Britney Spears' Bad Idea

People do stupid things.

When people who are celebrities do stupid things, naturally it gets more attention.

That's the price of fame, I guess.

In a way, I feel sorry for the famous.

Their mistakes and imperfections are fodder for the world's amusement. Their personal struggles, like divorces, addictions, bad cosmetic surgery, and other self-destructive behavior, become a source of entertainment for the public.

That's pretty twisted.


While it has to be great to have the adoration of millions and to have millions of dollars, the scrutiny that celebrities come under must be crushing.

Being famous may be the best but also the worst life one could have.

Maybe because they lead such a screwy existence many celebrities are doomed to be royally screwed up.

All of that said, celebrities should not go out in public without their underwear.

Getting in and out of cars and wearing short skirts with nothing on underneath isn't a good idea.

Of course, I'm referring to Britney Spears and her recent habit of offering photographers the opportunity to take some very candid shots of herself.

It's become a matter of serious analysis, with columnists writing about the au naturel Spears as if it were of great import.

Why is Britney behaving like such a naughty girl?

I don't know.

This much I do know -- Spears is not a girl.

She's a day away from her 25th birthday. She is the mother of two sons. She is a woman with grown-up responsibilities.

Spears may be getting a lot of tabloid attention for her antics, but it's nothing to be proud of.

What has she done? It's not her talent that's got everyone talking about her. She's running around without underwear and making sure everyone knows it.

Wow! What an accomplishment!

Does she find it empowering to have photographers take those kind of pictures?

Does she like reducing herself to a piece of meat?

I think she's pathetic.

I also think there's a double standard at play.

If a man on the street exposed himself in public, he'd be considered a flasher and subject to arrest.

Because Spears is a celebrity and a woman, there's no harm, no foul. There's something wrong with that picture.

Isn't a common nightmare being out in public not fully dressed? I've had that nightmare.

For Spears, it's a dream come true.

That's sick.

Has this mother of two stopped to think that SHE'S THE MOTHER OF TWO?

Spears needs to understand that she needs to grow up.

The first step on her road to adulthood is probably going to be a teary interview with Oprah or Diane Sawyers or Barbara Walters.

No. That would be the second step. The first step is to put on some underwear.