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Reply #300 posted 10/12/20 7:26pm

MoodyBlumes

rednblue said:

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

Literally every angle covered in these comments - all very valid actually & a lot of truth. For me it's just Neal ...seems like a creep.




MoodyBlumes said:


Margot said:



I enjoyed Neal's perception that Prince had "alot of time to be a genius" in his younger years.


I am paraphrasing, but he mentioned that as a result of Prince's early experiences, he had fairly


strong narcissistic traits. This gave him the space and focus he needed to rise without too much


concern about pain he might be causing others.


Per Neal, at around 40-ish, he started to try harder with people, "remembering their names, some hugging etc"


As a younger person, you may have seen the kinder and gentler Prince.




... Having a lot of time to be a genius in truth is working one's ass off - 20 hours a day by many accounts. That's what it takes to be a Picasso. . I'm not sure what world you and Neal live in, but guys tend to hug their girlfriends. Prince was running a business and I've never met a CEO who goes around 'hugging' and spilling their guts to staff. Neal seems to be bitter that he was not as successful as Prince... but he's working hard to change all that. Neal Karlen never was, and never will be Prince. But I hope you will put your money where your mouth is, and replace all your Prince stuff with Karlen's books. Nobody deserves to have Prince's music and chastise him for taking the time to make it. Same for his live performances... [Edited 10/12/20 11:37am]



Purpleized — it seems like the reaction here on the Org often depends a lot on just what family member or associate nice stuff is written about, and I’m talking about stuff written with all levels of substantiation/evidence. Reactions seem often to come down to who is being handed some respect. I appreciated respectful things written in this book. Was I present to verify? No. That’s true of everything I read about the purple world.

Respect paid to purple world people is often applauded here by folks who, like me, can’t 100 percent verify if the basis for the respect is true.

It’s like authors have to report on the approved “nice things,” not the unapproved “nice things.” With approval little related to verifiability, but instead related to not giving a nod to those you aren’t supposed to give a nod to.

Maybe I’ll post some of the respect and appreciation shown by the book at hand for someone important to Prince tomorrow.

Got done with work later than expected today and just want to read right now.

P.S. The concept of narcissism is far from some perfect idea from on high, but it might nonetheless be worth mentioning that this very imperfect construct involves the idea that people with strong traits often suffer greatly and in the case of genuine high achievement, have very likely overcome huge obstacles. Narcissism absolutely does not equate to nonimpressiveness, and the idea is contrary to an easy, unwounded life. All that said, some clinicians, including my cousin, refuse to use constructs to include narcissism, borderline, etc. traits because of problems with these ideas.

....
Narcissism is something that is normal to all. I'd call Neal an encapsulated narcissist because at 60, he is using a dead man for personal acclaim. Naturally his 'bomb shells' can't be substantiated. But even after 57 years on earth 'fans believe Prince was doing drugs with a journalist and talking suicide. He doesn't mention Dorothy Parker's 'Arrangement in Black and White', about an African American musician being disrespected at a dinner party; he doesn't mention her 'Ballades' which reference Prince, he doesn't mention her screenplay 'A Star is Born'- Lisa said he had the movie poster on his wall. Nice try Neal... As for Prince, he gave many people employment - while many were outspurcing to the 3rd world, Prince was employing local artisans. And yup, we did notice that his 1987 benefit concert with Miles was for the homeless. And what's this 1983 benefit - https://blog.thecurrent.o...%20Avenue.
.
What good deeds has Neal done throughout his life?
[Edited 10/12/20 20:22pm]
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Reply #301 posted 10/12/20 7:30pm

MoodyBlumes

JudasLChrist said:



rap said:




JudasLChrist said:


Just finished it. I've been reading prince biographies since the 80s. While I wouldn't quite call this I biography, it's more of a memoir of Neil's relationship with friends and a postmortem attempt at understanding who he was. The book is doomed to be hated by certain types of fans because it doesn't always paint a pretty picture, or flat out contradicts what they think they know about him. The thing that people are posting here getting mad because Neil believed that prince disliked Miles Davis as a person is a good example of that. I would remind folks that this is Neil's book and covers Neil's experience with prince, and is different than what prince presented to the public or to other people. I don't think Neil tells a single lie in this book, and he's very open about what he doesn't know.



