The Tiger and the Hypocrite

How intriguing it is that the situation revolving around Tiger Woods is filled with so much dirt and scandal. Sure, there is the serious issue of his infidelities as well as his lack of personal control regarding his strongly desired private life, but how amazing it is that so many people are making as big a deal of this as they are.

Now, many of you may wonder how anyone could see the Tiger scandal as anything but jaw-dropping and horrific, but the real truth of the matter is there is really no worthy news when it comes to this story, as it's being played out. Sure, sure, there's some noteworthy talk that a major celebrity and moneymaker like Woods could be going through so many difficulties, because the drama is part of the allure, but there is no genuine news in the thought that a man of his stature, influence and wealth is living a promiscuous and narcissistic lifestyle.

Gene Simmons is open about his philandering, and he's had a reality TV show, with his family, no less. Innumerable celebrities end up getting caught with their pants down in one way or another, and not even that's the big part of the story. Why? Because the percentage of the human population that genuinely lives a faithful lifestyle at all times is actually quite small, and we all know it.

That isn't to say that virtually everyone cheats on their partner, but the amount of people who do are far more than most are willing to let on. Just go online and see how many sites there are like Ashley Madison and Adult Friend Finder, or even Online Booty Call. All sorts of people are cheating on their partners, and happy to do so. They say variety is the spice of life and this aspect of life goes well with spicy.

This isn't offered as an excuse, but as an issue to present when stating that Woods' affairs are nothing unique to wealthy celebrities, or anyone else for that matter. So, why is the Tiger scandal so much big talk? Could it be the squeaky-clean sports hero has come down a few pegs after falling from grace? No. It's more likely that seeing the higher ones fall farther is too juicy a story for the media crank-turners to pass up. It doesn't make news that Gene Simmons has had sex with others, nor does it make news that he's had sex with literally thousands of women (and just as likely, very, very young girls). Gene being open to the admission takes all the steam out of it. It would be entertaining to discover all the news reporters and journalists who pretended to gasp at the story that are in no true position to cast any stones. How many of them rush to the shower right after getting home and before they kiss their partner with that on their breath?

Do we excuse Simmons because he's not actually married? After all, he and the mother of his children (that he knows about) have been together for many years. Do we excuse him because he's a rock star and not an athlete, and therefore simply being promiscuous because that's the status quo of his profession?

No, we excuse him because there are only a scant few people in the world who aren't like him, or don't wish they were like him. We excuse him because he's at least honest enough to stand up and admit who and how he is. That's where the fault lies when it comes to Tiger Woods and why he is not excused. He tried to act like a big sweetie in front of the public eye, mainly because he has a certain reputation built up over time. But the truth is that the temptation of beautiful, enticing and sophisticated women was more than he had the strength to refuse. Just like virtually all of his colleagues and peers, professionally and monetarily.

Many have a fair reason to wonder why he did this, when he seemingly had it all. A beautiful wife, a lovely family, a hefty income, and a dream job; all that could have been enough for a guy, one would think. But the genuine news story here is that there is never enough for almost anyone, regardless of their walk of life or their transgressions. Where's the news bulletin when it comes to the wealthy and famous finding it almost impossible to express genuine satisfaction with what they have? It doesn't exist because the notion is as newsworthy as the chance of scattered showers in Seattle. It's all by degrees, because the one who lives humbly merely wants a slightly comfier bed, a slightly more reliable car, and maybe a better fitting pair of shoes. A raise would be nice. But get all that and then one wants a bigger bed, a car with luxuries and a draw of the eye, and a sense of fashion to boot. There is no long-term plateau in this aspect of human reality; eventually just about anyone would end up with a harem immersed in affluence, should one not consciously exhibit some grounding and self control.

When are those influential within the media going to come forward and say that this story regarding Tiger Woods isn't about infidelity (nobody cares) nor is it about his tarnished image. This entire thing is now about seeing how irreparably damaged a man's life can get. This entire thing is about seeing if they can actually drive a man from a guy who had it all to seeing how close they can get him to the guy that lost it all.

There are even those who claim that these issues when stuck onto politicians are somehow different regarding them, since they're supposed to answer to a higher standard. One could argue that an elected official should face potential removal of office for their transgressions, but not because they slept with someone they shouldn't have. The genuine reason there is because they are holding a significant position of trust. We have to ask that politicians do not betray our trust (and there should be far more dynamics in place for removal of them when they do, whether the betrayal of trust be illicit or not) because they are entrusted with so much. But Tiger Woods? Truthfully, he is among the most nonessential people on the planet. Sure, he's financially influential, but athletes and entertainers make a superior living through entertaining large quantities of people who could easily find amusement another way or through someone else. He is a golfer, and for the vast majority of people interested in this sport, it's nothing more than a distraction.

The porn industry demonstrated there are far more voyeurs in the world than most would care to admit to, and Tiger's scandal shows us that there are far, far more hypocrites.