There were things that were not consistent with those accusations. I am not saying that he was innocent, but I think it is a little naive that these people could not have taken adavantage of situation to get money out of celebrity. The didn't send their kids to their to get molested, but may have decided to their situation to SAY that the child was molested and get the money.

I STILL would not allow my child to stay over with ANYONE who I didn't know, no matter how cool it would be...