There's definitely some tragic stuff in here about Prince believing in his created persona to his own detriment. Wendy Melvoin has talks about how prince never stopped being the "rockstar" enough to have been able to ask for help when he was dealing with addiction, and Neil deep dives into that idea further. Prince could never show that kind of "weakness", and was ashamed. There are things in this book which are painful to read for those of us that loved Prince, and whose lives were elevated by his music and grand visions.



Neil has done a real service in telling the truth about what he knew about this extraordinary musician. The narrative of who Prince was gets fleshed out in a more human way. I believe this is one of the most unique books about prince, and will be one of the most important for historians.



I grew up in Minneapolis, and i'm also very appreciative of the picture of Minnesota and it's stifling culture that Neil paints. I don't think I have ever seen or read such an accurate portrayal of this anywhere, and it's actually very important to Prince's story.





Would you say it's a good companion to The Beautiful Ones and worth purchasing or should I wait until my local library has a copy?


[Edited 10/12/20 14:11pm]





I'd say it's a good companion to Mayte's book "The Most Beautifu". Oddly, I haven't read The Beautiful ones yet. It's a bit painful for me out of all of them.



....
That is odd, yes.
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Reply #302 posted 10/13/20 4:47am

PennyPurple

avatar

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

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Reply #303 posted 10/13/20 7:45am

rednblue

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/


Disgusting use of the word "gorge." Vile.

Let's just assume Prince did NOT borrow a pill. Let's take Prince out of it. I'm sure that's what most have already done out of respect. Let's not hold Prince and this vile publication in the same brain space.

What if a publication portrayed ANYONE in this way with simply these words?

With no effort for a larger, fuller picture of someone, for a truer picture that humanizes rather than dehumanizes. To combat stigma, we need to see human beings, not cartoons. IMO, writers can help by helping us SEE the fellow human beings that people truly are...not by connecting us with cartoons.

What happens if they suggest anyone else (NOT Prince at all)...what happens when they suggest that ANYONE may have a medical condition that may need relief, for severe joint pain, severe mood/anxiety/etc. condition ("brain pain"), etc....and they do so with such a portrayal with such slurs in their words?

Why would they write like this, and refer to "gorging" on a "stash" of prescribed medication? Leave us with nothing but garish and sensationalized words?

That stigma is where terms like junkie and cripple come from.

Would they say such things about a cancer patient?

Why do certain medical conditions with mental and/or physical pain get protrayed with such ignorance? Feeding a cultural message that people should have shame?

No wonder people hide.

These portrayers have blood on their hands.

[Edited 10/13/20 9:11am]

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Reply #304 posted 10/13/20 9:33am

rednblue

MoodyBlumes said:

rednblue said:

MoodyBlumes said: It’s tough, too, because some of the quotes/descriptions/stories reflect more nicely on one associate than another, more nicely on one family member than another, etc. What’s nice in some ways can be not-so-nice in another. But that doesn’t go for every part of everything that’s written. Honestly, some of my favorite things to read have been about fans, where the fans are talking about how they found Prince’s music, how they’ve loved it over the years, if they’ve introduced friends/ family to favorite songs, etc.

I enjoy reading those types of things from fans too. Duff McKagan's article below speaks to me too... Prince's music hit me on levels that go beyond a cool groove. And that's what great art is all about. I mentioned Picasso because he is another artist I love for many many reasons. We need artists in this world... Nice people are aplenty.

.

Duff: https://www.seattleweekly...lumn-on-3/


Thank you so, so much for this. This, the opposite of the vile stuff, is exactly what's needed today.

"...how was I supposed to tell the guy that he and his music had gotten me through so much stuff, and that he was maybe THE reason I was now in a band that, had he not inspired in me the confidence to move to L.A., may not have happened? How was I to really tell him how his music had gotten me through so many rough spots, and helped me to celebrate my triumphs?"

