So this has absolutely nothing to do with real estate, or with the economy, or with anything happening in Bethesda. BUT it’s something that’s come up in dinner table conversation in my house so I thought I’d throw it out there.
First of all, I should probably make it clear that I’m unclear about my feelings about Michael Phelps’ marijuana use (or at least his public use). On the one hand, I want to say, “He’s still a kid…he’s still learning and growing and we all know about the fact that the male brain is still developing at his age.” (And don’t let me go off on the male brain!). Then there’s a part of me that says, “He allowed himself to be put on the pedestal and, in fact, reveled in his placement there…so he should have been more responsible about his behavior.”
I believe that intelligent people can ponder about and differ on what consequences Michael Phelps should face as a result of his marijuana use. But I haven’t heard anyone talk about the behavior of the “other guy/gal.” And now I hear you say, “What other guy/gal?” That would be the person who took the photo and sold it (one can only assume that there was a fair amount of money involved) to the British tabloid. Did that person ponder the results of his/her actions? Because, to me, that person showed a lot less character than was shown by Michael Phelps.
Let’s try to write the story of what happened. Michael Phelps clearly was at a party and took a hit from a bong, which someone recorded (probably on a cell phone camera). And then what? Was the photo shown to friends, who giggled about the behavior and slapped the cell phone owner on the back? At some point, did someone suggest that the photo had value? Did the owner try to sell it to several outlets before landing on the tabloid? How much money passed hands?
And, did the “owner” of the photo give any thought whatsoever to what the consequences would be to Michael Phelps? Or do we even care whether or not that was considered? Once Michael Phelps “openly” used marijuana, were all bets off?
If I were the person who took the photo, I know that I couldn’t/wouldn’t be able to sell it because I would be aware that I would potentially be ruining the career of a young man who just made a stupid mistake. But what if I lost my job and couldn’t pay the mortgage? Would that then make it acceptable? Not to me, but maybe you feel differently.
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That is an interesting question. I personally would not sell it. Not out of sympathy to Michael or anything like that…more because I respect peoples’ privacy. I tire of the photo parasites and hangers on that live off of people like him…and having to pay a mortgage doesn’t change right and wrong…just takes a little more courage to do the same thing.
Michael deserves what he gets in the form of negative publicity…and if the sponsors want to stop paying him because is value to them is diminished because folks cannot see him without getting a contact high, then so be it. Yes. Some mistakes are more expensive than others. For him this was big.
I do feel sorry for him…but one of the perks of fame and exposure is money. One of the risks of fame and exposure is falling from grace and not only being mortal, but making the same mistakes that many make.
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