# Britney carted off to the crazy house. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 4, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267 "2008-01-04T14:39:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Sprockets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/35a633/32.png) [@Sprockets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sprockets)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/101 "2008-01-04T21:39:37Z")
[QUOTE=Uncommon Sense] No kidding! [/QUOTE] Well, if I make it through the free month, maybe I’ll change it to something like Commonsense, This Time It’s Personal. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/102 "2008-01-04T21:43:19Z")
[QUOTE=Commonsense] Joke: Who’s a better parent - Britney Spears or Kevin Federline? Answer: A rock. [/QUOTE] Early in the custody suit, the inimitable [thesuperficial.com](http://thesuperficial.com) recommended that the judge award custody to a pack of wolves. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/103 "2008-01-04T21:57:38Z")
I did mention in my post that I hoped she would be able to get some actual help at this hospital because it’s been obvious for quite some time that she needs helps and the celebrity rehabs don’t really seem to have done much for her. That’s probably because her underlying problem is a mental illness and not an addiction. I only mocked a teensy bit and I did not know that she was threatening to hurt herself or kids, I thought she was just having a very loud meltdown. I have to agree that she does bring on a lot of her exposure herself. Lindsey Lohan managed to disappear from the paparazzi radar for a while during her last rehab. It’s possible to do so, Brit could get away and get some help if she really wanted to. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/104 "2008-01-04T22:02:42Z")
On the radio today people were wondering if Brittany’s antics were a response to the attention her sister Jessica is getting for her pregnancy. If it is (and I believe it), Brittany is really seriously one fucked up attention whore. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/105 "2008-01-04T22:09:18Z")
Theoretical question: would people feel badly for her if it turned out that she was suffering from untreated bipolar disorder or something like that, and that’s what has been making her act like a slutty maniac for the last 3 years? It would for me. I think, because she’s been a celebrity most of her life, she’s been able to get away with things that you or I would have been called on long ago. If she’s genuinely mentally ill (I guess the jury’s still out on that), and all the drugs and alcohol are self-medication, I’d feel bad for her and wouldn’t enjoy making fun of her. There’s a difference between being a spoiled trampy brat and being a sick person not getting help because there’s more money in televising your antics than getting you well. I’ve been thinking she’s ill for quite some time. If she is, I hope she gets better. If not, well, she still needs help, but I wouldn’t have quite as much sympathy for her. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/106 "2008-01-04T22:19:33Z")
[QUOTE=Voyager] So, I guess she’s going to cover “They’re Coming to Take me Away” on her next album? [/QUOTE] Either that or “Manic Monday.” Yeah, I know she was taken to the hospital on a Thursday, but I’m sure Mondays are no picnic for her either, lately. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/107 "2008-01-04T22:30:34Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Theoretical question: would people feel badly for her if it turned out that she was suffering from untreated bipolar disorder or something like that, and that’s what has been making her act like a slutty maniac for the last 3 years? It would for me. I think, because she’s been a celebrity most of her life, she’s been able to get away with things that you or I would have been called on long ago. If she’s genuinely mentally ill (I guess the jury’s still out on that), and all the drugs and alcohol are self-medication, I’d feel bad for her and wouldn’t enjoy making fun of her. There’s a difference between being a spoiled trampy brat and being a sick person not getting help because there’s more money in televising your antics than getting you well. I’ve been thinking she’s ill for quite some time. If she is, I hope she gets better. If not, well, she still needs help, but I wouldn’t have quite as much sympathy for her. [/QUOTE] Probably not. She’s been a trainwreck for long enough that a dianosis should have been made long ago. And possibly has. But being mentally ill or addicted is a reason you behave like a shit, not an excuse to behave like one. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/108 "2008-01-04T22:33:03Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] Probably not. She’s been a trainwreck for long enough that a dianosis should have been made long ago. And possibly has. But being mentally ill or addicted is a reason you behave like a shit, not an excuse to behave like one. [/QUOTE] and definitely not an excuse for mistreating your children. I don’t care if you want to be a shit and mess up your own life, but those children are going to suffer. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/109 "2008-01-04T22:47:26Z")