Love his descriptions of life's ups and downs that unfolded with Prince's albums and performances, and the way he takes us through time...from a friend introducing him to Prince in 1981, to him introducing his daughters to Prince in 2011.

"I told my older daughter, Grace, that she was about to see maybe the best pure singer on this planet. I told Mae that Prince was magic, and that intrigued her, I think. So there we were."

..."maybe the best pure singer on this planet." He's got that right. heart heart heart heart heart

[Edited 10/13/20 9:45am]

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Reply #305 posted 10/13/20 9:39am

rogifan

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

I don't know why these people get so much latitude from fans. Why should we just assume everything they say is the truth? It's possible they can misremember things, lie, have agendas etc. They can pretty much say whatever they want because Prince isn't here to defend himself.

Paisley Park is in your heart
#PrinceForever 💜
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Reply #306 posted 10/13/20 9:52am

jaawwnn

Number23 said:

Just finished it there. Revelatory, if true. But a lot of my suspicions over the years were confirmed. Certainly looks like that skanky street dealer the Daily Mail dug up the day after he died was telling the truth. Addicted to painkillers since Purple Rain. Bipolar traits. Serious cognitive dissonance. Body was absolutely fucked since Parade. Double hip transplant. Kept on swearing til the end. Hated Miles Davis (!). Unceasingly cynical and hateful. Despised most people, only saw weakness. Loathed brownnosing. Used friends as extension of self for personal gain. Could only empathise with Mozart. Major working class chip on his shoulder. Lied about his mother continually because she didn’t protect him from John‘s bestings. Extreme childhood trauma. Lied about ... everything. Constantly. Mainly to himself. ‘Our family exists’. Never recovered from the death of his child. Believed it was his God’s punishment for so-called explicit lyrics and behaviour. Wrapped himself in so many layers of that he had no idea who he was anymore. Viewed his gift as a curse, his genius his daemon. Got rid of anyone who got too close. Was losing feeling in his arms and legs. Talked of suicide often. Died alone. I feel sick, actually.

Yeesh. I suppose i'm gonna have to read this one so. If nothing else it'll be interesting to get such an incredibly unsympathetic picture of the man.

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Reply #307 posted 10/13/20 9:54am

rednblue

rogifan said:

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

I don't know why these people get so much latitude from fans. Why should we just assume everything they say is the truth? It's possible they can misremember things, lie, have agendas etc. They can pretty much say whatever they want because Prince isn't here to defend himself.


And the tabloids and some other places/people were saying a good deal of awful stuff when Prince was alive, too.

Fans might disagree about specific books/articles/quotes, but I think everyone agrees that there was always a lot of awful stuff. Absolutely no doubt that some are putting it out now rather than earlier because of consequences that went away when we lost him. And not questioning that there's more now.

The awful stuff that got put out while he was alive makes me sad in another way, as it possibly bothered him while he was here.

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Reply #308 posted 10/13/20 10:04am

rednblue

jaawwnn said:

Number23 said:

Just finished it there. Revelatory, if true. But a lot of my suspicions over the years were confirmed. Certainly looks like that skanky street dealer the Daily Mail dug up the day after he died was telling the truth. Addicted to painkillers since Purple Rain. Bipolar traits. Serious cognitive dissonance. Body was absolutely fucked since Parade. Double hip transplant. Kept on swearing til the end. Hated Miles Davis (!). Unceasingly cynical and hateful. Despised most people, only saw weakness. Loathed brownnosing. Used friends as extension of self for personal gain. Could only empathise with Mozart. Major working class chip on his shoulder. Lied about his mother continually because she didn’t protect him from John‘s bestings. Extreme childhood trauma. Lied about ... everything. Constantly. Mainly to himself. ‘Our family exists’. Never recovered from the death of his child. Believed it was his God’s punishment for so-called explicit lyrics and behaviour. Wrapped himself in so many layers of that he had no idea who he was anymore. Viewed his gift as a curse, his genius his daemon. Got rid of anyone who got too close. Was losing feeling in his arms and legs. Talked of suicide often. Died alone. I feel sick, actually.

