[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Animal: He's a kid. All he wants to be is a kid, to be like Peter Pan. I would imagine that growing up the way he did, certainly had a negative impact on his life. He was never allowed to do things that regular kids do, never allowed to play, his father was very abusive and he was under a lot of pressure at too young of an age. The fact that he's acting like a child now indicates he never had the opportunity when the rest of us did. Growing up, he had very bad acne which his father used to tease and ridicule him about. Can you imagine? And we wonder why he wants to change his appearance Now, Jackson's got enough money do do as he pleases, and he's doing so but all that fame and fortune has brought the spotlight. I'm sure that many people are as troubled as Michael Jackson and with good reason, but they don't have billions of dollars, and they're not a public figure. He's 80's music was brilliant, the moonwalk was a phenom so you can'd deny his success or his popularity. Everyone has listend to a Jackson song at one point or another, and he's got the money to prove it. The only reason the people call him weird is because their pissed that he's got more money and success than most could ever dream of, nevermind possess.

I agreed with you up till the last two paragraphs Animal. Michael's music in the 80's was brilliant...but contrary to popular belief, he DID NOT invent the "MoonWalk" Don't believe me? Rent the movie Flashdance. The "MoonWalk" was part of the Breakdance craze that started 1-2 years before Michael moonwalked across the stage at the American Music Awards.

And I am by no means "pissed" because he has more money and success than I will ever have. He also has more natural talent in his gloved hand than I have in my whole body and I have no problem with that. I don't envy his money or success because he definitely earned it through his own natural talents.

So if I call him "weird" now..it isn't because I'm jealous...it's because he is weird by the standards of our society.

I mentioned this in the last Great M.J. Discussion, but I personally consider Michael Jackson one of the greatest tragedies of my lifetime. He had so much potential in the mid-80's that there was literally nothing that was beyond his grasp or ability...but the emotional pain and trauma of his early childhood have finally caught up to him...and for me....it is a very sad thing to see. I admired him greatly during his "hey day". Now I feel a sadness for the greatness that was lost.