Glorification of Michael Jackson

[Prince Odysseus]

From what I've seen thus far, the news networks, members of this forum, and others in mass media have done wonders in the glorification of this man. My question, which is the reason it is being put in the ethics and morals forum, is why are swaths of people paying tribute to a man who was a pedophile? Especially when more pressing issues like North Korean nuclear tests and the political situation in Iran should take precedence.

[Ummon]

It is as wrong as demonization. But people want heroes, they want evil guys, they want to think heroes are heroes, then that heroes have always been evil guys, etc.

It's called fashion.

[Prince Odysseus]

I completely understand that, but it simply seems out of place for all modes of media to be exalting this man.

*Sigh*, America is fast becoming a hell hole.

EDIT: He invited 13 year old boys to his personal residence on Neverland Ranch. Come on, who in God's name would name a piece of property 'Neverland' if they weren't after little children? In addition he had to give out millions in settlement agreements for the families of the children. That's not something an innocent person would aim to do, eh?

[Azog 150]

I completely understand that, but it simply seems out of place for all modes of media to be exalting this man.

*Sigh*, America is fast becoming a hell hole.

He was incredibly talented and managed to change the face of pop-music. It was the video for Thriller that practically started off the age of music Videos (Before that, it was usually just videos of bands or singers playing)

Plus, he wasn't ever convicted of pedophilia or whatever else.

[Jams79]

He was incredibly talented and managed to change the face of pop-music. It was the video for Thriller that practically started off the age of music Videos (Before that, it was usually just videos of bands or singers playing)

Oh please, music videos had been around since before the beatles MJ just started the fashion for making epically expensive vids. MTV started in 1981 thriller was released in 1983.

edit: The thing that totally destroyed any respect I had left for MJ was his lack of decency shown by smothering the news with his death causing Farrah's to go almost unremarked.

[mrcrusty]

edit: The thing that totally destroyed any respect I had left for MJ was his lack of decency shown by smothering the news with his death causing Farrah's to go almost unremarked.

Umm... that's the media's fault... you can't really blame MJ for that.

[mrcrusty]

I don't believe he was a pedophile, he was acquitted and the parents of the child victims were money grubbing scum, I mean, who the hell convinces their children that they've been raped for the money involved?

That said, Michael Jackson pedophile jokes are aplenty and quite a few of them funny, if distasteful. While eventually, they will start to re-surface, people usually don't talk negatively about the recently deceased as long as they are proven to not be totally evil. He probably did have a lot of mental issues stemming from his childhood experiences (or lack thereof).

He did have a rather large influence in the music industry and it's progression (undeniable) and while making the point that Michael Jackson's death is being over done by the media is true, well... basically any celebrity scandal and/or issue has become like that for a long time now.

Michael Jackson's fascination with children is probably caused by the heavy workload he had as a child, and essentially the fact that we never got a real childhood. His interest in children in adult life is a way to compensate for that lost time. He's not a pedo, just lonely, he wanted a childhood and never got one. Poor guy.

R.I.P

[sabaku_no_gaara]

EDIT: He invited 13 year old boys to his personal residence on Neverland Ranch. Come on, who in God's name would name a piece of property 'Neverland' if they weren't after little children? In addition he had to give out millions in settlement agreements for the families of the children. That's not something an innocent person would aim to do, eh?

If you don't know what you are talking about it's better to just shut up

He named it neverland because he had some childhood issues, and was a bit of a child himself because he never had a childhood.

Neverland was his fantasy world where he could be like his hero Peter Pan and be a child forrever.

Probably because he never got the chance to be a child

[Copperknickers II]

From what I've seen thus far, the news networks, members of this forum, and others in mass media have done wonders in the glorification of this man. My question, which is the reason it is being put in the ethics and morals forum, is why are swaths of people paying tribute to a man who was a pedophile?

Let's see... because he wasn't a paedophile? He was never found guilty and he never was guilty, he was merely a vulnerable man who was fond of children. He had his problems, but the sick lies that he indecently assaulted children were the fabrications of money-grabbing idiots.

[IamthePope]

Let's see... because he wasn't a paedophile? He was never found guilty and he never was guilty, he was merely a vulnerable man who was fond of children. He had his problems, but the sick lies that he indecently assaulted children were the fabrications of money-grabbing idiots.

I believe that this was likely the case. However, his unusual lifestyle and fondness for children clearly invited the concern. The media merely exacerbated and inflamed the public once the initial charges were made. How many grown men do you know to casually have little boys sleep over at their ranch? It is not to great a stretch to imagine that there might be alterior and nefarious motives at work.

[MaryPoppinCaps]

I believe the phrase around here is 'guilty until proven innocent', no?

I have always been taught innocent until proven guilty; benefit of the doubt.

It's difficult for me and other Americans to feel sorry for someone who made hundreds of millions of dollars.

I don't know about the Americans you know, but coming from an American such as myself, I have to call BS on this. Just because you are famous does not mean that you didn't earn your fame or that one did so dishonestly. There are plenty of noteworthy and respectable individuals who happen to have money. Not liking a person based on their monetary stature is simply stupid.

