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Trying not to be too judgemental, I would have to say any person physically addicted to an intoxicant that is phsyically and/or mentally destroying them does need some help to get better. But no addict totally creates themself as such. What does it say about a society that allows millions to detroy themsleves with alcohol but criminalizes and incarcerates someone who likes to smoke pot? Priorities not straight?

I think there should be some care exercised about associating the word 'addict' here with the name Boy George. None of us knows if he is an addict, and that point should be made clear.

As for 'appropriate behavior'. Again, this society has a big shame-based component. And a person can be addicted to worrying about how much shame they should be feeling as much as another person can be addicted to some intoxicant. History has provided many more examples than are needed of people who have destroyed themselves by feeling shame.

If the legal process works the way it usually does here, BG will get off with some probation and enrollment in a program to get clean. That is, if he ever really wants to come back to put himself on trial.
Last edited by seven
This topic was hard for me to overlook as it touches me on everyday basis, whether it involves my friends or those I look up to.
Let's not be fooled into thinking that doing drugs in any amount (whether you can control your habbit or not) is the right thing to do (whether for yourself or those around you). No disrespect to anybody here stating that some people just have an addictive personality, therefore we should understand their addiction to drugs, let alone dismiss it as an ok behavior. Could we say the same about child molestors? Afterall, molesting kids is their addiction too so why not understand their destructing behavior?
Though such comparison might seem as an overstatement, nontheless, whether it's drugs, gambling, hurting other people-they all fall into the same category: an addictive behavior that some have no control over.
Not so long ago, as some of you might have heard, a boy named Kristopher who used to frequent the scene, died of an overdose. His death was a shock to me. He was the sweetest boy with what seemed to be a bright future...he always talked about his big plans and was full of excitement. Harsh reality hit all of his friends when his death was publisized on the news along with other 2 young girls that overdosed short after. None of them were really 'addicted' and not even many knew they had a habbit of doing drugs, but one bad batch of heroin would kill them all.
Those that know me, know that I am anti-drug of any kind...and believe me....those also know what an addictive personality I have...it would be so easy for me to fall into the 'addict' category, but I make choises...just like every other human being responsible for the path of their live...

To make myself clear, I don't have anything against peolpe that do drugs as I constantly revolve around people that do it...I just hate to see the same stories over and over again...stories of destruction...stories of someone's potential for a great life ruined by something so avoidable...Please understand that I in no way accuse one making a bad choice to do whatever they may decide to do...I just do not tolerate the same ol' excuse from everyone that decides to do it...afterall, its so easy to say 'I cant quit cause im too addicted'...nobody said it was easy, nothing in life is, but people that decide to do drugs have to also understad the consequences, whether it is losing their live, friends, or hurting loved ones. Doing drugs IS a choise, living with those consequences IS NOT.

I'm done preaching for today...and please before you go on to the next post, check this anti-drug ad.

http://bornbrightdesigns.com/antidrug.html

Thank you for reading
much love -B.B.
Understanding how powerful and damaging addiction is is hardly the same as being "pro drug!" What a leap! It's exactly the opposite.

What I'm concerned about here, is people not understanding addiction, thinking it is just about "get a grip and get some will power." The illusion of control and will power is precisely the PROBLEM with addiction. Addicts begin to labor under the illusion that they can master or control the substance or behavior.

People address an addiction when they realize it's ruining their lives and they cannot control it, it is controlling them. Something that has such a powerful hold on someone (and often a physical hold) is not going to be arrested by other people telling them it's "bad." I'm sorry, but I think any condemnation here is both out of place and futile.

p.s. And, I agree with Seven on this point and, once again, want to make clear that I myself am just speaking generally, and don't for a MINUTE imply that Boy George is an addict or that I have any idea what happened there. In fact, I personally think it's in poor taste to guess and theorize about another person like that. I was simply speaking to the misconceptions about addiction GENERALLY which I saw here...
Last edited by Karen M.
I also wanted to say that even though we all obviously have so many different views about drugs and about addiction (pro-drug, anti-drug, neutral-drug but want compassion for addiction, homes should be open, homes should be closed, etc. etc. etc. and more), it's also really obvious that, whatever the view, we all seem to really care about our friends and the kids on the scene, and, of course, about Boy George getting arrested for something which he may or may not have even done.

I can get kind of emotional on this topic. I felt a little bad about saying "What a leap." ...Or maybe it was the exclamation point I regretted!Wink I also wanted to say to Miz Bad, I was also very sorry about Kristopher.