Yeesh. I suppose i'm gonna have to read this one so. If nothing else it'll be interesting to get such an incredibly unsympathetic picture of the man.


FWIW, I had problems with some of it (to include big errors), yet I found a lot of it very sympathetic. IMO, it's some cultural attitudes that are ignorant and dangerous connected to a few of the subjects mentioned, e.g. possible mood and substance use condition concerns.

I think fleshed out portraits of human beings, including geniuses who gave us gifts beyond imagine, are exactly what's needed to combat ignorance and dehumanization that leads to lack of sympathy and admiration. IMO, that would be a great gift to great artists, and ordinary people, of the future.

[Edited 10/13/20 10:06am]

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Reply #309 posted 10/13/20 11:04am

Margot

In a perfect world it is always best for an artist (or anyone) who may not have been completely forthright with the public/fans to try "get out ahead" of the narrative and tell the story themselves.

This would likely have engendered shock at first, but many would have shown eventual sympathy for the couage it took.

Of course, if Prince was to have chosen this route, he would have had to give up the mystique.

I do feel he was ill at the end and needed the drugs, so he was in a no-win situation.

It was a matter of time IMO, before all of this started to come out and I think Neal's version was fairly sympathetic, though several peripheral facts were sloppy.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:07am]

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Reply #310 posted 10/13/20 11:10am

rednblue

MoodyBlumes said:

rednblue said:
Purpleized — it seems like the reaction here on the Org often depends a lot on just what family member or associate nice stuff is written about, and I’m talking about stuff written with all levels of substantiation/evidence. Reactions seem often to come down to who is being handed some respect. I appreciated respectful things written in this book. Was I present to verify? No. That’s true of everything I read about the purple world. Respect paid to purple world people is often applauded here by folks who, like me, can’t 100 percent verify if the basis for the respect is true. It’s like authors have to report on the approved “nice things,” not the unapproved “nice things.” With approval little related to verifiability, but instead related to not giving a nod to those you aren’t supposed to give a nod to. Maybe I’ll post some of the respect and appreciation shown by the book at hand for someone important to Prince tomorrow. Got done with work later than expected today and just want to read right now. P.S. The concept of narcissism is far from some perfect idea from on high, but it might nonetheless be worth mentioning that this very imperfect construct involves the idea that people with strong traits often suffer greatly and in the case of genuine high achievement, have very likely overcome huge obstacles. Narcissism absolutely does not equate to nonimpressiveness, and the idea is contrary to an easy, unwounded life. All that said, some clinicians, including my cousin, refuse to use constructs to include narcissism, borderline, etc. traits because of problems with these ideas.
.... Narcissism is something that is normal to all. I'd call Neal an encapsulated narcissist because at 60, he is using a dead man for personal acclaim. Naturally his 'bomb shells' can't be substantiated. But even after 57 years on earth 'fans believe Prince was doing drugs with a journalist and talking suicide. He doesn't mention Dorothy Parker's 'Arrangement in Black and White', about an African American musician being disrespected at a dinner party; he doesn't mention her 'Ballades' which reference Prince, he doesn't mention her screenplay 'A Star is Born'- Lisa said he had the movie poster on his wall. Nice try Neal... As for Prince, he gave many people employment - while many were outspurcing to the 3rd world, Prince was employing local artisans. And yup, we did notice that his 1987 benefit concert with Miles was for the homeless. And what's this 1983 benefit - https://blog.thecurrent.o...%20Avenue. . What good deeds has Neal done throughout his life? [Edited 10/12/20 20:22pm]


Do realize that some don't think that any in the psych profession -- MDs, PhDs, LCSWs, etc. -- are useful to anyone. Rarely know what people here think about that idea.

If it means anything, clinicians in that area find that all people have behaved narcissistically at times. Beyond that, there is an idea that in situations when narcissism impacts life in a way that is large enough in a net negative direction, then it is a condition worth helping if it can be helped. Like I mentioned before, there are clinicians who don't engage with certain of (narcissistic, borderline, etc.) "personality conditions" because they don't find the construct a net positive in helping people...which is the bottom line goal in health care.

