Throughout this article, and Gideon's and the press and the comments, one point has not been made and it appears to be a glaring one. How do we know Brittany Spears drove with her child in her lap? Because someone (paparazzi no doubt) was stalking her! How many pictures, so clear and close up, do we see of all the other moms who do this? Answer? none. Because they are not being stalked. Fame is a heady experience. But it does have its price and at times that price can seem unbearable. This picture shows more about the cretin who was stalking her, than it does about Brittany herself.

I'm amazed, I think this is the first time I've ever agreed with anyothing you've said. Scary

Good points Doc. I do agree that the paparazzi is entirely out of control. Sadly, we as a culture feed it buy having to "know" all the intimate details of celebrities lives.

The government trying to protect people from themselves on the basis of what MIGHT happen is Big Brother in action.

Icon,

Now, there we agree somewhat. I DON'T believe that the government should micromanage the lives of its citizens. But what you seem to be implying is that Brittney should get a pass because of her wealth. Have you even ONCE commented on my CPS threads about the countless VERY REAL intrusions of government into the lives of citizens not as rich or famous as Ms. Spears? What about THEIR rights.

That being said, what Ms. Spears did was highly stupid. Even with the baby unbuckled, to have the baby between her and the steering wheel would have meant an instant fatality had the airbag deployed, even accidentally.

I'm sick of this, frankly, and I think people need to mind their friggin business. I don't for a moment believe "it takes a village" and I would prefer the village butt the hell out. We are barely more than unpaid baby-sitters for the state now as it is.

I agree, Baker...but there are millions of other citizens whose rights are as important as those of Ms. Spears.

I'm not one to say that Ms. Britney would make a teriffic parent, which I would think she wouldn't be great, based upon her choices so far in life. I would say though that the Paperazzi constantly stalking her and just seeing an opportunity to show how "bad" Britney is would definetly say what she says at face value. I personally wouldn't know how many embarassing things could be said about me or show on pictures if I was constantly stalked. Yes she should have her child strapped into the seat and in the backseat rather than the front, but I will say this, who knows the situation. Maybe mobbed by the Paparazzi she just wanted to get away from them, I'm not justifying the unsafe action she did, but I am saying we don't know what its like to be constantly stalked. As far as needing Child Protection Services involved in this is utterly wrong. I will say this much, I am sure she will learn to be capible to take care of her child and she will make mistakes as a parent as well. To need to put the child in protective custody is just plain idiotic and moronic. Today's society has gone way past overprotection into overzealous.

I personally wouldn't know how many embarassing things could be said about me or show on pictures if I was constantly stalked.

That is the thing.  really.  How many times I fell on my child? (I dropped my sister, so none of them).  The time I laid on the couch when my daughter had a the flu and could not stop coffing (it helped her).  That must have been pedophelia!

many of us think about how great it would be to be famous.  Yet when they slime every little action of the famous, I am glad I am not, and never will be.

Because someone (paparazzi no doubt) was stalking her! How many pictures, so clear and close up, do we see of all the other moms who do this? Answer? none. Because they are not being stalked.

No, instead, women are reported by neighbors or bystanders or pulled over by the police.  Just the other night I saw on the news where a woman was being questioned by child services because she was pulled over due to having 4 children in the car that were not buckled in.  Well...I guess I did see pictures of her, but it was in the form of the on board video camera from the police car.

No, instead, women are reported by neighbors or bystanders or pulled over by the police. Just the other night I saw on the news where a woman was being questioned by child services because she was pulled over due to having 4 children in the car that were not buckled in. Well...I guess I did see pictures of her, but it was in the form of the on board video camera from the police car.

That is the thing. You did not see the infraction. You saw a stopped car. Not a car in motion.

I am not excusing brittany. But have you ever had a picture taken of you when you were driving a car that you could see your pimples? I know I never have. But it does strongly support her contention that she was trying to get away. She just did not suceed.

I saw a movie. I cannot recall the title. But it was a definite anti-paparazzi one. And I rooted for the guy that was doing them in.

I saw a movie. I cannot recall the title. But it was a definite anti-paparazzi one. And I rooted for the guy that was doing them in.

It was called "Paparazzi" I believe. I was rooting for the guy too.

As far as needing Child Protection Services involved in this is utterly wrong.

Then the question bears repeating: why won't you and others who think that CPS involvement is wrong here stand up for the millions of parents whose lives are torn apart by CPS involvement for FAR LESS? Why does Ms. Spears' celebrity give her a free pass from the tyrannical laws imposed on the rest of us?

Throughout this article, and Gideon's and the press and the comments, one point has not been made and it appears to be a glaring one. How do we know Brittany Spears drove with her child in her lap? Because someone (paparazzi no doubt) was stalking her! How many pictures, so clear and close up, do we see of all the other moms who do this? Answer? none. Because they are not being stalked.

Dr.

And it's somehow RIGHT for CPS to stalk me at the public library?

I KNOW you get my point in this argument; but my point has NEVER been that CPS involvement is the proper solution for Brittney Spears, but rather that justice should be blind and she should be treated with an EQUAL standard. Not held to a HIGHER standard, not held to a LOWER standard...but EQUAL. If these laws are wrong for her to have to follow, they're wrong for the rest of us to have to follow as well.

Period.

No, instead, women are reported by neighbors or bystanders or pulled over by the police. Just the other night I saw on the news where a woman was being questioned by child services because she was pulled over due to having 4 children in the car that were not buckled in. Well...I guess I did see pictures of her, but it was in the form of the on board video camera from the police car.

BINGO!

And it's somehow RIGHT for CPS to stalk me at the public library?

No, and I have stated as much.  IN this case, I was not even discussing the CPS angle of it, only that we have a picture of her doing it, which is something you do not see in any other case.

IN this case, I was not even discussing the CPS angle of it, only that we have a picture of her doing it, which is something you do not see in any other case.

And to that end, you're right, Dr. But if you closely observe, you'll notice that the celebs who complain the most about the paparazzi are usually those who solicit the paparazzi's cameras. It IS possible to be famous and live out of the public limelight. Note, for instance, that you rarely see pictures of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore's children. Why? Because they choose to limit the paparazzi's access to their family. If you watch the "cat and mouse" game between celebrities and paparazzi, you'll notice that the celebs contribute as much to it as do the paparazzi. In Ms. Spears' case, it's convenient, isn't it, that on a New Year's Eve in Las Vegas, when the city is FILLED with celebs, she found a way to make herself stand out? She's becoming increasingly irrelevant, and will soon be relegated to the role of being famous just because shes famous.