Like a lot of motherboard topics, I'm glad this discussion was here.
Today's Page 6 proclaims: HUSTLER PUT BOY GEORGE IN FIX

October 14, 2005 -- BOY George hired a male hustler who tried to rob him the morning the cross-dressing Culture Club singer was busted for cocaine possession, PAGE SIX has learned.

George called 911 last Friday morning to report that his Centre Street apartment had been burglarized "” but he was arrested when cops found a mound of what appeared to be Bolivian marching powder piled near his computer.

A source said that George called 911 after the hustler he'd ordered up demanded that he hand over all of the money in the house.

"George said no and that he was going to call the police," says our source. "The prostitute said, 'Go ahead and you'll go to jail.' So George freaked out because he was high, called the police, the prostitute left, and George got arrested."

A police source said George did not mention the hustler when he was arrested. His lawyer, Lou Freeman, could not be reached for comment yesterday. But he told The Post last week that the cocaine was not George's, adding, "Tons of people come in and out of his home."

The only person in the apartment besides George when officers arrived was his friend Kyoko Nagami, a Japanese model and drag queen groupie. According to police sources, Nagami flipped on her friend, telling cops there was "a lot more" coke in the bedroom.

George, who a police source said "appeared high" when he was busted, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and filing a false police report. He was released last Saturday after appearing in Manhattan Criminal Court, and was told to return for a Dec. 19 hearing. He has since flown back to London, where he has a home.

"Don't ask me any questions because you are not going to get any answers at all," George told reporters who pounced on him at Heathrow Airport. "It's nice to see you, though."

The singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, wrote about his battle with heroin addiction in his 1995 autobiography, "Take It Like a Man." In 1986, Culture Club keyboard player Michael Rudetski died of a heroin overdose while staying at George's London pad. That same year, George was arrested for pot possession.

In recent years, the flamboyant "Karma Chameleon" crooner has built a second career as a club deejay and record producer.
Hey Daddy, give George our love and best wishes! I've finally read through the topic, and it's interesting that the discussion has shifted from "uh oh, George is in some trouble" to addiction. All this really is about is the choices we make, and we can all learn from it. If anything, perhaps George's current dilemma will give some of us pause to think through the choice before we act.

Only George knows if George is addicted to ANYTHING - it's just that his choices are so much more public than most people. I wish I had a nickel for every time I embarassed myself on some night out - whether it was with a drink, a drug, a boy, a girl, or even some posting on the Motherboards! Thankfully I've made many more smart choices in recent years than self-destructive ones. I do feel like in this ever-increasing constrictive socio-political culture that we live in that it's important for me to aspire to live stronger in many ways, thereby shoring up the foundations. Picking the right battle is tough, no doubt, but some of them are no-brainers for me these days.

Again, much love to George. No judgment here. He certainly has given me a lot over the past 25 years!
Hey Smile
Has anyone heard any new news (hopefully good) about George lately?

We got an email from his "B-Rude" label the other day... The quality on the new line has really gone down. Frown

Of course, we had ordered pretty much every shirt from the last line, and never got the order, never got an email saying they were out of stock and never got a reply to our emails asking what was up, so I can't imagine they are selling much of anything...

I was wondering if maybe he wasn't involved anymore???

~S
All I have as far as news is this:

Boy George pleads innocence over drugs charge
The star says he'll fight

Boy George's lawyer says the star is innocent and will fight charges of drug possession.

The Eighties megastar was arrested on October 7 last year after police allegedly found cocaine at his apartment in New York when they responded to a burglary call.

The singer - real name George O'Dowd - entered no plea when he appeared in court in Manhattan yesterday (February 1).

The case was adjourned until March 8 after lawyer Lou Freeman asked for more time to prepare the case, reports the BBC.

Speaking after the hearing, the singer's lawyer said many people had been entertained at the apartment, and his client did not know whose drugs they were.

He added: "He steadfastly maintains his innocence as to these charges. He's already pleaded not guilty, he continues that plea of not guilty in the strongest possible terms. He will fight these drug charges to prove his innocence."

Boy George was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance after he was arrested. He could face up to five-and-a-half years in prison if found guilty.
http://www.nme.com/news/boy-george/22124
Obviously Mr. O'Dowd has a great lawyer and the police case must have been shakey on some points. I always said the coke was the cops' to begin with. I was starting to miss everyone's sightings and stories from local clubland about his presence here so it is good that he is talking about coming back soon. Cheers!
________________________________________________

From BBC News today:


Boy George cocaine charge dropped


Singer Boy George has had a charge of possessing cocaine dropped by a New York court.
He admitted wasting police time over an incident last October and was sentenced to five days of community service and fined $1,000 (£575).