At the point when I was in school, those who did deal with such constructs estimated the prevalence of the narcissistic clinical condition at .5 to 1 percent of the population. So that obviously makes for a low percentage, but at the same time makes for a lot of people.

FWIW, I wholeheartedly agree that talking about the Dorothy Parker writings you point out, along with the couple Neal does talk about, would have made the Dorothy Parker - connection part of the book better by a lot.

Love both of the charity benefit performances you mentioned.

A couple things I'm in love with about the 1987: Prince's humor and communing with Cat.

A few things in love with about 1983: thinking of related community program in which Prince took dance years before, Automatic performance, Case of U performance. I am completely in love with P when he sings that part of Case of U. What he does to the words with that VOICE. My husband and I had one of our more difficult moments ever when he first heard it and said he just wanted to go back to Joni's version. mad I can't stand that someone I love thinks that. Embarrasing to admit, but true. Can't stand it. Thank goodness it has grown on him since he first displayed such shocking lack of taste and emptiness. But I'll be happy when he gets fully back to what I consider senses on that one. Hope it's soon.

[Edited 10/13/20 12:17pm]

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Reply #311 posted 10/13/20 11:17am

Margot

I also think Neal felt this was a story about shame. Shame for showing any type of weakness.

Shame for his stance on peers who used drugs.

Shame for portraying a false version of himself.

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Reply #312 posted 10/13/20 11:25am

rednblue

Margot said:

In a perfect world it is always best for an artist (or anyone) who may not have been completely forthright with the public/fans to try "get out ahead" of the narrative and tell the story themselves.

This would likely have engendered shock at first, but many would have shown eventual sympathy for the couage it took.

Of course, if Prince was to have chosen this route, he would have had to give up the mystique.

I do feel he was ill at the end and needed the drugs, so he was in a no-win situation.

It was a matter of time IMO, before all of this started to come out and I think Neal's version was fairly sympathetic, though several peripheral facts were sloppy.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:07am]


Yes, and I think there's a chance there was also a no-win (or at least no-close-to-easy-option) situation regarding playing guitar, piano, bass, drums. There were instruments that Prince had loved to play often, and it may have been a lot harder for him to play nearly as much as he loved, even when he wasn't on tour.

It was so good to hear reports of how excited he was about doing a lot of writing.

Speaking generally, some people, even if they get to the point of having multiple no win situations about very important things, experience moments of optimism along with moments of despair. It can be mixed. Not all one state of mind. At least going by a few of the people I've known in my life.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:53am]

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Reply #313 posted 10/13/20 11:39am

rednblue

Margot said:

I also think Neal felt this was a story about shame. Shame for showing any type of weakness.

Shame for his stance on peers who used drugs.

Shame for portraying a false version of himself.


I've come to realize that some who read that word in Neil's book saw it as a huge insult. It was good to understand that. That reaction hadn't even occured to me as a possiblity. People come to these things from so many different places and backgrounds. I am very ignorant of religion, so that's one thing that I need to keep in mind and be really careful about. I do know people who found themselves saved by religion, people who see little but destruction given all its dogma, and lots of views in between. Having not grown up with religion, and having a lot of other kinds of ignorance (which I should get up and do something about), I'm not at all sophisticated about it.

To me, the word shame was a part of a sympathetic portrayal to include what Prince could have been up against, just one part of which would have been strongly intimidating vibes from the world in general, and from himself, too.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:57am]

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Reply #314 posted 10/13/20 1:13pm

Margot

rednblue said:

Margot said:

I also think Neal felt this was a story about shame. Shame for showing any type of weakness.

Shame for his stance on peers who used drugs.

Shame for portraying a false version of himself.


I've come to realize that some who read that word in Neil's book saw it as a huge insult. It was good to understand that. That reaction hadn't even occured to me as a possiblity. People come to these things from so many different places and backgrounds. I am very ignorant of religion, so that's one thing that I need to keep in mind and be really careful about. I do know people who found themselves saved by religion, people who see little but destruction given all its dogma, and lots of views in between. Having not grown up with religion, and having a lot of other kinds of ignorance (which I should get up and do something about), I'm not at all sophisticated about it.

