More controversy?

Since being given my own column at the first of the month I have posted 7 articles. Most have been single-topic pieces, while two were multiple-topic ramblings. All have been fairly well read, garnering from just over 500 to almost 1600 hits each. What’s been lacking in many, however, has been responses.

The first few had a good number of responses, but the more recent articles have had fewer.The column previous to this had only eight posts, one of which was mine, and two from hammertime.

So, I can’t decide whether I need to generate more controversy, or just continue on posting articles that a good many people seem to agree with?

Today, I’ll try a little controversy.

Whoops, she did it again!

Britney Spears. I was never a big fan of either that genre of music nor of Britney herself, although I applaud her for her determination to be a pop star. It does seems that Britney, like so many before her, just can’t handle the pressure of the star-studded lifestyle.

Frankly, I’m not convinced I could handle it, either.

It’s easy to condemn her, or at least to be less than sympathetic toward her. After all, she has money coming out the wahzoo, and all the fame and fortune that anyone could ever wish for. But as the old saying goes: be careful what you wish for.

Being followed around by paparazzi can’t be very fun. Having your clothing choices, hairstyle (or lack thereof, currently), choice of restaurant and menu selections, and other minutiae divulged in the media — thanks to the internet, often within moments — certainly limits one’s personal freedom.

Of course, there are those who will argue that this is the lifestyle of a "star" and should be expected. Perhaps so, but that may not make it any easier to cope with.

Certainly there is an element of personality that leads one to this lifestyle. Many talented people — singers, actors, performers — never make it big. Some never even make it beyond school productions or church concerts, or simply entertaining friends and family at home.

In addition to talent, it does take a certain drive and desire to be successful. You not only need to perform, but to perform for an audience. And "need" probably isn’t a strong enough word. Perhaps "crave" is more accurate, and not everyone has this craving.

Even when it comes to politicians, the desire has to be there to put yourself in the centre of a crowd and capture their attention. It’s one thing to get up in front of a hundred or so relatives and friends at a wedding reception to give a toast or a short speech. But to get up in front of strangers, not just one time but frequently, and give speeches, especially knowing that there will be those in the audience who disagree with you, is no easy task.

Often people will put forward names of those whom they believe would make good representatives. In many cases they are correct; there are a lot of talented, caring, community-minded individuals who would make fantastic representatives… except… they lack the desire to allow themselves to be the centre of attention.

Back to poor Britney. The latest word from her family is that she is suffering from post-partum depression. That certainly would explain some of her behaviour, although it doesn’t explain anything that happened prior to her pregnancy and birth of her child.

My own "gut feeling" regarding her revolving-door approach to rehab is that she is being pressured by her handlers and family to do this, but she may not yet have admitted to herself that she needs this help. I think she probably checked-in, was handed a list of the rather strict rules she was expected to follow, found out that her "star" status was meaningless to the staff, and bolted.

1. I admit I am powerless over _______, and my life has become unmanageable.

When she can say that, and believe it, then her recovery can start. Hopefully, for her sake as well as the sake of her children and family, she can admit she has a problem, and will seek the help she needs to set her life back on course.

The situation begs the question, however, why some stars are able to cope with stardom while others, like Britney, fall to pieces.

As I mentioned previously, it is a pressure-filled lifestyle, or can be. I imagine — likely I will never know myself — that one’s choices have a lot to do with it. One can choose to adopt the "Hollywood" lifestyle — huge entourages, mansions, exclusive clubs and restaurants, shopping on Rodeo Drive, etc. Or one can choose a more modest lifestyle, and try to avoid the limelight except when necessary.

As I said, I don’t know how, or even if, I could handle that "Hollywood" lifestyle. I’m pretty sure, though, that I shan’t get the chance to find out.