to feel pissed off with Lady Gaga?

[Ladyanonymous]

AIBU to feel really quite pissed off that Lady Gaga has done this interview where she admits that she uses Cocaine "occasionally" (a few times a year).

Cocaine is illegal both here and in the states and is a Class A drug, and is not what I would consider one of the "safer" illegal substances (for those of you who are not familiar with my posts I am quite knowledgeable about drugs as I am a schools drugs adviser/counsellor).

It wouldn't bother me so much if it was an artist who didn't have a lot of younger fans (ie - my 11 yr old daughter! ) - but she does.

AIBU to feel that she can do what the hell she wants in the privacy of her own home but she has a responsibility as a public figure not to broadcast this to a lot of young impressionable people therefore normalising it and making it seem an ok thing to do?

I am in two minds - what do you lot think?

(for those of you who are not familiar with my posts I am quite knowledgeable about drugs as I am a schools drugs adviser/counsellor)

She said in her post above.

"And it's not up to other people to decide so when it comes to talking in front of other people's children."

It is though. Its entirely up to her, or me, or anyone to decide what they want to say, whether your children are there or not. How ridiculous to suggest otherwise!

I like you trefusis!

It's not 'OK' to admit to illegal activities in principle but recreational drugs have become so commonplace in certain industries that the police & public alike tend to turn a blind eye in a 'what do you expect?' sort of way. (Jagger's trial probably set the trend) If she was admitting to gun-running or money-laundering they'd be searching her apartment before she could bat her false eyelashes. And if she admitted to being a little cavalier with her CO2 emissions, legions of little girls would probably drop her like a hot potato.

oh but it is normal, be honest. children need guidance on how to get through the world that they meet, not the one you'd like them to meet.

anyway, i thought lgg had been in rehab, so hardly a glowing endorsement.

So you think it's perfectly ok to talk aout anything, in any manner in front of children Bonnie? There's no responsibility there to keep things age appropriate??

thankyou saneile, obviously i skimmed through the op

Just becase it happens doesn't mean it's 'normal'. It's desrtuctive in a lot of cases.
I'm not saying I don't want my child to know about drugs and that lots of people take them etc - I just want it to be me that teaches him, in my way. Not some random celebrity.

My people, please stop misinterpreting what I'm saying - I'm not a prude - honest!!

Not sure it's good though, to give the message that drugs are fine if you lie about taking them...

Which I think would ultimately be the result if Lady Gaga said "No" or even "No comment".

She's been honest (well if she has been) - she takes cocaine occasionally. If she ends up in the Priory or somewhere then children will know that even moderate Class A usage can mess you up.

If she doesn't end up in rehab, then actually, it is also true that moderate Class A usage does not always wreck lives, however uncomfortable it is for you to admit that to your DC's.

I'd have a bit more respect for her 'honesty' if she explained why she felt she had to take them, why she supports an industry which brings misery to communities, and why she financially supports the criminals in the drug world and the activities tied up with drug dealing.

I suspect that these issues don't even feature on her limited little radar however, she's too busy being contraversial and making money.

apols for the greengrocers' apostrophe in DCs

(agonizes over where to put the apostrophe in greengrocers...)

Maisiethemorning sidecat - that's what we have Radiohead for...

I don't really see how you think she could be stopped talking about what she chooses?

Or is it just an exercise in impotent indignation.

I think more damaging are role models like Cheryl skeletal Cole to be honest. I have never wanted to be like any of the musicians I listened to...

ah well if you want to get into the 'phoney drugs war' debate, a whole lotta families in the world depend on that. i was always pretty convinced by the afghan heroin grower (as distinct from dealer etc, he was a subsistence farmer) who pointed out that if the CIA really wanted to end the trade in heroin all they'd have to do would be to fly in and offer him a decent price. which would, as i recall, have been something in the region of thirty bucks, with a street value into the zillions.

I'm not familiar with Radiohead - I mean, I know they are a band, but....

Lady Gaga never signed up to be a role model. She is a pop star and IMO doesn't have any obligation to behave in any way other than as she wants to.

I know that is probably fairly unpalatable, but why do we insist on thrusting role model-hood on people so entirely unsuited to the job?

I also think children are smarter than we give them credit for. Like A Virgin came out when I was 11, but I didn't rush out to obtain a sex life akin to Madonna's as a result of her...

I just think we have to have a little faith in our own parenting and our own children.

YABU, it's her life. She can do what she wants with it, I think she is an amazing artist but that doesn't mean I'm going to do drugs or go down the street in my undies because she does.
She has never claimed to be a role model has she?
Are you really shocked? She's hardly Hannah Montanna, I remember seeing one interview where she was asked what a disco stick is, her reply "Duh, listen to the lyrics. What else could it be?"

And if you want to get into the "it's a phoney war" debate and ignore the real effects on communities throughout the world, or the crime built around drugs, then the pile of sand for your head is over there.

?

What didn't you understand?

what you don't understand, clearly, is that the afghan man's solution would obliterate your problem at a swipe. so why the snarky tone?

I didn't say that, I said it was up to the person speaking to decide. And how many 11 year olds are reading Vanity Fair anyway?

I'd say your average 11 year old would have a fair idea that pop stars sometimes do bold things like take drugs.

If you don't want to explain adult stuff to your dcs then don't listen to shitty radio and never let them watch a music channel!!

I'm looking forward to the day some famous person talks breathlessly about their "recreational use of jumping off tall buildings". The drug threads on here are invariably full of people falling over themselves to show how cool and laid-back they are.

Having said that, we should be capable of separating art from artist and ignoring this kind of thing, and passing that message on to our children. Most pop stars do drugs. Even Cheryl Cole. Just because a pop star does something dangerous or stupid - whether it's taking cocaine, wearing "harem pants" (shudder), going on a starvation diet or recording a really very unwise cover version, that shouldn't mean their fans automatically want to do it.