To me, the word shame was a part of a sympathetic portrayal to include what Prince could have been up against, just one part of which would have been strongly intimidating vibes from the world in general, and from himself, too.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:57am]

Well-said.

I think Prince underestimated how much his fans and the world would love him in spite of.

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Reply #315 posted 10/13/20 2:41pm

rap

JudasLChrist said:

rap said:

Would you say it's a good companion to The Beautiful Ones and worth purchasing or should I wait until my local library has a copy?

[Edited 10/12/20 14:11pm]



I'd say it's a good companion to Mayte's book "The Most Beautifu". Oddly, I haven't read The Beautiful ones yet. It's a bit painful for me out of all of them.

Worth buying or get from the library?

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Reply #316 posted 10/13/20 3:03pm

PennyPurple

avatar

They are claiming this is what Neal said......

rednblue said:

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/


Disgusting use of the word "gorge." Vile.

Let's just assume Prince did NOT borrow a pill. Let's take Prince out of it. I'm sure that's what most have already done out of respect. Let's not hold Prince and this vile publication in the same brain space.

What if a publication portrayed ANYONE in this way with simply these words?

With no effort for a larger, fuller picture of someone, for a truer picture that humanizes rather than dehumanizes. To combat stigma, we need to see human beings, not cartoons. IMO, writers can help by helping us SEE the fellow human beings that people truly are...not by connecting us with cartoons.

What happens if they suggest anyone else (NOT Prince at all)...what happens when they suggest that ANYONE may have a medical condition that may need relief, for severe joint pain, severe mood/anxiety/etc. condition ("brain pain"), etc....and they do so with such a portrayal with such slurs in their words?

Why would they write like this, and refer to "gorging" on a "stash" of prescribed medication? Leave us with nothing but garish and sensationalized words?

That stigma is where terms like junkie and cripple come from.

Would they say such things about a cancer patient?

Why do certain medical conditions with mental and/or physical pain get protrayed with such ignorance? Feeding a cultural message that people should have shame?

No wonder people hide.

These portrayers have blood on their hands.

[Edited 10/13/20 9:11am]

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Reply #317 posted 10/13/20 3:05pm

rednblue

Margot said:

rednblue said:


I've come to realize that some who read that word in Neil's book saw it as a huge insult. It was good to understand that. That reaction hadn't even occured to me as a possiblity. People come to these things from so many different places and backgrounds. I am very ignorant of religion, so that's one thing that I need to keep in mind and be really careful about. I do know people who found themselves saved by religion, people who see little but destruction given all its dogma, and lots of views in between. Having not grown up with religion, and having a lot of other kinds of ignorance (which I should get up and do something about), I'm not at all sophisticated about it.

To me, the word shame was a part of a sympathetic portrayal to include what Prince could have been up against, just one part of which would have been strongly intimidating vibes from the world in general, and from himself, too.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:57am]

Well-said.

I think Prince underestimated how much his fans and the world would love him in spite of.


Me too. sad

Do love watching him interact with audiences, as it's like the flip side of those kinds of doubts that can face famous people.

It's not the same as him communing one-on-one, but it's still beautiful to see all that flirting, adoration, love flow between Prince and his audiences.

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Reply #318 posted 10/13/20 3:25pm

PURPLEIZED3121

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

so very sad to see that frickin headline all over my social media feeds this morning inc google front page.

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Reply #319 posted 10/13/20 3:27pm

rednblue

PennyPurple said:

They are claiming this is what Neal said......

rednblue said:


Disgusting use of the word "gorge." Vile.

Let's just assume Prince did NOT borrow a pill. Let's take Prince out of it. I'm sure that's what most have already done out of respect. Let's not hold Prince and this vile publication in the same brain space.

What if a publication portrayed ANYONE in this way with simply these words?

With no effort for a larger, fuller picture of someone, for a truer picture that humanizes rather than dehumanizes. To combat stigma, we need to see human beings, not cartoons. IMO, writers can help by helping us SEE the fellow human beings that people truly are...not by connecting us with cartoons.

