Michael Jackson

Ok, what did you think of his service? I never was a big MJ fan but I found it touching. Fooled the heck out of me.
I was always a rocker and thought well ya know...


Terry

[Beargizmo]

I was never a fan, I feel bad for his parents losing a son...knowing what it's like..other than that all the hoopla is a bit over the top.  I felt bad for the guy because I think about 10-15 years ago the cheese slipped off his cracker a bit and he had a lousy home life.

I liked him when he sang ballads in his late teens, Thriller was OK..after that..no thanks.


Jim

[Beargizmo]

Oh...and I didn't watch the memorial.

[HelpinUtah]

Hi Terry:

I wanted to watch it but stuck at work!  I'm sure it will be replayed somewhere!  LOL!!!  I liked Michael and was always a fan.  I grew up with the Jacksons and the Osmonds and loved them all!  :)  I feel badly for his children!

Hugs,
Janet

[cattalina]

Would it be disrespectful to ask if ya'll heard all the MJ jokes yet? He's a pop culture icon for sure but the man had some serious issues....

[LIZZIE LOU]

and who doesnt have issues?

looks like he abused and became addicted to pain pills...and like so many addicts...was using them to cover and hide from emotional pain.

wow...

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I think that we are gonna find out that it was a much more serious mistake to rely on a general anesthetic for insomnia than it was the pain pills ...... all of it collectively made a poor scene even worse....I wasnt a fan but I dont wish these things on anyone........

[teko]

I choked a little when his 11 year old girl spoke. Good music and was surprised they had the remains presant. I thought it was nice but he has got to be pickled by now? Morbid I know!

[cattalina]

I didn't know child molestation went under "he had a drug problem"

talk about "wow"

[LIZZIE LOU]

sorry dear...you'll have to go to the mirror if you want to argue.

[cattalina]

Didn't want to argue... just responding likewise.  

:)

[beatingthis]

Nothing like a good debate.

I think his story was sad. I do not know what happen with the kids not sure I want to.
Since I don't know all the facts I do not have a opinion.

I do think he was a tortured soul. I can't even say he was a addict, need to find out more info. Tox reports.

[HelpinUtah]

Terry:

I also think he was a tortured soul and maybe I'm naive but I personally do not believe he was a child molester.  I believe he lacked good judgment and his naivity made it possible for him to believe certain things were acceptable, but I doubt he ever crossed the line. Too many people made money off of their allegations.  I think he set himself up for that unfortunately.  I can tell you if I had a child who was molested by a celebrity no amount of money would make me go away!    

I'm watching 20/20 right now and they are playing parts of the service.  

[cdpcm02]

It's sad, really. He never knew anything close to "normal". As a kid being pushed by dad to perform, cloistered, and finally, a prisoner of his own fame. Not sure about his guilt or innocence re: allegations, but highly suspect and innopropriate certainly. I think his appearance in the end says volumes for how he felt about himself--I don't think he ever knew who he really was. Classic addict low self esteem, even though he reached the pinnacle of success....

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

The guy never molested children - - he never really grew up. In a lot of ways he was Peter Pan ...... He may have been in bed with several other kids at once - but the bed was 2000sq ft ... it was  a playground ....... he was a a kid that was mega successful at about 7 or whatever and all the doors opened for him ..... and psychologically he stayed Michael from the Jackson Five  ................and only grew up where he wanted to or had to .........just my two cheap psychologically challeged cents worth@!

[Totsie59]

My two cents aint worth much...but, I have nothing for MJ...NOTHING at all...I do feel for his childrens and family...He may be the king of pop....so what!  

[dominosarah]

So he had a bad childhood.....lots of us did but we chose to do something about it.  He chose to stay in never neverland........I feel bad for his kids and family and that is it.

[LIZZIE LOU]

just wondering...other than the ppl that greatly profited off their "accusations"...has anyone ever heard anything bad about michael jackson?

dominosarah...
i find your choice of words interesting.  "lots of us did but we chose to do something about it.  he chose to stay in never neverland".   i would think that someone who is familiar with addiction, would have an empathy for someone who is choosing to escape.  is it really that different?  isnt the addict choosing neverland through their drug of choice?

now...do i think he was strange?  i think he was suffering...i think he was eccentric...i think he needed help but hadnt gotten to that place in his life yet...and dont know if he ever would have.  i cant help but feel sorry for this man...just wondering what drove him to this place in his life.  it makes me think about the differences in ppl...how ppl choose to deal with what they are faced with...how some ppl deal...and others dont.

am i a fan of michael jackson?...somewhat...loved his music...didnt own a single 8 track, cassette, or cd though.  i agree that he was the greatest "talent" that has ever hit the music scene.  what i am is someone who has watched this man slowly self destruct...and for that...i feel sad.  i know that he is finally at peace and not battling his life's demons any more.

[teko]

The dude was definately different/odd. But so is the rest of the jackson clan. Was he a child molester? I am not convinced. I do think allegations were made out of greed. I do think the media is responsible for a lot of his pain and how his family raised him didnt help the situation. Rowe said he paid the parents off to keep from putting the kid thru all that pain and ruining his life. Sincerely, I think MJ was childlike in nature and never grew up!  I have known people like that before. Either way, he is gone now and if he was a threat, it is over, and if he was not, what a shame!

[Beargizmo]

I've seen the clips of his little girl about 10 times since last night and each time I nearly lost it.  A beautiful little child, now without a father.  And now with all the hoopla over, what we have are 3  young children without a father.  I can only pray that the media will shut up, leave them alone in their grief and allow them to grow up out of the limelight.

The clips I saw of the memorial last night were very tasteful and respectful and I must admit I now wish I had watched it.