The singer, whose real name is George O'Dowd, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to falsely reporting a burglary at a brief hearing in Manhattan Criminal Court.

The singer was ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme.

The 44-year-old, who made his name as the front man of 1980s pop band Culture Club, attended the hearing.

Judge Anthony Ferrarar warned the defendant that he would have a criminal record which "never goes away".

The singer must also pay court costs of $160 dollars (£91).

In a statement released after the hearing, Mr O'Dowd said: "I am relieved and happy that this case has been disposed of.

"I love New York and I'm looking forward to coming back and working in the States later this year."

He had maintained his innocence on the drug charges, which could have seen him sentenced to five and a half years in prison if convicted.

Mr O'Dowd was arrested after police were called to his Manhattan apartment.

Speaking after a hearing last month, Mr O'Dowd's lawyer Lou Freeman said his client had hosted a party and did not know who owned the drug.

Mr O'Dowd was charged with one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance after his arrest.
Last edited by seven
I totally disagree... I think he's made a mess of this whole situation. The endless complaints of wanting to work in an AIDS clinic instead, the grumpy beligerance... also I can't forgive him for dressing like a bin man. He should have worked the whole event and looked amazing, showed up bright and shiny and happy to participate. I really am suprised at how crap he has handled this whole situation. I think to the average man in american he comes off as a spoilt complaining celeb.
I think it would have helped to be a little more media savvy. The facts are that they will be there and they won't go away. It's like telling your cold virus to go away. He should have prepeared for it and remained calm and friendly. When you act like something bothers you they exploit it.

Remember when Martha Stewart brought hot cocoa to the reporters? That was calculated and it worked. He should have given them a comment like "New York is a wonderful city and it's great to pitch in and assist in keeping it beautiful."

It would have clearly converyed the idea that he's not ashamed and that there is nothing humiliating about working. It would have been a respectful gesture to sanitation workers and other working people watching. Madoodoo was recently quoted, in reference to her doing some domestic work when she was young, saying "There's nothing more degrading than being someone's housekeeper." Imagine her housekeepers reading that! I hope they spit in her macrobiotic kosher breakfast!

One of the things I love about George is that he will tell it like it is and not filter his words but I think it would have helped him in this case.
Last edited by Miss Understood
I can totally see both of your points. He could have played less of a "victim" and used the opportunity to turn the crowd in his favor. Once they saw they weren't going to get a rise, it would have been over.

I guess we were looking at it more relative to how we imagined other celebrities would handle it. Say Madonna, or Courtney Love, or Pete Burns...

We saw some of George's point about allowing him to do something that would really make an inpact and be more of a true community service. But then again, he can do that on his own time.

Satori
I just thought some fierce Mao suit/overall and some fantastic Doc Martin boots - no make up - Very industrial but amazing. He should have been all Martha stewart about it, i agree. Arrived with a tray of donuts for his coworkers and a box of English tea or smth.
Even E! channel were running endless clips of him shouting at reporters. Its NOT good press this at all... Then the Post ran this negative piece about him cancelling a DJing spot at some gay party... he's an easy target for sure but he isn't helping himself.
Saw an ad that George didon VH1 Classic in which he said something to the effect that right-wing homosexuals and vegetarian butchers were oxymorons. I cracked up when I heard it that I said, "You go, George!" I love George. I was in a record store the other day and heard "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" reverberating throught the store and one of the employee there started bitching and complaining about how much she hated Boy George and joked that she should make a T-shirt that read "I heart Boy George" and shit. And I thought "Oh great another opinionated homophobe. And another snotty record store employee, just what we need." She made my blood boil! Garbage's "Stupid Girl" is my theme song for bitches like her. Or was that Pink's "stupid Girls"? I don't care they both apply.
TWO CENTS FROM A BITTER OLD QUEEN.

It seems George is foaming at the mouth again and the British press is lapping away like kittens in a bowl of cream. She fully admits nwo the extent that the fallout from Taboo affected her. I agree with her comments about using hustlers.

Oh Boy, George

About Madonna:
quote:
I just think she's a vile, hideous, horrible human being with no redeeming qualities. There's nothing nice about her. I've never heard anyone say anything nice about her at all.
George is an awesome DJ! Who give a shit about the Culture Club reunion, and who need that bitter queen Jon Moss anyway! George knows how to rock the party. I wish that he'd release a new mix CD out in the States (or as an androgynous voice on Sasha's Global Underground in San Francisco says, "The British Colonies". Fuck Culture Club and Rosie O' Donnell, he should be a DJ full-time!

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