People are always shocked when the daily news report tells us that a well known, highly successful, and much loved public figure has killed themselves. Why are we always so shocked? The much more obvious question is: why did they do it? What made them feel like there was no way out? I would like to offer my conjecture.

As an amateur entertainer, I understand the idealistic perspective that common people hold for actors and musicians. I get that everyone desires fame & fortune, and a lot of people don’t feel sorry for celebrities who complain about the lack of privacy. We say “Deal with it. I’d kill to be in your shoes.” Who doesn’t want 8-figure salaries and a personal jet?

[this blog entry was not recovered in full after the Fowlertown blog crash of 2011]