Well, I feel bad for her. Unfortunately, huge amounts of money and fame add up to power, enough power to defeat the attempts of people who might want to help you. It must be terribly lonely. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/110 "2008-01-04T23:05:38Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] Probably not. She’s been a trainwreck for long enough that a dianosis should have been made long ago. And possibly has. But being mentally ill or addicted is a reason you behave like a shit, not an excuse to behave like one. [/QUOTE] Being mentally ill makes people behave like shit, that’s a fact that anyone who is mentally ill or cares about someone who is mentally ill knows very well. If you are ill, sometimes it takes a while to hear it. I’m sure you know that people who have psychiatric conditions can often be in denial and very resistant to diagnosis and treatment. Add to that the money to insulate herself from a lot of the consequences, and you have the recipe for someone who has to get pretty obviously and openly fucked up for her and those around her to recognize that this isn’t just a bump in the road-- she needs to get help. IMO, it’s not about excuses for her. It’s more about explanations. If she’s bipolar, this course of events doesn’t seem particularly novel or surprising. You don’t have to be a celebrity to have a major meltdown, lose your kids, and be hospitalized. I’d feel bad for anyone in her mid 20’s, getting divorced, losing her career and kids, and possibly discovering the hard way that she’s mentally ill. I also think jokes about her dropping dead in 2008 would be less funny if she were really sick and not just a screwed up rich girl. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/111 "2008-01-05T00:22:34Z")
Welp, she has just lost all custody and visitation rights. Please don’t let her be pregnant. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/112 "2008-01-05T00:38:37Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] Being mentally ill makes people behave like shit, that’s a fact that anyone who is mentally ill or cares about someone who is mentally ill knows very well. If you are ill, sometimes it takes a while to hear it. I’m sure you know that people who have psychiatric conditions can often be in denial and very resistant to diagnosis and treatment. Add to that the money to insulate herself from a lot of the consequences, and you have the recipe for someone who has to get pretty obviously and openly fucked up for her and those around her to recognize that this isn’t just a bump in the road-- she needs to get help. IMO, it’s not about excuses for her. It’s more about explanations. If she’s bipolar, this course of events doesn’t seem particularly novel or surprising. You don’t have to be a celebrity to have a major meltdown, lose your kids, and be hospitalized. I’d feel bad for anyone in her mid 20’s, getting divorced, losing her career and kids, and possibly discovering the hard way that she’s mentally ill. I also think jokes about her dropping dead in 2008 would be less funny if she were really sick and not just a screwed up rich girl. [/QUOTE] I haven’t made any jokes. I wouldn’t feel badly for her. She has resources to get diagnosed and treated that most mentally ill people can only dream of. She hasn’t seem to have made much use of them for the past three years. If she suddenly makes use of them tomorrow, I’m not feeling a whole lot of pity. If she makes use of them, makes an effort to turn her life around, and sincerely apologized (in some other fashion than 'silly me, not using a carseat"), I’d feel admiration for her. She isn’t getting pity one way or another though. Her kids do. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/113 "2008-01-05T01:45:21Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] By the way Diosa, I have a question for you? If this was your sister, how much tolerance would you have for this behavior? [/QUOTE] I actually have no siblings, so I wont even pretend to understand the complexities of sibling relationships. That said, in theory, I don’t know exactly how much I would put up with or for how long. I’ll say this though- two years ago, I wouldn’t have put up with a minute of it. I would have told her to stop being a fucking lunatic, get her shit together, and call me when that happens. But! After being a member here and reading personal accounts of people suffering from mental illness, I would certainly be much, much more tolerant than before. Now I understand that it isn’t entirely the person’s fault. Don’t get me wrong, they ought to be at least somewhat accountable for their actions, but only so much can be blamed upon a sick mind. So, maybe that’s why it’s so hard for me to understand this. It was this message board that made lil’ old empathy lacking me having a little for people I would have never dreamed of supporting. And now it’s incredibly common for this same board to attack the mentally ill- so long as they are pretty or rich, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/114 "2008-01-05T01:54:14Z")
