Well, this thread certainly has grown.
I'm convinced that he has an emotional disorder.
That's all well and good, and it is an interesting contention that I've mulled over a bit. However, it's just speculation. And using it as a jumping-off point to sermonize on the stigmatization of mental illness and how folks who say bad things about Simmons lack empathy is an entirely different matter. Particularly when you don't really know the guy much, and apparently (based on the lack of response) do not have any training or expertise in this area.
We really don't know what happened to Prince yet. I hope we do so that the stupid stuff on the tabloids can be put to rest and if painkillers were involved the issue coming to light can help others.
Right on. On this, we certainly agree.
No, and I don't see why you need to resort to reductio ad absurdum to entertain the possibility that some people lack empathic skills others take for granted..
Admittedly, I went overboard on this point. Still, I just don't see much evidence to support your contention. Lots of people say douchey stuff, he just makes the choice to say it loudly through the press. It would be interesting to speculate about the potential issues of a certain other '70s rocker, but that would be treading into political territory.
I think it's ironic that you think you're in the business of giving people breaks and passes. Good thing we have you to decide who gets slack..
Wrong. I'm clearly speaking in general terms, and I personally haven't called Simmons a name in this thread. It was in fact you who first used the "pass" language, in regard to Prince: "He gets a pass because we like him or his music, or his "contribution to culture." And we know physical pain."
I don't care whether you think I know anything about emotional disorders anymore than I care whether you're actually the judge that you make yourself out to be. You don't have to lay an egg to know a rotten one.
If you don't like Gene, call him names. If you think people who do drugs are bad, call them names too.
Again, I don't think of myself as a judge. I could easily contend that you've done as much judging in this thread as anyone. If you're trying to draw a parallel between people here calling Gene names and what Gene said about Prince, I'd say that's a false equivalency. And that has nothing to do with how society treats the mentally ill versus addicts (who still get stigmatized quite a bit, IMO). Instead, it has to do with the fact that we have no idea whether Gene has an emotional disorder, and with the huge disparity in audience and venue. Simmons knew perfectly well that his comments about Prince would be broadcast nationally (perhaps globally), and that Prince's family and friends would likely hear them. Meanwhile, there's no reason to believe Simmons is ever going to hear about any of the comments in this thread.
As I said elsewhere, though, at least he's since apologized.
. My opinion.
