Celebrity Meltdowns and Why We Love Them

The saddest commentary about human nature I heard this week was the "Britney Spears: when will she die?" pool. Have human beings stooped to such a low that we are now actually betting on when celebrity's in personal crisis will off themselves? How incredibly insensitive we have become.

We as a society seem to revel in watching the mighty fall. I know there is some deep seeded psychological reason for why we do this. Can't we change? Can't we modify our behaviour so that we actual feel some compassion for these people. For that is what they are after all, just people, like you and me, except with millions of dollars in the bank.

But have you ever thought how you would feel if you were in their shoes. No privacy. Always having to be at your best whenever you go out into public. How many of you have ever gone to Wal-Mart on a Sunday morning with your hair standing on end looking more trollish than human. Imagine now having dozens of photographers taking our picture trying desperately to get that one shot of you blowing your nose, scratching your ass, or stuffing that doughnut into your mouth.

Living a life where you have to be constantly on your guard. Constantly looking your best, even if you're feeling your worst. Every single day of your life. Day in. Day out. Never ending scrutiny. How many of you think you could stand up to it and never break? Never have even a momentary lapse of good judgement and do something incredibly stupid, or embarrassing, or just plain human?

And yet here we are. All of us, with the exception of that "guy" in that youtube video begging us all to leave Britney alone, watching and waiting for the mighty to fall. As we sit back all smug like, saying things like, "I knew she was going to freak out." Or, "Her life is over at 25, what a waste." Or, "She's just trailer trash with money."

I'm not going to get all emotional, like our friend in the video, but perhaps we should cut these people a little slack. Perhaps if we took a moment to look at what their lives really must be like, rich and famous may not be all it's cracked up to be. Sure they have their perks, but the price they pay is very high. And I'm sure if we just treated them like the rest of us, from time to time, they may actually appreciate it.

But until society loses it fascination with seeing the mighty fall, I'll place my bet on March 24th for Britney's death. Come baby, just hang in there a little longer.