Not important. Just. not.

I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.

I’m so stressed right now. I’m legitimately shaking. Like I can hardly type straight my hands are shaking so much. 

I wanna quit. I wanna quit and go home and not go to college and just go get a job at Disney and work and stop taking this fucking class because this teacher is so self-righteous and stubborn and he won’t listen to me when I say I simply have too much fucking work to deal with his crazy assignments I just fucking CAN’T anymore. I would just drop the class but if I do then I lose my Honors scholarship cuz it’s my Honors seminar and without my scholarship I can’t go to Elon and I’m just so fucking done. I just wanna cry. He won’t fucking listen.

deadmentellnotales333:

The issue of Chris Brown’s presence at the Grammys and the support his fans gave him for it (namely the “He can beat me any time” comments) has been a hot topic for the last few days.  Because I’m loudmouthed and have an elevated opinion of my…well, my opinions, I want to throw in my two cents.  I can hardly call most of what I’m about to say my own wholly unique thoughts.  Most of what I’m going to say has already been said (and said much better than I could ever hope to say) in the two recent posts I’ve reblogged and linked to.

 It does not surprise me that Chris Brown still has fans.  His music is catchy, he’s a talented kid, and he’s very easily marketable.  To think that he would have literally no fans remaining after the incident in 2009 would be naïve.  The surprise comes from the fact that the support from his fans is both voluminous and vehement.  I think the only thing that frustrates me more than Chris Brown’s attitude towards the charges against him (which I’ll talk about later) is the attitude that his fans hold towards it.  I see a few arguments present themselves pretty regularly, namely these:

1.     “Besides, F.A.M.E was a great album.” – Charles Manson wrote some pretty great songs.  Various infamous serial killers have produced stunning art during their incarcerations.  By this argument, all of these people should be pardoned as well.  This is possibly (note:  POSSIBLY) the most disturbing argument present from his fans.  It is absolutely horrifying to me that there are people who see the 13 tracks on Brown’s most recent release as means for a full pardon.  It is crucial to understand this:  it is just music.  It is not a magical, time-travelling eraser that makes everything bad Chris Brown has ever done go away.  On this note, it’s pertinent to mention that this argument is usually soon to follow:

2.     “He’s just a musician.  It’s not like he’s running the world.” – I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but celebrities as a whole DO rule the world.  Yes, this is an exaggeration, to an extent.  However, celebrities do hold the public’s attention more than just about anybody else in the world.  If you doubt this, ask yourself this question:  What were Anthony Weiner, Barack Obama, your next door neighbor, and author James Patterson doing on the evening of January 13^th of this year?  If you can answer all four of those accurately, congratulations, you’re fucking weird.  However, this can be found after a mere three minutes of searching the internet (yes, I timed myself):

http://www.tmz.com/2012/01/13/chris-brown-drinking-driver/

This article states what city and club Brown was in, what kind of car he drives, and a direct quote from him regarding how he spent his evening.  When someone is in a position that holds so much attention and influence, it is crucial that they conduct themselves in an acceptable, orthodox, and polite manner.  A person thrust into a position of celebrity must accept this.  It is their job to do so.  Which leads me to the next point:

3.     “I don’t care, he’s still my role model.” – Look, Brown is a very talented dancer.  This can’t be denied.  He’s a pretty okay vocalist and rapper, as well.  It’s fine to admire his talents and attempt to model your skills after him.  However, the term “role model” has a more serious connotation.  A role model is someone that you want to emulate not just in talent, but in personality.  If you want to emulate the personality of a guy who beats a girl into unconsciousness, I am concerned for you.  For someone to be an appropriate role model, they should also display good character.  One of my personal role models is Robert Downey Jr.  RDJ is an exceptionally talented actor, writer, musician (yeah, seriously), improviser, and dresser.  He also displays a stellar public image.  Now, anybody that knows anything about RDJ (or anybody that watched the news in the 80’s and 90’s) knows that this was not always so.  The man that is essentially one of the kings of this era of the box office has gone through hell to get there.  Long story short:  drugs and prostitutes.  RDJ actually spent a whole year in prison on these charges.  He is now happily married, stays out of the tabloids as much as possible, and (this is CRUCIAL) accepts responsibility for what he’s done.  If he is asked about it in an interview, he will (in detail) explain what was going through his head, apologize for his actions, and express both remorse and an acceptance of responsibility.  This is not uncommon.  Other celebrities, whether it be Jude Law, Alec Baldwin, or Hugh Grant, will do the exact same thing when asked about their indiscretions.  And see, that’s Chris Brown’s problem…

