Amy Winehouse Dead at 27

[thetrailboss]

Sad news for her family and friends.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/23/seymour.winehouse/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

 

[deadheadskier]

sad for sure and a waste of amazing talent.

Can't say I didn't see that one coming. Drug addiction is a horrible disease.

 

[bigbog]

Sad ending......and from the response = touring in Serbia can get dicey....whew.

 

[Philpug]

sad for sure and a waste of amazing talent.

Can't say I didn't see that one coming. Drug addiction is a horrible disease.

Addition is one thing, abuse is another.

 

[deadheadskier]

Addition is one thing, abuse is another.

You'll get no argument from me there. My level of sympathy isn't all that high for Amy as it would appear that she didn't care enough to beat her addictions. It's hard to know how true that is because even though she seemed to embrace the hard partying lifestyle, often expressed through her art, maybe she really did desire to get clean. She had been to rehab several times.

I really don't understand how anyone could ever even consider trying opiates. The dangers are just far too great for whatever 'high' someone gets from those kind of drugs. Guess I can't judge too much though as I was stupid enough to try cigarettes as a youth and have had a nicotine addiction my entire adult life. I've quit several times, but have been stupid and picked them back up.

 

[Warp Daddy]

yet another case of wasted potential and weakness of character. A personal tragedy that seems to plague some in the celebrity life style

 

[riverc0il]

yet another case of wasted potential and weakness of character.

Wow. Harsh judgment Warp. I don't fault addictions as being a character weakness. How many cigarette smokers try to quit and can't. That isn't about character. People's brains get messed up. Not saying any one with an addiction is a victim completely. But it is harsh to judge someone's character based on what we know of them in the tabloids and dieing due to a drug addiction (has that been confirmed yet? definitely not foul play?).

 

[Warp Daddy]

Wow. Harsh judgment Warp. I don't fault addictions as being a character weakness. How many cigarette smokers try to quit and can't. That isn't about character. People's brains get messed up. Not saying any one with an addiction is a victim completely. But it is harsh to judge someone's character based on what we know of them in the tabloids and dieing due to a drug addiction (has that been confirmed yet? definitely not foul play?).

Yes it is Riv , . I am not soft on drugs and we had a Zero Tolerance policy as one who had to adjudicate many cases in the University system over 3 plus decades.

i have seen too much . Too many promising kids totally messed up their lives by giving in to peer pressure and their inability to stand on their own feet which often if unchecked resulted in a downward spiralling to the gutter .

If they CHOSE that result for themselves it is a personal failure , BUT Many also caused undue hardship on others either directly and indirectly and cost the society both in squandered talent, time and money and familial pain.

I am probably a dinosaur but that is how i see it .

 

[riverc0il]

Surprised to hear your take on it, Warp. I thought, considering your past position, that you would have more compassion for college kids. After all, the differences between those that experiment and don't get addicted and those that get caught up in a bad scene is more social and chance related, IMO. Most kids take drugs with no long term consequences. You don't seem to be so much of the opinion that addiction is a character flaw but rather just using drugs is a character flaw. Also surprising to hear considering your love of music...

I am probably a dinosaur but that is how i see it .

As long as you realize it.

Just for the record, I have never used any illegal drug but I support people's right to do what they want. Alcohol does far worse things than drugs, on average. Also for the record, my operation has been harmed by those doing bad things for drug money. Doesn't make their actions right, but it doesn't make them beyond compassion and completely lacking of character.

 

[mattm59]

sometimes youth

romanticizes death, thus experiments with drugs are exactly that. I think perhaps Amy fell into this category. Personally, I did a lot of illegal crap years ago, and yeah, personally it was weakness of character. When I went too far (the third or 30th time) I quit. This former acid and pot selling, daily drinker quit every damn thing (quite awhile ago), no rehab., just developed my character. I may be hypocritical, but I have no use for anyone doing ANYTHING any more, I mean a social beer is fine, but beyond that you are a selfish piece of dirt. Thing I realize now, is sobriety is so much more fun. Wish I'd handled my personal issues differently years ago, and after spending the weekend at the "Gathering of the Vibes", I even find marijuana seems to make people stupid and increase the level of "drama:razz:" in their life. Selfish, yup, that's the word.

