dJJ said:

Ottensen said:

It's not really that deep, I don't think.

It's just standard m.o. when you live and operate in an environment that touts youth and beauty as power and popularity currency.

Though not entirely to the same degree, I experienced seeing people do that during my decade in Miami Beach as well. Living in a place drenched with budding 17 year old supermodels who naturally had pert boobs and weighed 3lbs, there was definitely pressure on non-fashion industry women to keep everything looking tight and right so that they could compete in Miami workplaces and social scenes. There just seems to be certain pockets of society where women fall prey by the thousands chasing the elusive fountain of youth, and trying to keep up with the Miss Joneses.

Why would they? There's a lot of beauty in aging. What's wrong with looking your age?

DJJ, have you hit 40 yet?

dJJ said:

Ottensen said:

It's not really that deep, I don't think.

It's just standard m.o. when you live and operate in an environment that touts youth and beauty as power and popularity currency.

Though not entirely to the same degree, I experienced seeing people do that during my decade in Miami Beach as well. Living in a place drenched with budding 17 year old supermodels who naturally had pert boobs and weighed 3lbs, there was definitely pressure on non-fashion industry women to keep everything looking tight and right so that they could compete in Miami workplaces and social scenes. There just seems to be certain pockets of society where women fall prey by the thousands chasing the elusive fountain of youth, and trying to keep up with the Miss Joneses.

Why would they? There's a lot of beauty in aging. What's wrong with looking your age?

Because that's not the way it works in certain pockets of society. Re-read what I put in bold print.

There are places where youth and beauty (or the appearance of it) is a very powerful currency. It may not work like that in your world or mine, but that mentality does exist in some places even if it rings shallow and pointless to us.

Well, I've lived in the Bay Area for the past 7 years. It's not like LA. Our main industry is different, we're much more liberal than LA, and we smoke cannabis more than crack or meth.

Everyone changes and so does everywhere...change is your friend...got change for a twenty?

Timmy84 said:

And before I start, this was not just a realization but I've known of all these celebrity deaths and all of that in Hollywood/California, it definitely gives me an impression that Hollywood/California is an unsafe place especially if you're a celebrity. This is celebrity related really because I've noticed a trend of famous celebrities who have met serious fates there from Sam Cooke to John Belushi to Marvin Gaye and on down, and now with Michael and Whitney, I just wonder what's this thing with Hollywood and deaths and I wonder if it's just coincidence or what.

Just wanted a debate on this.

Nothing can change how U r on the inside. Its a lot of stars that haven't changed(Janet Jackson is one of them she's just as sweet as she was when I first met her at 15..).....Whitney wasn't from Hollywood...Noone could tell Whitney what to do either........Plus she had major demons she was fighting Marrying or divorcing Bobby didn't make them go away either...

Graycap23 said:

Hollywood is about exploitation 2 it's highest degree.

Most humans are NOT built 4 what it really stands 4.

I've seen it 1st hand. Only the TRULY strong survive.

One way of looking at it.

I've always wondered though if it isn't less about strong and weak and more about how ruthless you are, and that the the people who stay afloat and thrive there are either those who are snakes, or learn how to be that way in order to survive, and those that either can't or won't resort to that, get promptly eaten alive and shat out the other end.

"How low are you willing to go" type of thing.

*hears the song "Hotel California" in my head*

It's one of the reasons why I'm kinda adverse to the state, along with the cities Las Vegas and New York.

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

This pretty much describes it...

You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.

That said, my dream is to live in Southern California.

Oh, shit - we're *here*.

I hadn't read the entire thread before I made my post and mentioned this song, specifically.

You're on your own on the California Dream thing though .

tinaz said:

dJJ said:

Why would they? There's a lot of beauty in aging. What's wrong with looking your age?

DJJ, have you hit 40 yet?

Almost, and to be honest, I have the luxury of good skin genes. People estimate me late 20's or even younger. My grandmother of 95 is currently complaining because she's getting wrinkles around her eyes. So, yes I'm lucky.

However, still, I think Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon are beatiful. Being sexy doesn't stop after 40, does it?

morningsong said:

Hollywood and LA don't make up the majority of the state.

And I have to agree with Genesia that Hollywood magnifies vulnerabilities that were already there. For those of us from here, we know Hollywood is filled with hustlers and dream makers as well as dream killers but so is NYC....our evil twin.