Gone4Now

God Bless you, Lulu.

I think the pay off of around 20 million was a big ole sign. If OJ can beat a murder rap that he DID do, why wouldn't MJ think he could beat a molestation charge he DIDN'T do? Of, course...he DID do it, so that point is moot.

Texas made Llano wine rocks! I'm a little tight right now...TOM makes me not be able to eat, but I get sooo hungry. So, I drink. Once a month I become a lush!

Blame the parents for what? According to a certain group of people, nothing happened. Even if NOTHING did happen, the perception is bad. His choices and actions were wrong. Why idolize/commemorate/celebrate/etc. that kind of lifestyle? That's like telling the world that you can be a creepy weirdo who plays with small children (which, if nothing else, gives the PERCEPTION of foul play) and as long as you're a good entertainer - it's okay.

I'm actually interested to know, too: Would anyone here give permission for their kids to sleep in the grown neighbor's bed? It was my impression, and vague memory - I'm sure a fan will correct me with actual facts, not just a slap-and-run "screw you" - but didn't the parents NOT know he was sleeping with them at the sleep overs? It was Neverland Ranch, and as a parent I still wouldn't have cared, but I also don't think I would have suspected that there wouldn't have been a guest room.

Yeah, Beth...GAWD, grow up. Creepy pervs are totally IN now.

Kat, I'm sorry about your brother! That must be very tough. My ex-boss had a son who was in his 30's but mentally wasn't past 3 years old. He still wet his bed, and really didn't KNOW he wasn't age 3. It was definitely tougher on his parents than on him, and they knew that he couldn't have friends like normal kids do. Although, since he was so young mentally, it was often fun for them because holidays stayed magical. :thumbdown: I think if DD got stuck at this pre-teen crappy age she's at now, I'd go nuts.

Sometimes. :thumbdown: On this, I agree with you 100%. See, I can't. I don't know how to. I guess I believe that a person's merits is on how good of person they are. Whether or not I'm entertained doesn't factor into it. Same with Bill Clinton, Kobe Bryant, Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt. Even if I love them for their accomplishments, if I know that they have hurt others for their gain, I don't see them in the same light anymore. I don't follow...what would you have to aplogize for? I like his music...I just didn't like the man he was underneath. And it kills me! Thank you.

Thanks, you are correct. One more like that and I'll be moving on to the Lounge. Either that or win the love with some cuddle time with my neighbor's 8 year old son. (hey, I've got vocals...so it's okay.)

It is my opinion that he was a creepy perverted child lover. If it had been my kid, the jerk would have gotten a bullet in brain.

I actually did. I didn't reply the way I wanted to in the Lounge, so I started this in Rants and Raves.

Interesting you bring up Madonna...I was just comparing the two today. They were both ground breaking, and around the same time. She had kids and didn't do freaky things with them even though, she herself, was a freak. (Has Lourdes SEEN the book X? Yikes....Can you Imagine that conversation? "Hey, mom...is this you naked - with a dog?") Point is...he went one way, and she went another and I think her parenting skills were slightly better. I think MJ and kids don't mix. Even if nothing sexual happened, it messed the kids up pretty badly because it wasn't normal, it wasn't appropriate. They were strangers who became friends who slept in his bed. Even IF nothing happened, would you tell anyone about it? If you were one of those kids, would you ever feel comfortable saying, "Yeah - I was one of those kids."? I don't know that I would. And, his own kids have that hanging over them, too. He did have the resources to get help and he should have. But, I think he wanted to be kids so badly he didn't think about the consequences. Again, even if it was just friendship he wanted then he should have realized it wasn't the right way to go about getting his own childhood back. To me, the lack of judgement that he displayed the last two decades proved that he wasn't fit to be a parent, and that he wasn't acting in the best intersest of anyone around him. He was just selfish. IMO

Yeah, come to think of it...Hitler's great. (I mean, he's dead, right...so I have to appreciate him. He could paint very well, so I guess he wasn't that bad.) It's hypocrisy I hate. Just because some one dies doesn't mean respect should be given. I don't care if people agree or not...I'm just stating that I don't get how when he was ALIVE, say, last week -it was more okay to bash him? How does that make sense? Oh, he died, so don't hurt his feelings NOW? How does death redeem the pain left behind to the ones still living? I didn't like him last week, and I don't like him now. My rant began because out of the blue, like Kat stated before, every media outlet LOVES him. They didn't last week, why are they shoving the icon down our throats now? I don't like him. Not alive, not dead. (His music and talent are not an issue.) I don't like the baby-dangling and the child molestation charges. One was a fact, that I saw over and over when the media shoved THAT down my throat, the other was a charge that was never proven - but one that I believe happened. (not to mention that a sleepover with young teen boys is no where near appropriate, especially the ones that MJ told the boys to keep a secret (his words in an interview, not mine). I respected the posters in the Lounge, and at their request will not go into their pity party and bash him there....but, as long as the media is shoving it down my throat how wonderful he was, I need an outlet to disagree.

