I am so sick of celebrity-bashing. That it amuses and gratifies so many people disgusts me. They are treated by the public like zoo animals; we point and laugh at their antics while safely behind reinforced glass windows and metal bars. Or, it could be that they are parading across a giant stage, doing their acts for our amusement, and we are the ultimate judges of their performances; unfortunately, their acts include moments of their personal lives we have absolutely no business in.

We shamelessly ridicule celebs like Britney, Lindsay, and Paris for shits and giggles instead of paying serious attention to the real dangers of underage drinking, drunk driving, and drug abuse. We lambasted Britney's poor parenting skills while so many relatively unknown people are abusing, kidnapping, raping, grossly neglecting, and murdering their children. Luckily, the Caylee Anthony story has gotten plenty of national attention, but the vast majority of the rest of the cases similar to hers are given little attention. Instead, people prefer to read the latest posts on their favorite sleazy celebrity gossip blogs or watch yet another E! News story about some celebrity's latest trip-ups and drama. 'Cause come on...real news is bor-ing, right?

We may argue that the news is being forced down our throats by the media. That is right, but we also have superpowers called "changing the channel" or "not reading tabloids". We don't have to pay attention, but we're choosing to. That's what's fueling the unhealthy celebrity obsession. By buying more magazines, tuning in to more TV programs, and bringing more traffic to celebrity gossip blogs, we are indirectly encouraging more of their destructive behavior and ignoring far more urgent concerns.

So a paparazzi took a shot of Britney's girl parts. Members of the general public have come to the conclusion that she wanted us to see that picture to bring more attention to herself. Britney's not 100% mentally stable, but I doubt she would want that kind of picture being shown all over the Internet and on TV. Instead, it is because some photographer wanted to take the most sensational shot to sell to mags for $$$. She may have brought it upon herself by being so (in-)famous, but that doesn't mean that there's a free-for-all for her dignity. Let the woman retain all of it that she has left and leave her alone.

The only celebrities I know of who seem to genuinely want to draw attention to themselves are P. Diddy and Paris Hilton. There are probably others. Call me stupid or call me naive, but cynicism is not how I roll.