Chris Brown assault someone else, subsequently checks into rehab

[LSN80]

At least this time, it wasn't personal. After all, who among us wouldn't throw down with someone who jumped into a picture with us? I know that would certainly be my response, especially if I was on probation for assault.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/28/showbiz/chris-brown-assault-charge/

Sarcasm aside, this one absolutely disgusts me. I find myself at a place where I'm sick and tired of discussing Chris Brown. This time, Brown was arrested early Sunday morning when a young man named Isaac Parker, 20, attempted to squeeze into a photo between Brown and a female fan. How else could the situation have been resolved? Brown could have asked him to politely leave. If he was interested in repairing his image, he could have offered to pose with the young man next. If he wanted to simply get out of there, he could have had his bodyguard step in and between he and Parker. He could have told the kid to "back off", even, he could have been the bigger man and walked away. But Chris Brown, piece of crap that he is, responded this way instead:

"I'm not down with that gay s--t and I feel like boxing."

Brown, true to his word, then punched the young man in the face with a closed fist, according to police. If that wasn't enough, Brown's 6'4, 240 lb bodyguard pulled Brown away....but not to defuse the situation. He wanted his own turn, which he got, as he punched Parker in the face as well. And as a result, he got to spend the weekend in jail with Brown, facing aggravated assault charges.

The charges were released today to simple assault, but it's still a violation of Brown's probation. The one, you know, that stemmed from Brown beating the crap out of Rihanna. Do I have a hard-on for Brown, and to see him get punished, badly? Absolutely. And sure, I recognize that these things happen all the time. I'm smart enough to understand that there are far worse people out there than Chris Brown, people who would(maybe) throw down over less then a parking space or a photo-bombed picture. I get that this is only a story because Brown is a celebrity. If this were you or I, it might make our local paper, either a short blurb on page 8, or listed among the other arrests for the day. It certainly wouldn't warrant CNN front page coverage.

So why is it that the Chris Brown's of the world anger me so, and I feel the need to write about them?

When I think about it, it's not Chris Brown's celebrity. Rather, it's his talent, and the very real possibility that he's throwing it all away, bit by bit. While it's not my taste, I can't deny the fact that Chris Brown is a very talented individual. And because of it, he leads a life of luxury, an easy life. Undeniably, he's made enough money that should he never put out another album, release another single, or embark on another tour, he's set for life. He's got very little to worry about, one would think, yet he chooses to put himself in situations that will one day, if not now, give him very much to worry about.

I look at Chris Brown, and I remember my young father growing up. As opposed to Brown, my dad was a teacher who worked three jobs, leaving home at 7am and returning after midnight, 5 days a week for three years. This wasn't out of greed, or to accumulate things, it was to pay bills, to make the mortgage. If anyone had the weight of the world on their shoulders, it was my father. He rarely saw his kids, but when he did, he made the most of every moment. He demonstrated to me how to treat women with the way he treated my mother, like a queen. But the man had the stress of the world on his shoulders. And yet, he rarely raised his voice. If anyone had reason to have a short fuse, it was my father. Yet I can count on one hand the number of times I heard my dad swear.

How does this possibly relate to Chris Brown? It's simple, actually. While there would be no excuse, if anyone who had cause to come home and take his frustrations and the stress of the world out on his kids or his wife, it was my father. Chris Brown? There are few people in this world that should be enjoying life more. Enjoy the money Chris, you've certainly got plenty of it. If one woman annoys you, find yourself another, I'm sure it's not hard. You've been blessed with things that few others ever had, so take advantage of it, while you can.

Because at the rate Chris Brown is going, with this pattern of behavior, the only 'enjoyment' his future holds is an hour a day in the yard, or an early funeral when he assaults the wrong person. And while I should be ashamed to admit it, neither would sadden me. Brown's got a date with his probation officer in the next 48 hours, and a court date in less then a month.

Anger management hasn't worked. Threats of imprisonment have been ignored. Restraining orders have been disregarded like the trash. This time, something tells me it won't simply be extended probation. At least I hope not.

What do you believe it will take to see a change in Chris Brown's behavior?

What what you like to see happen to Chris Brown? Be as graphic as you like, I'll be lax here.

When I see wasted talent such as this, I think of my family, and the struggles we had growing up. What comes to mind for you?

Answer one, answer them all, or simply feel free to just discuss the topic and the mitigating factors surrounding it.

 

[Mustang Sally]

I look at Chris Brown, and I remember my young father growing up.

The difference between your Dad and Chris Brown is that only one of them had people opening doors for them simply because of their celebrity, only one of them was treated with reverence just for existing on planet Earth, and only one of them had people telling them: "Hey baby, you da man." when they did anything, good or bad. The other worked very hard, did his level best and tried to make the world a better place.

Is Chris Brown great? I suppose he's as great as his adoring public keeps telling him he is.....atrocities aside.

Because at the rate Chris Brown is going, with this pattern of behavior the only 'enjoyment' his future holds is an hour a day in the yard, or an early funeral when he assaults the wrong person.

Even then, I suspect he'd enjoy privileges we don't see in prison movies. Or maybe I'm wrong; if everyone in the can is treated like dirt, that would be bad.....but it would at least approach fairness. Bet Chris Brown doesn't eat the food the other cons do. Not that he enjoys being in the slammer......I hope.