Was a pedophile. Did do weird things with kids. Does not deserve respect. the end

You have no proof. Why not remember him for the good things he did rather than focusing on the bad? Is that so difficult?

Tell me, if you owned Neverland Ranch, and were a pop star (or whatever he was), would you have little boys sleeping in and around your house? Would you share your bed with little boys?

And yes, I'm going to disregard the trial. I don't believe in the California legal system that gives undue bias towards celebrity.

Amazing, you admit to ignoring all factual evidence against your argument so you can retain your whimsical imaginations of what might have happened. I am no fan of his music, but what he did was revolutionary and deserves the due respect. Fortunately, most people do not share your opinion(it is just that - an opinion since you have absolutely no proof besides your own prejudice). There have been countless responses in this thread that explain why he may have done the things he did, but you can continue to ignore them and believe your own fabrications.

[Prince Odysseus]

I have always been taught innocent until proven guilty; benefit of the doubt.

I don't know about the Americans you know, but coming from an American such as myself, I have to call BS on this. Just because you are famous does not mean that you didn't earn your fame or that one did so dishonestly. There are plenty of noteworthy and respectable individuals who happen to have money. Not liking a person based on their monetary stature is simply stupid.

Talking about the general rules around TWC.

You have no proof. Why not remember him for the good things he did rather than focusing on the bad? Is that so difficult?

For the same reason that people don't remember Hitler or Stalin for reviving Germany and Russia.

Amazing, you admit to ignoring all factual evidence against your argument so you can retain your whimsical imaginations of what might have happened. I am no fan of his music, but what he did was revolutionary and deserves the due respect. Fortunately, most people do not share your opinion(it is just that - an opinion since you have absolutely no proof besides your own prejudice). There have been countless responses in this thread that explain why he may have done the things he did, but you can continue to ignore them and believe your own fabrications.

I'm not here to argue about whether or not he was a good singer. I believe I left a sarcastic note somewhere, a page or two back. In addition, I don't agree with the court's decision. As a citizen of the world, I have a right to disagree and I am exercising that right now.

But what I find most shocking of all is that you took the time to read this entire thread, but have failed to comment on the reason that this thread was made. Bravo. Bravo.

[Last Roman]

Let's see... because he wasn't a paedophile? He was never found guilty and he never was guilty, he was merely a vulnerable man who was fond of children. He had his problems, but the sick lies that he indecently assaulted children were the fabrications of money-grabbing idiots.

a little too fond. and just because OJ was never found guilty...well, you get the point.

[IrishHitman]

Let's see... because he wasn't a paedophile? He was never found guilty and he never was guilty, he was merely a vulnerable man who was fond of children. He had his problems, but the sick lies that he indecently assaulted children were the fabrications of money-grabbing idiots.

OJ was acquited too..

Truth is a ridiculous thing in the American justice system these days, the one with the most money wins unless there is considerable forensic evidence...

[Copperknickers II]

Becoming? It has been one ever since that community of foreigners were wiped out by disease in Jamestown, with the exception of the rich classes. At the gutter level, it has always been a hellhole.

People exalt Michael Jackson because he was a great artist, and also a figurehead for black people (as long as he was black, of course).

[Prince Odysseus]

Becoming? It has been one ever since that community of foreigners were wiped out by disease in Jamestown, with the exception of the rich classes. At the gutter level, it has always been a hellhole.

People exalt Michael Jackson because he was a great artist, and also a figurehead for black people (as long as he was black, of course).

I was talking about morally, socially, and economically. I love America; a conservative one.

My view is: congratulations, he can sing. A bunch of people can sing well, but they don't invite little children, and only little children, over for 'sleep overs'. The only people in that situation who share the blame equally with Michael Jackson are the parents of those children. However, it doesn't degenerate from the fact that he was tried on several occasions for pedophilia.

[Azog 150]

I was talking about morally, socially, and economically. I love America; a conservative one.

My view is: congratulations, he can sing. A bunch of people can sing well, but they don't invite little children, and only little children, over for 'sleep overs'. The only people in that situation who share the blame equally with Michael Jackson are the parents of those children. However, it doesn't degenerate from the fact that he was tried on several occasions for pedophilia.

You are a Conservative American that doesn't believe in being innocent until proven guilty?

[Taiji]

Micheal Jackson was awesome, it's very sad that he's died so young.

As for other issues taking precedence, get a grip... when a loved one dies, it takes precedence over most things.

I suspect, Carloginias, that your problem is just that you feel left out, you never made the connection and now it's too late.

A bit like player-hating (or envy) only on a mass scale...

[Prince Odysseus]

Micheal Jackson was awesome, it's very sad that he's died so young.

As for other issues taking precedence, get a grip... when a loved one dies, it takes precedence over most things.

I suspect, Carloginias, that your problem is just that you feel left out, you never made the connection and now it's too late.

A bit like player-hating (or envy) only on a mass scale...

Not even going to dignify this with a response.

[boofhead]

That's another problem with capitalism. The headline that makes the money is all - the headlines very often dictate the politics. Who cares that people's kids are being blown up overseas? Who cares that that could be you? A guy who could sing and dance has died! Peter Pan is dead! Screw all the Little Johnnies who will die in the meantime thru' neglect, abuse, or war!