4.     “People need to get over it and let him move on.” – Here’s the thing:  This will never go away.  It doesn’t matter whether this is wrong or right.  The fact is, Chris Brown beating Rihanna is one of the most notable celebrity-related events of the last ten years, if not more.  The kid who many saw as the Prince of Pop Music at the time beat his girlfriend, the reigning Princess, in the face until she was unconscious.  I’m sure you’ve seen the picture, but if you haven’t, google it.  It was bad.  This is a big story and it will never go away.  The issue with this is that Brown does not accept this.  He avoids it.  He runs from it.  When confronted with it, he THROWS A CHAIR THROUGH A WINDOW AND RIPS HIS SHIRT OFF ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA.  These are not the actions of a man who is sorry for what he’s done or holds any responsibility for it.   These are the actions of a child who would rather make an absolute ass of himself than face the fact that he screwed up in a huge way.  He will be asked about this in interviews, by fans, and by paparazzi for the rest of his life.  There comes a time when foolish pride needs to be set aside, and this is it.  The first step Brown should take in rehabilitating his public image is apologizing for this every chance he gets.  It does not matter whether or not it was actually Rihanna’s fault or not, it does not matter that he doesn’t feel he should.  If anything, it’s his obligation to at least PRETEND to be sorry.  The quickest way for him to move past this is by facing it head-on.  Unfortunately, he shows no sign of moving towards this path.  What’s more, he doesn’t seem to want to.

I take it borderline-personally when people stick up for Chris Brown.  This is largely because people I know have been affected by his disgusting attitude.  I live in the town in which Brown serves much of his probation.  A friend of mine waited on him at a high-end restaurant.  She has told me that he was rude, put-offish, and (here’s the kicker) stiffed her on a $200 check.  Friends of mine that work in stores in which he shops say that he’s hell to deal with, gets pissy when his size isn’t in stock, and will try to get discounts solely because, you know, he’s Chris Brown.  I won’t even begin to delve into the shadier aspects of his social life here, namely how he picks up girls.  In fact, the only people that seem to have pleasant interactions with him are the ones that walk up to him and ask for pictures, which he usually politely obliges.  

The fact that Chris Brown is so readily embraced by a public that ostracizes Tom Cruise and Mel Gibson is terrifying.  It says, “Become a member of a religious body accused of abuse and brainwashing?  You’re out.  Say something antisemetic or misogynistic?  Go away.  Beat a woman into a state of unconsciousness?  Well, as long as you’re pretty, young, and talented…”

It is disgusting.  An interesting point is brought up in the HelloGiggle article:  What if it was someone you knew?  What if Chris Brown beat your sister, your mother, your best friend?  Would you be so willing to accept him back into the Grammy pantheon after a horrific exile of TWO YEARS? 

The reality is that because it happened at a distance from us (and somehow, at the same time, right before our eyes), people are going to forgive him way easier.  And it’s tough for the Grammys to keep out one of their biggest cash cows.  I know I’ve said it a million times already, but this scares me.  It terrifies me that someone can get away with something like this with so little penalty.  He hasn’t “done his time.”  He’s lived like a prince in his hometown and been free to leave on a regular basis for tours, award shows, and film work.  He’s disgusting, and it’s just as disgusting that people don’t’ seem to realize that just because he put out an album they like.

^This.

Go on, read it. Seriously. Read it. This is by an old friend of mine, and he really sums every reason Chris Brown is still a horrible human being up very nicely, calmly, and from all points of view (or at least all remotely logical ones). He puts into words what I think and feel about Chris Brown, though I cannot express any more specifically than “I respect his music, but I hate him as a person.” Thanks Tres :)