Of course, there is mentally damaged and trying to fix it too. Pat Conroy is a good example of that -- his struggle to be a functional human being is phenomenal.

I don't think its the damage that makes you brilliant, but the brilliance that allows you to survive that much longer in spite of the damage. The drive to create is powerful and the rewards when you do sustaining.

With MJ it started at such a young age that it wasn't even with his consent.

there's that, too.

I'm not convinced he was mentally competent.

Well, by any way we use the phrase "mentally competent" in our culture he qualified. He had personality disorders, not psychotic ones.

I'm looking for the legal definition of non compos mentis and it seems to mean basically the inability to manage one's own affairs. It's distinct from outright insanity (which legally is concerned with delusions - psychosis and schizophrenia).

Anyway, Michael managed his own affairs. He bought the Beatles back catalog, designed his own estate, recorded music. He wasn't under somebody else's control (unlike Brian Wilson in the 70s).

I don't think its the damage that makes you brilliant, but the brilliance that allows you to survive that much longer in spite of the damage. The drive to create is powerful and the rewards when you do sustaining.

But the rewards can only sustain for so long, as someone like David Foster Wallace so sadly illustrated. What was it that Satchel Paige always said? "Don't look back, somethin' might be gaining on you." But therein lies the rub. So many artists and performers do look back as the source of inspiration for their material. And the demons gain ground.

Don't mind me-- I'm waxing philosophical now because I'm still stoned from the Sudafed. The 12-Hour Sudafed I took at 11. Last night.

Such a lightweight.

Actually, the exposure wasn't proven or he wouldn't have been acquitted. You can THINK he exposed himself to younger children, but you can't assume it as a fact if you're talking about "apart from the abuse allegations".

As I noted upthread, it was widely reported that one child who received a huge cash settlement (in the millions) was able to describe the vitiligo on MJ's penis. So. He saw it.

Court is not the only verifiable source of information. There were multiple corroborating reports indicating that the boy had seen MJ's wang doodle and noted its identifying traits. They bought off the family so MJ would not have to go to court and face this incriminating evidence. Rich people can do that.

They bought off the family so MJ would not have to go to court and face this incriminating evidence. Rich people can do that.

That was the second trial, right? After there had been accusations lobbied at him? And the parents still allowed their kid to be alone with Michael. You want child abuse? At the very least neglect?

First one settled out of court.

“At any time after the commencement of a prosecution for an offense and prior to the sentencing of the defendant, the defendant or the attorney for the Government may file a motion for a hearing to determine the mental competency of the defendant. The court shall grant the motion, or shall order such a hearing on its own motion, if there is reasonable cause to believe that the defendant may presently be suffering from a mental disease or defect rendering him mentally incompetent to the extent that he is unable to understand the nature and consequences of the proceedings against him or to assist properly in his defense.”

The current legal bar for insanity is high.

And oh, Jesus GOD-- you want totally fucked up?

Authorities have arrested and charged a Duke University official who they say offered his adopted 5-year-old son for sex.

The FBI's Washington field office said the school's associate director of the Center for Health Policy, Frank Lombard, was caught in an Internet sting. Authorities said that Lombard tried to persuade a person — whom he did not know was a police officer — to travel to North Carolina to have sex with Lombard's child.

Court documents charge that Lombard identified himself online as "perv dad for fun."

[link]

As I noted upthread, it was widely reported that one child who received a huge cash settlement (in the millions) was able to describe the vitiligo on MJ's penis. So. He saw it.

A child who is not Jordan Chandler? Because in the case of Jordan Chandler it went down like this:

Jackson agreed to a 25-minute strip search, conducted at his ranch. The search was required to see if a description provided by Jordan Chandler was accurate. Doctors concluded that there were some strong similarities, but it was not a definitive match.[88] Jackson made an emotional public statement on the events; he proclaimed his innocence, criticized what he perceived as biased media coverage and told of his strip search.[84]

If its another kid entirely you could have a point there, but I think you're talking about the first accuser. Yes, they settled out of court. His Mother never believed the accusation and his Father appears to have been after cash -- that happens with rich people too.

The current legal bar for insanity is high.

Rightly so, I think. It needs to be a high bar and then you allow the judge wiggle room for extenuating circumstances.