Serious question here, but do you ever look/notice that when a celebrity dies , you don’t care?
I’m talking Aaron Carter.


He caused his own death due to his drug use and lack of self control. Why would I feel sorry this?

 

Excellent question Dave, I had to think about that one.

It does peak my interest, and I usually jump to conclusions about the cause of death, which almost always proves true - drugs or suicide or misadventure. I don't think I feel sorry for any of them as they lead very privileged lives which tend to be wasted. I probably don't care, but in some kind of morbid way I do want to know how they died. But you see it all over the news and it does peak my interest a bit. With Aaron Carter it was more of a feeling of " I knew it" , his eventual demise was easy to predict any time you saw or heard him in the media, he had a self-destructive lifestyle that was very evident.

 

I just don’t understand the crying/sympathy over a celebrity or person who dies because of their actions.
I mean you take ‘X’ drugs or do ‘X’, why should we as the public be surprised that you die?

If I ever pass away because of my actions / overdose (not that I take drugs) - don’t mourn or send the ‘thoughts and prayers’ crap to my family or friends.
It’s my fault, no one else’s.

 

We can post nice things about you on this forum though.

 

It just frustrates me that we pour all the attention on people that cause their own death

 

Don't look at me. They don't have my sympathy (or attention) -- ever! Good riddance!

 

I don't have 2 cents
AFAIK, he was forced into show business by his parents who then stole all of this earning (ala Gary Coleman). There was allegations of sexual abuse.
He turned to drug to cope.
i feel bad for the guy

 

Good point, and I am sure there are lots of things we never know about child stars.

Child stars don't always do well, selling 3 million albums when you are 9 years old is going to create some unusual pressures in one's life. No question about it that he had mental illness issues , what the cause was is anyone's guess. His sister died in a similar way, so it makes you wonder about the abuse and family background aspects of it all.

I used to think famous people couldn't have any "real" problems as they are rich and that solves all their issues, but I was once told that mental illness doesn't care about your status or wealth, and that struck a chord with me.

 

It seems like he was huffing compressed air cans to get his high, along with pills, such a ghetto way to get one's thrills.

 

I feel compassion because he was human like the rest of us. We ALL have unhealthy coping mechanisms. Working with unhoused folks has made it clear to me that people would rather have healthy ways to ease their pain but it’s not so straightforward. Of course people need to be accountable *and* are genetic, systemic and other factors that prevent folks from getting the support they need and deserve.

One of my favourite quotes is, “The opposite of addiction is connection.” The more we ostracize substance users the worse they feel about themselves which just reinforces their substance use.