 

[snoseek]

I've met plenty of opiate addicts that were introduced to their addiction via prescribed painkillers. I bet this was not her case at all but is for many addicts. Many people are wired in a way that addiction is just so easy to fall into, most kids are not able to read the writing on the wall until its too late. I can tell you straight up from my teenage years I'm wired to like stimulates of any form, from coffee to blow. Knowing this as an adult is simple to make the right decisions but when I was seventeen it was not so clear.
Booze is socially acceptable yet to me seems far more destructive to the masses than all drugs combined. Honestly I'll take weed for altering anyday, far more easier on the body and much more functional.

She was indeed a naturally talented artist, incredible vocalist. she was also so jacked up on drugs that never really tapped into her true potential. So sad. File her under artist that kick it @ 27 I guess.....

 

[Warp Daddy]

Surprised to hear your take on it, Warp. I thought, considering your past position, that you would have more compassion for college kids. After all, the differences between those that experiment and don't get addicted and those that get caught up in a bad scene is more social and chance related, IMO. Most kids take drugs with no long term consequences. You don't seem to be so much of the opinion that addiction is a character flaw but rather just using drugs is a character flaw. Also surprising to hear considering your love of music...




As long as you realize it.

Just for the record, I have never used any illegal drug but I support people's right to do what they want. Alcohol does far worse things than drugs, on average. Also for the record, my operation has been harmed by those doing bad things for drug money. Doesn't make their actions right, but it doesn't make them beyond compassion and completely lacking of character.

Yeah as a former musician back in the day i can see where u might assume that, Riv , but frankly i was never even much of a social drinker . My primary communication style is very EXPRESSIVE and my mom was artsy so i was pretty open and able to lighten up rather easily and can sometimes express strong opinions ( Often a strength /weakness paradox BTW)

To this day -- still have an off beat and my siblings will tell you i am the driven . competitve TYPE A trying to be a TYPE B but with an often outrageous sense of humor too .

Riv i have EMPATHY for folks struggling with the issue BUT it translated into TOUGH LOVE , perhaps u might think very tuff love


I have a deep respect for people who face their respective demons and make heroic efforts to conquer them much was discussed by one of this threads posters . That is no small task and i'm certain the effort made to get straight is life altering and the stuff of courage .

 

[Nick]

I wasn't a big fan of her music, but I still agree she was talented. I hate to see anyone die or get hurt.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

 

[snoseek]

, I mean a social beer is fine, but beyond that you are a selfish piece of dirt. QUOTE]

Good for you but do you really think having a few beers with some friends is selfish? How about smoking a little weed? Where do you draw the line?

I feel like you're taking your own personal experience with drugs and alcohol and applying it to the general public. Not everyone is going for broke or lacks self-control like you apparently did when it comes to this topic. You should probably open up your mind a little more-without the acid obviously:beer:

 

[deadheadskier]

, I mean a social beer is fine, but beyond that you are a selfish piece of dirt. [/ QUOTE]

Good for you but do you really think having a few beers with some friends is selfish? How about smoking a little weed? Where do you draw the line?

I feel like you're taking your own personal experience with drugs and alcohol and applying it to the general public. Not everyone is going for broke or lacks self-control like you apparently did when it comes to this topic. You should probably open up your mind a little more-without the acid obviously:beer:

I agree with this wholeheartedly.

This whole talk of 'bad character' and 'selfishness' doesn't resonate right with me. Way too judgmental.

At the basic level, drug use is done for the exact same reasons as someone taking a run in the morning or eating a Triple Stack at Wendy's. People do it as they are seeking pleasure, the release of dopamine in the brain. How people choose to seek pleasure is for no one else to judge and has NOTHING to do with the character of an individual.

