Michael Jackson - RIP

Laroche · Post by **Laroche** » 25 Jun 2009 15:32

Wow... cardiac arrest at 50. RIP, may you moonwak through the heavens.

One of the greatest talents to walk the earth..

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 17:38

meh at celebrity "news."

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 25 Jun 2009 17:53

Is anyone familiar with the term "Debbie Downer"?

Corey · Post by **Corey** » 25 Jun 2009 18:00

BainbridgeShred wrote:Is anyone familiar with the term "Debbie Downer"?

of course. its quite a common phrase

Jeremy wrote:meh at celebrity "news."

for the most part i agree we dont need 10 magazines but when it is a death it is something different

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 18:38

Why?

It has 0 real impact on 99.99% of people. Sure lots of people liked his music, but it's not like he's making new music, and even if he was, his death clearly has no more impact on the world than the death of anybody else. It's just a distraction from the many serious issues that we should be worrying about. And fuck, what a fucking overload of news. On the main news site I check there are currently 22 stories about Michael Jackson on the front page (some may or may not be multiple links to the same stories - I don't know, or care). On my second news site there are 27, which includes a poll and a story about how a random Australian celebrity was shocked at his death.

The gross over exaggeration is ridiculous and frustrating, especially when you consider the significance of stuff like both the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition being under pressure to resign this week, the events in Iran, the violence in PNG, the corruption scandal regarding Xanana Gusmao, the fiasco in Italy, the debate in the US over the climate change response bill and the IWC meeting ending today, let alone the ongoing general issues of climate change, economic crisis and swine flu and the forgotten issues like the conflicts in The Congo, Sudan, Iraq and Afghanistan.

I have no criticism of Michael Jackson, I just don't care about him at all. I just find the reporting completely disproportionate and ridiculous. Imagine what could be achieved if all the energy, time, effort and money put into reporting this issue was put in to addressing a serious problem.

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 25 Jun 2009 18:42

Jeremy wrote:meh at celebrity "news."

While I agree that celebrity news is lame, especially when its talentless people who can't even sing/act/whatever, Michael Jackson was really a once in a generation talent. It's a shame that over the last 15 years or so he became a caricature of a celebrity, and got attention for stuff other than his singing and dancing. But based on his cultural impact, as well as his singing and dancing career in the 70s and 80s, I am sad that he is dead, and I'd say his death is something more than "celebrity news."

If a great painter or poet died, and somebody made a thread here about how it made them sad, would you shit on them too? Cause I was under the impression that Laroche was mourning the death of Michael Jackson the artist, and not MJ the celebrity. But whatever floats your boat Jeremy.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 25 Jun 2009 18:55

It get's back to a point I made in my "rant" a few weeks ago in the discussion forum, in reference to how the detaining of 2 pretty Asian girls in a bailiwick nation is more important than the detaining of 6 Serbian Muslims in our own greatest democracy in the world.

So, what did it take to push the death of a pretty 26 year old Persian girl off the Western news cycle? One better, the death of two formerly beautiful American entertainer's.

(Sigh)

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 18:55

I'm not shitting on anybody.

When was the last time a great painter or poet died and got as much media saturation as this? What about a great scientist or politician?

Corey · Post by **Corey** » 25 Jun 2009 19:06

Jeremy,

i gurantee that peoplr will be genuinely upset and sad about the death of michael jackson. i am not one. i do not like his music but i thought your post was quite naive

this will all subside in 2 days and why is a distraction a bad thing we cover that other shit all the time

i personally do read the obituaries section of the newspaper i have since i was about ten i have always had some fascination in the dead (nothing fucked up) just learning about them and their lifestyle youd be suprised some of the achievments of people you know

i think getting away from somr of those more serious issues can actually be a positive plus it is not like most people are spending the entire weeking honoring michael jackson

Colin · Post by **Colin** » 25 Jun 2009 19:24

Best Simpsons cameo. Best songs to have regrettable make out sessions to. Quite possibly the weirdest dude on the planet.

