Don't trash my favorite people, I don't like it!
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
January 27, 2009 4:13pm CST
I don't particularly like biographies that set out to trash the person being profiled. OK you can trash Adolf Hitler if you do one on him, but in general I don't like it. Public's right to know, bah!
I'm thinking about a biography I read a few years ago about Judy Garland. Now Judy Garland is one of my favorite film stars ever. No, strike that, reverse it. Judy Garland IS my favorite film star ever. I think she is by far, no contest, the most talented person ever to make it to Hollywood. If she hadn't gotten messed up with pills and booze and who knows what all else, who knows what her career could have been.
Well a few years back, probably 10 years actually, a biography came out that basically made her out to be a miserable human being. Now she may have been a miserable human being. Or she may have been a screwed up mess due to a wacky childhood, pills that the studio gave her, maybe even an undiagnosed mental disease. But you know what? I don't want to know if she was a miserable person (assuming any of that's even true). I just love her movies.
So assuming the bad stuff is true, do you want to read about it? And if it isn't?
4 people like this
10 responses
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I don't see the need of trashing anyone. We all have baggage and are not without fault. We should just worry about our own issues and not worry or be concerned about anyone else. If we all did this, we would be able to concentrate on our own issues and improve our own flaws.
2 people like this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
28 Jan 09
[i]Hi dawn,
I find it interesting may it good or bad...SOmetimes, it affects my admiration to the person knowing the truth about his or her life but I will always think that I don't know the real situation or reason, so, I am open for it!
But, I find it interesting to know about their lives![/i]
1 person likes this
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
28 Jan 09
that is also possible. A lot of people will exaggerate things just to get attention from the viewers!
[i][/i]
1 person likes this
@riyasam (16556)
• India
28 Jan 09
nowadays,it is very difficult to trust but once i like a person,i am very loyal,i.e,i donot want to hear,see or talk negative about that person.if i know,that the person infront of me ,doesnt like my friend,i maintain silence,when the topic is about my friend.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 09
Me too except if the person gets unfairly nasty about a friend, I will speak up for the person.
@TheGreatWhiteBuffalo (4822)
• United States
28 Jan 09
There certainly are different ways to get a point across, some are so acidic or toxic that they really cause more harm than good.
The words of a scorned lover can sound harsh, but the real attack becomes obvious when the person makes comments with out providing any proof. Facts that can be proven can't be easily dismissed.
I prefer that if a charge is made of another person that the charge is challenged and proven to be true or false.
Too often people make up stories that are not true and those lies get passed off as facts totally unchecked or unsubstantiated and that is so wrong.
Yeah' I support your position...
I want to know the truth and I don't like it being tainted with poison.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 09
And there have been a few too many poison biographies printed. Goal? The almighty dollar...
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
28 Jan 09
Reminds me of ordinary people, everyone remembers your bad and are quick to jump on it... but how about all the good??? I agree with you. Noone knows everything that they were going through and they aret here to speak for theirselves...so Like you , I wish they would back off.. Life isnt easy just because you were a star. I also agree with you about her, she was a pioneer, and paved the way for other women, and they need to concentrate on all the good....how would they like their dirty laundry aired on public tv? Maybe it would teach them something if they had to experience it...mmmmmmmmmmmmmm@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 09
Now that's a good one. Do a biography on the biographer and make sure that all the bad stuff gets lots of attention!
@hildas (3031)
•
6 Feb 09
Well sometimes the bad stuff helps to explain why a person ended up this way. I only read a little of stuff like this and hate newspapers, as they are never really honest stories.
Yes Judy Garland was a beautiful and excellent actress. Infact her skills where amazing. I loved the Wizzard of oz with her in it and this is where I first was introduced, as a child to this great women.
It is sad what happened, but so many people cannot handle fame very well and resort to pills. Even today it is sad to see in great actors.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
6 Feb 09
The bad stuff does help you understand why a person was the way that they were. But at the same time, you can write about it in a factual, non-judgmental way. Or you can choose your words in such as way as to put the person in a bad light. That's what I don't like.
@sirensanssmile (3764)
• Netherlands
28 Jan 09
I do not really understand where you are coming from. If a biography is to be made on a person then it SHOULD be complete. If the person was aq miserable person then why would the biography not say this? It would seem like a bad biography to say a miserable person was all happy and perfect now wouldn't it?
Just because you don't like to hear it, doesn't mean it shouldn't be said. You should just not watch. Truth is best in biographies even if it is unpleasant.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 09
In this particular case, there was a lot of speculation by the biographer that pointed in the direction of her being a miserable person. It wasn't a case of the biographer just presenting the facts that led me to that conclusion. I think the biographer had come to that conclusion and was presenting her case in such a way that it would support her conclusion.
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
28 Jan 09
I only want to read it if written by a credible person. Sometimes I think there could be something to learn by biographies showing all sides of a person who made some kind of difference. But I agree with Irish, I don't want to read it if it's snippy and gossipy.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 09
Yeah it's one thing to point out that a person had problems or to point out something that the person did if it's a documented fact, but when a biographer turns it into an attack on the person, I don't like that.
@tinkerick (1257)
• United States
27 Jan 09
I would like to know the truth, good or bad. However if the bad is presented in such a way that it puts the whole perspective in a bad light, then I do not like that. Biographies should present FACTS, both good and bad, in an unbiased light. This is the only way to allow the public to make their own decision on the person, rather than be given the opinion.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
27 Jan 09
Yep, I can handle if somebody has a bad side (we all do, except for me of course lol) but not if it's done in a sensationalist, tabloid kind of fashion that's obviously just there to get attention.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
28 Jan 09
In the case I was thinking of, it wasn't just the biographer presenting unsavory facts, but the biographer interpreting them also.
