Reply #72: OK, I'm going to say it - I actually do find the Britney debacle relevant these days.

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Not for the trivial or banal details of her life. I couldn't care LESS about that.

But, for the fact that this is a very very sick girl who's been turned into a media goldmine instead being turned into a mental hospital. The situation points out two very wrong aspects of our society: the way we completely ignore mental health issues and the base and disgusting things we find newsworthy and entertaining.

Why isn't this another impetus for discussion of mental health issues in this country like the VA Tech shooter? Does she, God forbid, have to kill someone and/or herself before we get there? How sick is that? She hasn't been detained for mental health treatment because the laws in this country are so weak in that area - despite the fact that the coverage accumulate on TMZ or Entertainment Tonight alone would have her committed. She's sick, very sick, and nothing can be done to help her. What kind of country are we?

And, what kind of society are we that thinks this is fun to watch? We're witnessing the very public breakdown of a woman and the effects on her children and family - and that's news? That's entertainment? Where's the public outcry - and not an outcry for more coverage at the courthouse? We should all be ashamed of ourselves - yes, even those of us not watching it, unless we're complaining to the media outlets and asking them not to cover her. (Yes, I'm including myself in this) And, I'm going to include making fun of it here on DU in that as well - it's inappropriate (I'm not referencing the OP, I get the point that was trying to make, but others in this thread are just using it to make fun of the situation)

I'm disgusted.