Oh, and

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 19:34

Footbagger007 wrote:Jeremy,

i gurantee that peoplr will be genuinely upset and sad about the death of michael jackson. i am not one. i do not like his music but i thought your post was quite naive

At no point did I suggest people would not be, or had no right to be, or shouldn't be, upset or sad about the death of Michael Jackson. People can be upset about whatever they like, and if they were fans of his music then it's reasonable for them to be upset. That has nothing to do with my criticism, which is that when celebrities like this die, there is a ridiculous and disproportionate coverage in the media. This is obviously a separate issue to individual feelings.

this will all subside in 2 days and why is a distraction a bad thing we cover that other shit all the time

It's a bad thing because it perpetuates the the celebrity culture we live in where a very small minority of people earn literally hundreds of millions of dollars merely entertaining people while 27,000 people die every day of malnutrition (starvation) and 5000 people die every day from dirty drinking water. Our obsession with celebrity is clearly unjust. There's nothing wrong with entertainment, the problem is that a select few earn a gross and disproportionate amount of wealth from it, especially when you consider the real value of what they're contributing to society, and the fact that if we put a cap on the wages of entertainers at equal to the average persons wage, there would still be plenty of great entertainment. It's a very exponential relationship where people who are only very slightly better earn a huge amount more than others. If we cut out all the people at the top we'd barely miss out on anything, except we'd have a lot more money to spend on actually improving society.

i personally do read the obituaries section of the newspaper i have since i was about ten i have always had some fascination in the dead (nothing fucked up) just learning about them and their lifestyle youd be suprised some of the achievments of people you know

I'm not sure what this comment has to do with anything. No doubt there are people out there dying whose achievements would surprise me. I don't think this is either related to the discussion or some kind of revelation.

i think getting away from somr of those more serious issues can actually be a positive plus it is not like most people are spending the entire weeking honoring michael jackson

This is a strawman argument. I've never said that people are spending an entire week honouring Michael Jackson, or anything along those lines. Sure getting away from serious issues can have benefits too, and I haven't denied that all - again you're attacking something I've never said or suggested. Obviously the news should be reporting his death. I have no problems with it being reported in general. My problem with it is that a major Australian newspaper has 27 stories about it on the front page of their website, and all news sites I've seen are similar. Pretty much every blog and forum I've seen also has a story or topic about it. I am arguing that this is too much coverage and unnecessary.

BainbridgeShred · Post by **BainbridgeShred** » 25 Jun 2009 19:43

lawl

i think its a generational thing. people who have a memory of his career dating back to the jackson five in the 60's ACTUALLY care, while people my age dont really give a shit. its mainly 30 somethings i think who are gathering outside the hospital and shit

but he really was as ken said a once in a lifetime talent, and jeremy definitely shat on him a bit

Corey · Post by **Corey** » 25 Jun 2009 19:53

Jeremy if you want to debate this some other timr i will gladly because it is palpable we are polar opposites on these social issues.

sen · Post by **sen** » 25 Jun 2009 20:31

I was surprised when I heard about it. And sad. I read a few articles. But I guess that makes me a bad person for wasting time on something useless and not political.

Yes, Jeremy, that's what your comments told me. Thanks.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 20:35

I'm not responsible for your inability to read.

Muffinman · Post by **Muffinman** » 25 Jun 2009 20:40

Do you have friends, Jeremy O'Wheel? If not, do you fucking wonder why?

sen · Post by **sen** » 25 Jun 2009 20:41

I'm not responsible for your inability to show compassion. A human being that was loved by many people has died. You're response is "meh"

Yup, that's the spirit. Let's go save the world!!!

Tsiangkun · Post by **Tsiangkun** » 25 Jun 2009 20:50

Michael was was ahead of his time with his music, and has left way too early.

He was bigger than celebrity, he was culture. Somebody that wraps themselves in the American flag should be able to recognize that.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 20:55

I have lots of friends Eric, thanks for your concern.

Sen; 27,000 thousand children under the age of 5 died today because of very easily preventable reasons. Sorry for not having compassion for a multi millionaire entertainer who was obsessed with himself.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » 25 Jun 2009 20:56

Tsiangkun wrote:Michael was was ahead of his time with his music, and has left way too early.

He was bigger than celebrity, he was culture. Somebody that wraps themselves in the American flag should be able to recognize that.

Me wrapping myself in a flag is a joke.

This video is appropriate now perhaps;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GJ4j9h0tL8[/youtube]