I've met plenty of alcoholics and drug addicts that are the kindest, most generous and unselfish people you'd ever meet. I've met plenty that are a-holes too. Same could be said for sober people. Same could be said for skiers and snowboarders.

My wife and I kicked a couple of bottles of great wine on Friday night to go along with a great meal I made. How is that selfish to anyone? How is that a poor reflection on my character?

What would be selfish and a showing of bad character would be if I drank too much and was too hungover to go to work last night. I didn't. Even worse would be if I decided to take a drive into town for Ice Cream after having that wine. Same thing could be said for how I manage my skiing 'addiction'. If I'm blowing off work every powder day that comes along and jeopardizing my employment, that's selfish because I have a family to support. If it were just me, no family involved, it wouldn't be selfish. The fact that I ski is not selfish. The fact that people drink and do drugs doesn't mean they are selfish or bad character people.

Now, in terms of Amy Winehouse, yeah maybe you could say she was selfish. She pushed it too far and died from it and now her family, friends and fans of her music grieve. It sucks. However, in our sport, Shane McConkey donned a Superman suit and skied off a 2000 foot cliff and died. Just like Shane made that jump 100s of times and survived, Amy probably did drugs 100s of times and didn't die. Honestly, I don't see any difference between the two deaths.

I said earlier in the thread that I don't understand how anyone would ever consider taking a chance with opiates because they are so dangerous. I feel the same thing about Shane's skiing pursuits. But, that's a choice I'm making for myself. Who am I to judge others who make different choices. I'm no better than they are just because I choose to live life a little differently.

 

[WoodCore]

Addiction is a terrible thing for sure! No matter what you are addicted to it will most likely catch up to you and lead to your demise. In the case of substance abuse it's never good, some poisons take their toll sooner than later but the end is all the same. Take for example those addicted to extreme skiing, they can't seem to stop going bigger and bigger yet they are drooping like flies!

IMHO Heroine/Barbiturates seem to be the worse and I've been first hand to the destruction they can cause. Lost some close friends who seemed to have the world at their control only to see them slide into the deepest depths and unfortunately depart this world in only the course of a few years. Tragic yet eye opening!

Amy Winehouse ventured down the path she choose, she knew the risks, accepted them and payed the price. She does join the tragic 27 club which includes: Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and Kurt Cobain...............

 

[deadheadskier]

Amy Winehouse ventured down the path she choose, she knew the risks, accepted them and payed the price. She does join the tragic 27 club which includes: Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and Kurt Cobain...............

don't forget Pigpen

 

[mattm59]

okay, I'll try to rephrase that

Understood, some taking offense at my harsh stand.You got to walk a mile in a mans shoes they say, to understand where he's coming from. Just my opinion, one beer just a metaphor, but most of those with an issue don't realize it.

Whoa, just saw Deadheadskier referencing Ron McKernan. Yeah, that was a little before my time, but Jerry passing due to effin' heroin (which people had to convince me, I thought cigarettes), made me cry, and made me...well, cry. Heroin is a very selfish drug, trust me, I had a friend abuse the crap out of me due to that crap.If Jerry hadn't passed, I wouldn't have to deal with all these freakin' cover bands. Cried last night when Elvis Costello sang the Roses in honor of Jerry at the Vibes last night.It was beautiful...but the "well, if I go on tour, I'll have to do heroin" hurts.

 

[Philpug]

Sadly, I do not know who she even was.

 

[deadheadskier]

Understood, some taking offense at my harsh stand.You got to walk a mile in a mans shoes they say, to understand where he's coming from. Just my opinion, one beer just a metaphor, but most of those with an issue don't realize it.

The thing is, I could walk a mile in Amy Winehouse's shoes and still not experience what she did. There's no definition to addiction/abuse. It's 100% personal. There are people who can drink 5 beers only on Saturday nights and be more of a danger to themselves and those around them than another person who drinks 5 beers every day.