Pittsburgh Steeler's Kicker Jeff Reed Has a Convenience Store Meltdown

In the wake of number of celebrity meltdowns, Jeff Reed's recent meltdown smacks of more of the same. MSNBC reports that Reed was charged with criminal mischief for damaging an empty paper towel dispenser at a convenience store in New Alexandria, Pennsylvania.

In Jeff Reed's case, the obvious thought comes to mind that he must have been on something. No one assaults a paper towel machine. That's not to say he wasn't provoked. If one has had occasion to use a convenience store bathroom then one understands that you really don't want to touch anything unless you've got a paper towel. This is not to excuse Reed's behavior or the hundreds of celebrity meltdowns that came before his. It does however give one pause to contemplate the ramifications. In recent years the number of celebrity meltdowns seems to be increasing exponentially.

Clearly fame is not all it's cracked up to be. Doubtless many of us feel that if given the opportunity to have money and fame that we would take the high ground. The old saying, "never judge a man, unless you've walked a mile in his shoes" comes to mind. What do any of us who sit by and laud or denigrate these people, depending on their behavior, know of their lives? Having never won the Super Bowl or been adored by millions of fans, I am unable to speak authoritatively about the emotions engendered.

The Famous are People, Too

Every day, the news reports on someone who has allowed the reins of sanity to slip from their fingers. With sufficient tongue clucking and sad shakes of the head, we thank whatever gods there be that it wasn't us. With the current state of affairs, a lot of us are barely clinging to equilibrium with splintering fingernails. Many like to think of themselves as unassailable bastions of mental health but the fact of the matter is that anyone can slip. Chemical imbalances, financial ruin or bad news are just a few of the things that can affect carefully cultivated sanity. Though celebrities are thought to have superhuman powers of resilience, the fact is they are just as prone to life as the rest of us. This is not to say there should be carte blanche for bad behavior, but perhaps a break from the incessant scrutiny.

Compassion for the Struggle

Maybe a moratorium by the paparazzi who are willing to forsake life and limb to get the best snap would solve the problem. Perhaps the gaggle of media who print whatever they want whether there's a story available or not would stop and consider the shoe on the other foot. Perchance, what's needed here is a whit of compassion with the understanding that we are all in this thing together and some are stronger than others. It's important, where possible, to offer support and prayers to those who slip and fall.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29200101/