There’s actually a few of celebrities that have mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. Even at their worst I don’t think any of them have ever had so much public exposure of their illness or meltdowns. I did a search for some names for this post and was quite shocked to see some of these names. [http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/Bipolar/Site/depression/celebrities.asp](http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/Bipolar/Site/depression/celebrities.asp) [http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/famous\_people.htm](http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/famous_people.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/115 "2008-01-05T01:55:07Z")
[QUOTE=Rubystreak] If she’s genuinely mentally ill (I guess the jury’s still out on that), and all the drugs and alcohol are self-medication, I’d feel bad for her and wouldn’t enjoy making fun of her. [/QUOTE] But you can do both! Like **Biggirl** said, you can feel bad for her, _and_ make fun of her. In my house we laugh at everything, and I mean everything. My husband made so many jokes when my daughter had her eye operations that I very often was giggling through terrified tears. So, yeah, even if her ass is just straight up bi-polar, we can still laugh. I don’t think it is all that funny though. If it was funny to me, I would merrily cackle, but I think she gets a raw deal. I don’t trust anyone connected to Britney’s public persona. I don’t know that she actually tips off the paps, I don’t know that I trust the cops that claimed at first that she was on something and then it turns out she isn’t, I don’t know that I am entirely convinced she is a threat to those kids. It’s weird, but I just am leery. I mean, some of the things that people were using to paint her as unfit… She drinks? So the hell what? My husband drinks. And smokes weed. She almost dropped the baby one day while surrounded by paps? So what. My baby fell off the bed one day and hit the floor. And no one who knows me would dare to call me an unfit mom. I mean, it seems like some of the stuff she is getting pinned on her is bullshit. She is troubled, clearly, but much of her pathetic public image seems manufactured. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/116 "2008-01-05T02:57:59Z")
Driving with the baby on your lap is not sign of good parenting. Britney has choices, as do we all–she makes remarkable poor ones, repeatedly. She may well be a victim of an evil PR agent or nasty, bad cops, but she is culpable for at least part of this trainwreck. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/117 "2008-01-05T03:08:28Z")
[QUOTE=Dangerosa] I wouldn’t feel badly for her. She has resources to get diagnosed and treated that most mentally ill people can only dream of. [/quote] Eh, your choice. I don’t see why it costs anyone anything to feel compassion for someone who’s suffering, and I do think she is suffering. All the resources in the world don’t make a sick person able to face being sick. And regardless of whether or not she’s bipolar, I do think she’s unwell. > [@](#): > > If she makes use of them, makes an effort to turn her life around, and sincerely apologized (in some other fashion than 'silly me, not using a carseat"), I’d feel admiration for her. She isn’t getting pity one way or another though. To whom exactly does she have to apologize? Not us, for sure. Her kids? Definitely, and I hope she recovers from whatever ails her and does right by them. Just because you and I don’t hear that apology doesn’t mean she won’t give one… to the real people in her life. > [@Nzinga](#): > > But you can do both! Like Biggirl said, you can feel bad for her, and make fun of her. Sure, I can make fun of her, and I might… but I won’t enjoy it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/118 "2008-01-05T03:25:46Z")
[QUOTE=cochrane] Either that or “Manic Monday.” … [/QUOTE] Or [this](http://www.sarahmclachlan.com/discography/lyrics.jsp?song_id=7707) . ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/119 "2008-01-05T08:05:53Z")
Alright, I really don’t have much to add, other than this quote from [thesuperficial.com](http://thesuperficial.com): > [@](#): > > The AP reports that Commissioner Scott Gordon granted Kevin Federline sole legal and physical custody of the children and Britney Spears visitation rights are suspended. Read that again…Commissioner Scott Gordon…_Commissioner Gordon_! I hear Britney’s attorney, Harvey Dent, is trying to get her into Arkham Asylum in lieu of jail time. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2008, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267/120 "2008-01-05T08:18:00Z")
Obviously Britney was not prepared for this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/britney-carted-off-to-the-crazy-house/432267.md?page=7)