Jim

[jollyman069]

There is no doubt he was a very talented and gifted person musicaly. But to me they made him out to be a hero, well I am sorry, to me the hero's of this country are the young men and women risking and losing thier lives overseas for this country. Hero's asre also all of the policemen, firemen who risks thier lives everyday, teachers who are teaching the young people of this country. To me these people are true heros!

I feel so bad for his family and especially his children, they have lost a son, brother and father.

[dominosarah]

Amen to that jollyman.......

[cattalina]

Double Amen.

[Beargizmo]

triple

[Totsie59]

Ditto...Amen again...well said...There are soooo many everyday heros that we never hear about....I so agree with you Jolly.

[LateAugust]

Unfortunately society   (that being all of us) make hero's out of so many celebrities.   I think of this no differently than I do/did of Elvis Presley..... Graceland...... their contribution to the music world huge....   and the deaths so similar or so we are to assume......

[LateAugust]

I wrote this responce to a thread similar to this last week.....   and I still feel the same.



"The death of both Ms. Fawcett and Mr. Jackson, is sad....  I will not presume to know if Mr Jackson was addicted to opiates, however it is well documented he was in treatment at Betty Ford for prescription drug addiction following his accident filming a Pepsi commercial, years ago.  To me, Michael Jackson was a music genius,  eccentric yes, but his talent and contribution to music is  limitless.     We all wanted to look like Farrah and dance like Michael......   but my thoughts go to their families.

I think of the son (Redmond O'Neal), unable to be with his mother, at her bedside  when she passed, due to his horrific drug addiction and incarceration from years of drug abuse and arrests.  Farrah's  son, whom the last time he saw his mother, was shackled at  his feet and in a jail jumpsuit.    I cannot imagine his grief, nor the guilt he will undoubtedly feel to the core of his being, probably for the rest of his life.

I think of three very young children that are left as orphans, the only parent they have known and loved was their father.  Judge the man as you wish, but do you not feel compassion  for the loss and pain  his children  will know for the rest of their lives?

I guess simplistically, I see a young son sitting in jail while his mother is dying., unable to hold her hand or touch her face one last time....  and that must be killing him inside.   Due to his drug addiction.  I see 3 children grieving for the loss of  their father due to possible drug addiction.  And it breaks my heart.

Drug addiction and all of its devastating ramifications is so very  tragic.  May God bless both families."


And selfishly, the addiction is more of a heartache to me,  rather than "did the media do too much coverage on Mr. Jackson".  You're all correct, there is a whole lot more we could be focused on,  if only we lived in a selfless perfect world.....

[Totsie59]

I so agree...It just makes me sick how society makes these "Stars" heros...I will never understand it...There is only 1 king, and it is not Elvis or Michael Jackson.

[Mangee]

The man lived and the man died. His choices killed him along with the accusations by a boy who obviously was tutord by his mother as to what to say. The mother had been in countless court cases where she was suing somebody. Her son's trip to Neverland was like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow to her. She saw this as the opportunity of a lifetime and sunk her teeth into it as viciously as she could. Later she was charged with cheating welfare. Michael's lawyers told him that if he continued with the case he would lose out a lot more than the 20 million. So he paid and it was this payment that cast a severe pall on his life. At not time did I believe this about him. Only an idiot would do what he was accused of doing considering the many, many children who were in his bed. Michael was a highly intelligent individual who managed his affairs and that kind of a mind would have seen the consequences of even remotley putting himself in danger. If you will also noe, there were more accusers but only after they saw the big payoff. Where were they before and why did it take years for someone to come forward considering all who were there before? The media sensationlists saw this as an opportunity to make money and ran with it not caring if it was true or false. It was this sort of sensationalism that gave birth to other sensationalists such as Nancy Grace who holds court and tries whomever regardless of the fact that her program will influence potential jurors and the public. Michael Jackson is gone. It is time to let him rest.

[teko]

Mangee, well said.
Personally I find it so offensive when people are judged by the so called free speach media. We gulp down whatever they spew out. They do it for ratings, and we little sheep go with the program. Ultimately, as seen here with MJ, it ruins peoples lives. They are still chipping away, all in the name of ratings. He is gone now so, the kids are up for grabs. Awful!

[cattalina]

Just to clarify, once again, I don't want to argue - I just wanted to state a quick point or two. First and foremost only idiots molest children PERIOD. Obviously people like that are sick, a sickness identical to addiction where one craves an object regardless of consequences. So saying that MJ had too much money, stature, and brains to molest a child is ridiculous. Aren't we all smart, capable people who chased our addiction/sickness to the depths regardless of the consequences? And as far as molestation victims not coming out until after the first debacle.... does anyone recall the dozens of boys who were molested by Catholic priests who took 20 years to come out? It's quite frequent that rape/molestation victims do not come out and name their accuser right away if ever, due to feelings of shame and guilt etc.
As far as my own personal beliefs - I didn't know the guy personally so I can't say what he did or didn't do. I approach life slightly less serious than all of you I guess cuz I had no idea Michael Jackson was such a touchy subject. And I don't watch sensationalist TV for a reason!! :)

[Mikeinthesouth]

I was a rock head too but an undercover Michael Jackson Cyndi Lauper boy george fan as well. ok I let it out of the bag... dont be to hard on me. I am out of the closet with my girlie music appreciation. LOL

[Mangee]

I am a man who loves to debate.  However the subject of what Michael Jackson did or didn't do has been overdone and to continue on in that vein is ridiculous. The media will continue this as long as it sells ridiculous or not.

[LateAugust]

I could not agree more with what you said......   thankfully you did so in much fewer words than I was capable.

[Mangee]

Cindy lauper as well as Michael Jackson are in my,'listen to,'  list as wll as many others. It is not the personalities that I admire it is, and still, is their music and artististry.