[CFstantony]

Just look at the coverage given to the McCann story.

Just how many other children went missing in Europe last year?

I understand people have to make news and the McCann story is obviously more interesting for them to put out there than the average missing child story but the amount of money/ publicity/ importance given to this one case is absolutely disgusting and repulsive. I think they recieved 1 million in handouts? For what they are not a poor family. Nevermind all the tv time given. I feel sorry for all the poor families with missing kids who werent entertaining enough to recieve 1M.

While I am not agreeing with you GT on this matter I agree on some points.

[Luisabens]

He was a good actor who died at a young age.

Looks like someone is trying a bit of damage limitation.

Now if you'd have started your first post on this thread using these words, and then gone on to make your point, (rather than your rather cold reaction to this young mans death) i may even have been able to agree with the general gist of your posts. Lack of compassion is not a very attractive Characteristic, but i wasn't particularly surprised by the response.

Its amazing that someone who claims to hate the attention this death has attracted, has managed to keep this discussion (which would have probably died out some time ago) alive and well.

And Ninjahedge, i competely agree with your last sentence.

[SeftyJokipl]

Now if you'd have started your first post on this thread using these words, and then gone on to make your point, (rather than your rather cold reaction to this young mans death)...

I wasnt aware that this thread was about me. In fact, you seem to be dwelling more upon me than the dead actor.

The young man died. The media circus was bad enough.

Then his father and Heath's PR machine had to say that it was just an "accident", inviting even more fervant speculation. Read the Guardian article to get some idea of what this can do.

It was as overblown and pornographic as the McCann story.

To stop this misconception of yours, heres "another" news story of the time of Heath's death:

"Congo conflict 'kills 45,000 a month'
Study says effects of decade of fighting continue to kill thousands of people - half of them small children"

See what I am saying now?

[tsamprasxx]

I wasnt aware that this thread was about me.

YOU made it so. Congrats!

The young man died. The media circus was bad enough. Show me where a single person has said otherwise.

Then his father and Heath's PR machine had to say that it was just an "accident", inviting even more fervant speculation. Read the Guardian article to get some idea of what this can do. I would rather not read the Guardian. We know what it says. How does this merit your first response?

It was as overblown and pornographic as the McCann story. Mis-appellation of a term to incite controversy. I believe it was a pedophilial story.

To stop this misconception of yours, Confrontary. You are always looking for a disagreement.

I dare you to say "No I am not!"

See what I am saying now? Yes. And we saw what you said in the beginning.

We are also seeing your unwillingness to admit fault, apologize and move on. You are determined to somehow prove your valor by continuing to post-contextualize your original statement in hopes that people will stop talking about it.

If you do not like the stories, fine. There are plenty taht many of us do not care to hear about any more (Was Brittney on DRUGS!!?!?!?), but simply owning up to your calous first remarks, apologising and moving on WITHOUT any "If"s "And"s or "But"s is what most of us are hoping for, but not expecting.








And Meer, I just hate people taht are so negative all the time.

Maybe that is why I hate myself sometimes!!

[mGUuZRyA]

I wasnt aware that this thread was about me. In fact, you seem to be dwelling more upon me than the dead actor.

Well i guess thats just beacuse you are such a fascinating individual.

Or maybe i was just shocked by your cold indifference to this mans death.

[Alliopeti]

However you look at it, his PR machine and family's attempt to say that he was such a perfect human being that he would never intentionally place more tablets in his mouth than what the doctor ordered, was simply tendentious and self serving.

It invited an inferno of speculation and the eventual airing of the drug video except on ET, which bowed to pressure. If you want to be an apologist for his conduct - knock yourself out. His family elected to say what they did, when it could be argued that they shouldnt have said anything.

I wont act as if I knew the dead actor. I didnt.

Neither did thousands of others who stood at the memorial home with cameras and flashes hoping to catch a photo of his corpse.

As one observant Guardian reader commented, one rule should be learned by all journalists; a dead celebrity's family grieving should not enjoy the status of news.

I read the story on the news along with the other stories, such as the estimated near 50,000 dead in the Congo every month, half of which are children.

I decided to place more emphasis upon this.

Nuff said.

[Pedsshuth]

Final word from me (I hope).

Thing is Greg, most of us agree with a lot of what you are saying, but that still does not mean that we approve of you coming in as you did and setting fire to whatever you touched.

None of us here were pining for him, or were more concerned than any stranger hearing of anothers death. Thing is this:

The man just died. Anonymity does not give you the "right" to both spit on the corpse AND expect people to say it is all right. Just because you did not know the guy does not give you the OK to disrespect it.

Also, MOST people find it rather crass to do so so soon after a persons death. You have to give it time. Express your discontent at the media over-coverage, but try not to defile the corpse before it is even in the ground.

Show some stones and admit your fault and lets move on, and out.

[Abraham]

The level of condescension by you about the discussion of this event would make the North Korean government blush. Exactly what level of deference do you demand. It is wrong to act as if you knew the man any more than the average victim of drug abuse, or for that matter, dead celebrity.

If the point that I and others were legitimately trying to make was not clear enough to you, heres an example of the posts on the Huff Post story of today..

NeverRepublican (See profile | I'm a fan of NeverRepublican)
Gee, I don't want to offend anyone but I'm getting real tired of hearing about these muti-millionaires turning to drugs and being in a state of depression. And thier incredible talanet?...I know plenty of teachres who are talented and actually engauage with young folks on a daily basis to educated them. Yet they get crapped on. Please tell me how these entertainers touch anyone outside of seeing thier face on a screen. And what do they really do besides a few "appearances" in public?... they go back to the party.
These jack ass actors and actress's and other entertainers who get caught up in drugs are no more intitled to sympathy than any one who dies in the streets. Yet we get the 24-7 dose of guys like this and loosers like Spears and Lohan just enjoying the American drugged-dream. I have said it before...main-stream hollywood really sucks.
Hey...if the Huffington Post would continually post the names of the dead soldiers or the soldiers who are living in the streets and maybe the other dead people who get murdered in this country...we do lead the world in that category you know...maybe I'd have a better opinion about another well-off actor who decided his lavish life style was just too much to handle. But they don't...so I could really care less about some "high school level prom king" with a drug addiction and now living dead in a hole. Why not imprison the drug dealer Dr's? There's a start.

If you dont wish to see a discourse on this PR fuelled story, then live in China.

[tigoCeree]

Maybe this will help to bring this thread to a close ...

Ledger's Toxicology Results:

Died From Acute Intoxication,
Abuse Of Prescription Medications,
Death Accidental

Huffington Post
February 6, 2008

The NYC medical examiner finished Heath Ledger's toxicology report 15 days after he was found dead in his New York apartment. They ruled Ledger's death was caused by "acute intoxication" and abuse of prescription medications.


In a statement Ellen Borakave, spokesperson for Office of Chief Medical Examiner, confirms:"Mr. Heath Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine. We have concluded that the manner of death is accident, resulting from the abuse of prescription medications."The Feds says they will probe how Ledger obtained his many prescriptions:

"We are working with the NYPD to identify any illegally prescribed drugs that may have been prescribed to [Ledger]," Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman Erin Mulvey tells PEOPLE, confirming news first reported by TVGuide.com on Wednesday.

[unfolaReemoma]

The level of condescension by you about the discussion...

I stopped reading there.

You still do not get it, do you?

You don't like the coverage, we get it. Enough.