What happens if they suggest anyone else (NOT Prince at all)...what happens when they suggest that ANYONE may have a medical condition that may need relief, for severe joint pain, severe mood/anxiety/etc. condition ("brain pain"), etc....and they do so with such a portrayal with such slurs in their words?

Why would they write like this, and refer to "gorging" on a "stash" of prescribed medication? Leave us with nothing but garish and sensationalized words?

That stigma is where terms like junkie and cripple come from.

Would they say such things about a cancer patient?

Why do certain medical conditions with mental and/or physical pain get protrayed with such ignorance? Feeding a cultural message that people should have shame?

No wonder people hide.

These portrayers have blood on their hands.

[Edited 10/13/20 9:11am]


I don't know if Prince did this in the late 90's. If Neal is lying, that's horrible. But he may not be. Many brilliant, strong people find themselves doing things like this in the course of their lives. If they are, and if it’s reflective of a health concern for which more help is needed, hopefully they can get the best help available. Just like anyone else who has a health issue. Neal said Prince took multiple pills that Neal had been prescribed for a procedure. My point is that some people do those things. As an aside many people have used some medication that someone else had around, even though you are not supposed to do that. It doesn't make them bad people, but that article is describing it in the most garish way possible.

This would go for the story of anyone who gets into a life situation where they feel the need to take more pills than is wise. It's a horrible thing to take what someone has written in a LONG book about somebody's life, isolate it, and blow it up in a garish, dehumanizing way.

Same with any no-win situations that may be current or eventual parts of such stories for some.

IMO, the only way to go isn't to sensationalize, and also isn't to hide these stories. It's to humanize. I believe that's where the truth lies, and where the only hope for diminishing dangerous shame lies. For the sake, among others, of people who hide because they think that if they don't, they will be left to join a cast of dehumanized cartoons.

There's a lot I don't know, but I do know this. Reducing the book into a few garish paragraphs exploiting possible distress is wrong.

Hope that makes sense, but realize words are scrambled here, and many may disagree.

[Edited 10/13/20 18:39pm]

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Reply #320 posted 10/13/20 3:30pm

PURPLEIZED3121

rednblue said:

Margot said:

Well-said.

I think Prince underestimated how much his fans and the world would love him in spite of.


Me too. sad

Do love watching him interact with audiences, as it's like the flip side of those kinds of doubts that can face famous people.

It's not the same as him communing one-on-one, but it's still beautiful to see all that flirting, adoration, love flow between Prince and his audiences.

In hindsight perhaps P was at his happiest on stage sharing that enegy with his fans.

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Reply #321 posted 10/13/20 3:46pm

rednblue

A bit of an aside, but I had an aunt who was treated with a lot of scorn in the last year of her life. I know I suggested that people are often sympathetic and respect the challenge and pain of a condition as awful as cancer. But of course that isn't always true.

My aunt had breast cancer. She was in her 30's and had three children. She was part of an early medical marijuana study. There were people who came up to her, and the first thing they had to say was some sort of claim about nothing but chasing a high. Pretty ignorant and awful.

I truly hope attitudes are overall better today. The general attitude of the culture determines to what extent this stuff gets exploited for clicks from people who would be happy to read only two paragraphs about something they click on for a few lurid paragraphs to indulge some sneering in. That's what stigma encourages.

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Reply #322 posted 10/13/20 3:47pm

rednblue

PURPLEIZED3121 said:

rednblue said:


Me too. sad

Do love watching him interact with audiences, as it's like the flip side of those kinds of doubts that can face famous people.

It's not the same as him communing one-on-one, but it's still beautiful to see all that flirting, adoration, love flow between Prince and his audiences.

In hindsight perhaps P was at his happiest on stage sharing that enegy with his fans.


heart

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Reply #323 posted 10/13/20 4:41pm

MoodyBlumes

rednblue said:

Margot said:

I also think Neal felt this was a story about shame. Shame for showing any type of weakness.

Shame for his stance on peers who used drugs.

Shame for portraying a false version of himself.


