I can think of a lot of those former child stars who have had drug or alcohol problems, or who do seem to have some psychological issues, but I can't think of any other who's as far off from the adult definition of "normal" in any direction as Michael Jackson.

Well, maybe with him it was a combination of of upbringing and some other inherent psychiatric issue. There certainly seemed to have been some dissociative behaviors at work here.

So much of the public spirit of despising him was based on homophobia -- his voice, his mannerisms, his clothes, constant comments about him and little boys (even though he was generally surrounded by children of both genders) long before any allegations of impropriety. They loved calling him a fag. And they loved it when the "fag" fell.

Was his life as a child significantly different than other child stars?

Don't know. Though this does make me wonder what ways his life could have been different. Imagine a Michael who comes out honestly about his childhood, and makes child abuse a huge cause of his. I think he could have easily had the power to shine a light on it.

Not all people who try to re-create a childhood that they never experienced are pedophiles. I'd wager the vast majority are not.

Yeah, if we're going to judge adults on vast comic collections, video games, desire for odd pets, and the willingness to put rollercoasters in their yards... well...

Problem is, Sean, as uniquely fucked up and insulated as MJ's life was, he still has a moral obligation to examine his actions and know their consequences. I expect this of every mentally competent adult. To put it in Sartrean terms, his failing is that he lied to himself. That he chose to believe the lies that were perpetuated around him. Because of that he had no check on reality. That he could believe that his lack of boundaries (at the very least) was not damaging to other children.

So even apart from abuse the question of abuse he was damaging children?

Not all people who try to re-create a childhood that they never experienced are pedophiles.

Of course not. But you can't say "he's not a pedophile, he's really an arrested 10 y.o. because he's trying to recreate his childhood" since the person emotionally arrested at age 10 and the pedophile have that trait in common.

Imagine a Michael who comes out honestly about his childhood, and makes child abuse a huge cause of his. I think he could have easily had the power to shine a light on it.

Donny Bonaduce seemed to be briefly heading in that direction, then backed off.

So even apart from abuse the question of abuse he was damaging children?

I think so. As I noted above, he did expose himself to younger children and he did sleep and cuddle with kids that weren't his children at his place. Those are damaging breaches of boundaries.

But you can't say "he's not a pedophile, he's really an arrested 10 y.o. because he's trying to recreate his childhood" since the person emotionally arrested at age 10 and the pedophile have that trait in common.

I'm not sure what you're saying here. Because they have that trait in common, you can't say that the person is NOT a pedophile?

Being emotionally arrested is not what makes someone a pedophile. Sexually abusing children *is.*

I think the degree of abuse was more severe, possibly started earlier, and he never cut ties or broke away from it. I also think there was untreated mental illness that in later days was compounded by substance abuse.

I expect this of every mentally competent adult.

So do I. But I don't think from the available evidence that Jackson was, in point of fact, a mentally competent adult.

I painted my nails last night but was too lazy to apply a top coat, and now they look all smoodgy. Bleh.

Always have a quick dry top coat on hand! Always!

That he could believe that his lack of boundaries (at the very least) was not damaging to other children.

This is my thing. I can buy the "regressed 10-yr-old" argument, and in a lot of ways it rings true. But even if you posited no out-and-out sexual molestation, there is no question he made a habit of behaving in wildly inappropriate ways around vulnerable children who were damaged by it. No question.