Yeah. I have the country stations on (I like all music, even MJs old stuff) but nothing I want to hear all day.

Yeah. I have the country stations on (I like all music, even MJs old stuff) but nothing I want to hear all day.

:thumbup: I agree, as usual, 100%. I also remember him lying about not having plastic surgery and the interviewer held up two photos side by side - the Thriller Jackson and the Jacko Jackson. Um...yeah - faces don't morph that way naturally. Later he did admit to plastic surgery. So, if someone could lie about that, what else would they be willing to lie about...? I'm not. I really could give a rat's behind what you think, I just don't understand how people overlook what he did to say how wonderful he was. He wasn't. He was a creepy child molester. If anyone EVER accused me of molesting a child I would FIGHT UNTIL I DIED. The IRS trouble you had no way compares to being accused of MULTIPLE CHILD MOLESTATION charges. FYI: There was another posting, not in rants and raves, that specifically asked people not talk smack about Jacko on that thread. So, I started this one so that I could bash him openly. You're welcome to keep defending him, but why would you to me when there is the I-love-Jacko thread somewhere else? Are you trying to convince me of something?

Is the New York Times proof enough that he settled out of court? Personally, if I were innocent, I'd say "F-YOU, bring it, I'm innocent". I guess his lawyers thought millions of dollars was a better deal, or maybe a better chance...? Michael Jackson Settles Suit For Sum Said to Be in Millions - The New York Times

There are just too many good people in the world who die every day for me shed a tear over a jerk who died. I don't believe anything is wrong with feeling sorrow over the loss of someone, but what I don't understand is how people can over look the train wreck he's left behind. Children are the most precious commodity we have, not however many platinum albums one can sell. Have we all lost our minds to overlook that? Pete Rose couldn't get into the hall of fame because he gambled. MJ hangs a child over the balcony and everyone just looks the other way. He pays off the family of the boys who accused him...and each time we looked the other way? Unbelievable. Oh, but right...he could sing and a lot of people enjoyed that. Oh, okay, then. Nevermind.

So because he could preform, he deserves our admiration? Being a nut job who endangered kids is overlooked because he can sing? Really? I will save my respect and adoration for those who don't hurt children physically and emotionally, whether they can entertain me or not. I'm just not that selfish.

Went to gym again today...didn't wanna....daughter made me! So, I dragged DH, too. :thumbup: But I was happy after going.

The fact that so many people become emotionally attached to famous folks amazes me. If he was your bff, then I am sorry for whatever loss that causes you. For me, he was a just an f'ed up singer who touched little boys. Anyone who worships that is just as sick, IMO.

So what if he could dance? (He could also grab his crotch and squeal...talent? REALLY?) So what if 20 years ago he was popular??? So what if every now and then a decent song came out of him? He was a freak show, an unstable psycho who endangered his own kids (does anyone remember the balcony??) and *probably* molested children. Making your kids wear sheets over their heads, and freak-a-zoid Mardi Gras masks doesn't make for an icon worth revering. I don't care how much "talent" you have, kids should come first!!!! What's the matter with people that they didn't take that into consideration. Let's just brush this molestation issue under the rug, because gosh darn it, he could sing and dance!! Wooo. Good riddance, MJ....

Good luck, Beth! I know I would get lectures daily if mine ever read my blog. :bored: As it is I feel weird that friends read it! And good morning everyone!

That's the tough part...My mom lives one minute away. My daughter will call me and say, "Grandma picked me up and we're going swimming." I know I can't be there for DD when she gets home from school, and I'm not sure being alone would be better/worse than being with my mom. She was alone for a while and she was hanging around kids from the bus stop and was started to act up a little bit. So, I feel guilty for leaving her at home alone, and I feel guilty for exposing her to my mother - my only two options financially. I always make the excuse that she helps me by watching my dogs when we go visit DH's parents out of town, and by watching DD after school. But the emotional beat down is just getting to me.

ARGH!!!! Computers at work are acting funny and my previous post posted twice. Deleting duplicate.