I've come to realize that some who read that word in Neil's book saw it as a huge insult. It was good to understand that. That reaction hadn't even occured to me as a possiblity. People come to these things from so many different places and backgrounds. I am very ignorant of religion, so that's one thing that I need to keep in mind and be really careful about. I do know people who found themselves saved by religion, people who see little but destruction given all its dogma, and lots of views in between. Having not grown up with religion, and having a lot of other kinds of ignorance (which I should get up and do something about), I'm not at all sophisticated about it.

To me, the word shame was a part of a sympathetic portrayal to include what Prince could have been up against, just one part of which would have been strongly intimidating vibes from the world in general, and from himself, too.

[Edited 10/13/20 11:57am]

So do you believe that Muhammad Ali was responsible for the death of Sonny Liston, as Neal does?

.

"During their eight rounds Clay took away Liston’s heavyweight championship, his manhood, and his basic will to go on. Six years later, Sonny was found dead in his Las Vegas home from a heroin overdose."

[Edited 10/13/20 17:26pm]

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Reply #324 posted 10/13/20 4:43pm

MoodyBlumes

rogifan said:

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

I don't know why these people get so much latitude from fans. Why should we just assume everything they say is the truth? It's possible they can misremember things, lie, have agendas etc. They can pretty much say whatever they want because Prince isn't here to defend himself.

And yet Prince was here for 57 years.

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Reply #325 posted 10/13/20 5:01pm

simm0061

avatar

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

Well if it is true, I think we can consider Neal to be one of Prince's many enablers. Anyone who thinks that Neal didn't offer up those pills to Prince needs to think again.

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Reply #326 posted 10/13/20 5:10pm

JudasLChrist

avatar

simm0061 said:

PennyPurple said:

Now it's making it's rounds to the gossip sites. mad



A journalist claims Prince once visited his apartment just to gorge on his stash of prescribed opioids.

In “This Thing Called Life,” author Neal Karlen recounts his decades-long relationship with the musical superstar.




https://pagesix.com/2020/10/12/journalist-says-prince-visited-him-to-gobble-supply-of-percocet/

Well if it is true, I think we can consider Neal to be one of Prince's many enablers. Anyone who thinks that Neal didn't offer up those pills to Prince needs to think again.


Completely unsubstantiated. Still today when the topic of Prince's death come up people will pop in with things like "I feel that he was murdered". They just go to the darkest possible place without any actual evidence at all. Neal told a story about what he observed. No need to kill the messenger.

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Reply #327 posted 10/13/20 5:32pm

PennyPurple

avatar

JudasLChrist said:

simm0061 said:

Well if it is true, I think we can consider Neal to be one of Prince's many enablers. Anyone who thinks that Neal didn't offer up those pills to Prince needs to think again.


Completely unsubstantiated. Still today when the topic of Prince's death come up people will pop in with things like "I feel that he was murdered". They just go to the darkest possible place without any actual evidence at all. Neal told a story about what he observed. No need to kill the messenger.

And yet, he did nothing about it??

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Reply #328 posted 10/13/20 6:03pm

JudasLChrist

avatar

PennyPurple said:

JudasLChrist said:


Completely unsubstantiated. Still today when the topic of Prince's death come up people will pop in with things like "I feel that he was murdered". They just go to the darkest possible place without any actual evidence at all. Neal told a story about what he observed. No need to kill the messenger.

And yet, he did nothing about it??



Have you ever had a friend die from an overdose? Do you have freinds who are addicts now? Do you blame yourself for their addiction or their death? You shouldn't.

[Edited 10/13/20 18:03pm]

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Reply #329 posted 10/13/20 6:27pm

PennyPurple

avatar

JudasLChrist said:

PennyPurple said:

And yet, he did nothing about it??



Have you ever had a friend die from an overdose? Do you have freinds who are addicts now? Do you blame yourself for their addiction or their death? You shouldn't.

[Edited 10/13/20 18:03pm]

Nope, Nope, and if they did I would do everything in my power to help them and get help for them. I wouldn't stand by and let them take my pills, and stay silent.

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