but at that level, is that really even an option for them? they cant go pee without cameras snapping and crowds gathering. going ballistic...well that just brings on the notoriety even more albeit for some pretty sh!tty reasons.

sad to say, she needs to bottom out before starting a climb back up...and tragically, I think shes nearly there. however Im not sure her life will ever be at a place you and I could call 'normal'

Im by no means a fan of Brit, but I hate seeing anyones life being so thrashed that even they dont want to live it, especially where kids are involved.

That and actual parents who parent and don't "manage". There is no way in heck my parents would have let me go out to clubs when I was underage. And why don't these clubs get busted for serving minors? It's plastered over every tabloid you'd think it would be an open/shut case.

Also it can't be easy having your every move photographed. But then stay home some. You know there are photographers camped out at the Ivy, go someplace else. Have your assistant run to Starbucks. I realize they want a normal life but they don't have one. It seems that the celebs who back off and lay low are eventually able to function semi normally. They can go to the mall or supermarket. But when it's in a frenzy you just can't do that without all the hooplah, which is sad. And especially when kids are inolved. Let someone drop their kid off at school without photos.

This is how I view "fame".

Fame is a giant boulder at the top of a tall steep hill.

The celebrity in question is a tiny little ant.

The ant goes to the top of the hill and pushes the giant rock off the top.

As it begins screaming down the hill, crushing everything in its path, the ant decides to jump in front of it.

It could either run with it to stay one step ahead and try to escape being crushed.

It could stop running and try to stop the giant boulder (Ant vs. 2 ton piece of stone).

It could do the smart thing and jump out of its destructive path.

:)

Britney is 25

I know, but she did go out when she wasn't. Lindsey isn't 21. Was making a generality - should have been more clear.

I have wondered about this, too. On Leno, Lindsay was talking about going out and I think Leno asked her if she was drinking and I thought she had mentioned she had been partying but then she turned around and said 'no, well, I wasn't drinking, I am not even old enough to be drinking'.

But, not just celebrities. A lot of more upscale restaurants don't really check. Not from my experience, anyways. When I was underage my sister took me out {in the Hollywood Hills/Beverly Hills areas}and it was the smaller places that carded and the bigger {more expensive} places didn't bat an eye. I didn't go dressed in bobby sox and poodle skirts but nicely dressed.

And, even if I did look older I was never carded.

I think, also, the likes of Paris Hilton is not a good friend to BS. She was raised with a silver spoon and BS wasn't. I would imagine Paris grew up around constant partying and it isn't a big deal. And, the backstabing is probably common as well.

I don't think BS is like a lot of the others. Who else has gotten married {seemingly she wants that married life} and then popped out two kids? A lot of big actresses don't get married and put off having kids for so many years. Putting all of that together is quite difficult. Heck, I am sitting here trying to juggle my life and it sucks. :0( But, I am not reaching for a bottle of anything.

Also, I wonder if it will sink in that her career just may be over? And that she is wealthy enough that it would be alright? I am older and I remember the likes of David Cassidy, a very big teen heart throb. Sometimes, it just ends. Is she accepting it or are her 'people' trying to keep it going and that is causing her problems?

Eh, I've had too much coffee and my thoughts are all over.

I still think she needs a lot of help but I wonder if she will be properly diagnosed.

The diagnosis shouldn't be a problem - it is pretty obvious what is going on. The question is whether the patient is willing to do what is necessary to get better. Emotional challenges can be very difficult and painful to deal with.

True. I really just mean that, she is going to a drug rehab. She has a mental issue happening. I really believe the behaviour is secondary to her other issues. I have been reading more {okay, magazine covers only} about her being depressed and the like.

The think about rehab is that they don't only keep you clean and soper for many days stright, they also teach you tools so you can deal with the mental anguish and continue to live clean and sober.

Out of curiosity did anybody watch the Craig Ferguson clip I linked to above? It is a very personal discussion of his own alcoholism and how it prevents him from jumping on the bandwagon of making fun of Spears and hoping she is able to find the spot and help he eventually did.