Point is, he's learned nothing from his other brushes with the law. He's still acting on his impulses in a manner regular folks can't. If his final impulse is answered by someone who's not interested in accepting whatever the Great Man gives him, and Brown winds out being taken out himself......well, that's justice too, no?

 

[Slash-LN]

Firstly I think it's pretty easy to throw a punch at some dude when you know you have someone to back you up. I hate that pack mentality but that isn't what this story is about so I won't get into it past this general statement.

What do you believe it will take to see a change in Chris Brown's behavior?

There was a professional skateboarder named Tony Alva who was very known for his short temper and getting into fights. He met a guy from a band called Fugazi named Ian MacKaye. They became friends and Ian did a lot to help Tony chill out.

I think Chris Brown needs to find someone like that. Not a hanger on just there to get money but someone who genuinely likes him and cares about him. Someone who he'll listen to that will talk some sense into him.

In the could you survive jail thread I talked about mellowing out since I've gotten older. I'm still only 4 years older than Chris Brown but he has a chance to mellow out in time. When I was his age I was still going through a lot of temper issues. There's still a chance for him to grow up. I think it will be harder for him though because as I mentioned above he's surrounded by yes men.

With a combination of the two things above the big one is that he's going to have to want to change. My oldest brother has been a total idiot his whole life and no matter what he's been through and no matter what people have done to help him he's never going to change. He doesn't want to so he won't put the effort into it. No one can make him see any differently. He's 37 years old and he's set in his ways. I couldn't care less about Chris Brown but it would be really shitty to see someone piss everything away.

What what you like to see happen to Chris Brown? Be as graphic as you like, I'll be lax here.

I don't feel bad at all for saying I'd like to see the tables turned on him and let him get his ass beat.

Let hims spend some time in prison. I'm not talking a week or two in jail. I mean an actual long prison sentence. I'm not saying that anything here warrants it. I'm just saying let him mess up enough that he does something to send him there.

Like you Raylan I'm not saying someone should go out and shoot him or anything. I'm not calling for his death by any means but if he died I wouldn't be bothered in the least.

When I see wasted talent such as this, I think of my family, and the struggles we had growing up. What comes to mind for you?

Again I think of myself and my oldest brother.

We're both musicians. My brother is a phenomenal singer. He's really good at that but he's better at being a shitty human being. He's had bands in a few of the states he's lived in but he always gets kicked out. Plus he's a drug addict which doesn't help.

I've been in and out of bands since I was 16 years old. I've talked about my stuff in other threads so I won't get into it all again but I wasted a lot of time with other stuff and lost my focus. Now I'm trying to make up for lost time.

I'm not saying either one of us could have ever been a huge star like Chris Brown is but I am saying we both could have been better off than where we are now. We could have at least been happier. That may not seem like much but it is to me.

I think Chris Brown probably doesn't truly appreciate what he has or what he's doing in his life. If he does he's doing a shitty job of expressing that.

I hope he some day realizes he isn't as untouchable as he thinks he is and I hope he can look back on these things he does and understand how awful of a person he's made himself out to be.

 

[LSN80]

In an update on the story, Chris Brown has checked into rehab.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20750529,00.html

A representative for Brown issued the following statement:

"Chris Brown has elected to enter a rehab facility. His goal is to gain focus and insight into his past and recent behavior, enabling him to continue the pursuit of his life and his career from a healthier vantage point."

For what, exactly? With all of Chris Brown's issues, addiction has never been raised as one of them. I suppose it could be alcohol, and Brown could be saying that drinking turns him into a different person. Call me a cynic, but this seems like a desperate attempt to avoid jail. If Brown were to stay 30 days, his November 24th court date would be postponed, and the judge would be forced to look at assessments from the professionals at the rehab center. If it was determined that a "disease" such as alcoholism(which is a disease, I'm just skeptical with Brown) is the cause of Brown's behavior, jail time would be unlikely.

I hope he's sincere. I hope he uses this time and does gain true insight into his behavior, and how he's essentially become a violent thug. Even if he has gone in with wrong intent, I hope that somehow, he's able to learn coping mechanisms to deal with his anger, and the root cause of it as well. Rehab can be a wonderful thing for the active participant, especially the high-end ones afforded to celebrities such as Brown. Once again, I hope Brown takes advantage of the advantages afforded him.

And upon release, I hope he gets the jail sentence he so richly deserves, changed man or not. The best lesson of all that he can learn is a huge cliche, but a fitting one.

Actions have consequences.

Are you buying this guys, or is this just a desperate attempt by Brown to avoid jail?

All other thoughts are gladly welcome.

 

[Slash-LN]

From an outsider's point of view this seems like his PR team at work trying to make excuses for him.

This is kind of like San Diego Mayor Bob Filner going to a behavioral counseling clinic when allegations of him sexually harassing women came out. Leading to the City Attorney saying "We will give Bob Filner an out if he does the right thing. He’s got a lot of legal problems and they are mounting.”

This simply seems like they're trying to draw sympathy towards Chris.

If it turns out that he legitimately has a substance abuse problem and he's trying to seek help then more power to him. Maybe he'll change.

Until I see that though I'm just going to maintain that it's all a ploy to avoid jail time.