Jade Goody

I know this is a frivolous issue but I use her as an example for all people like her in British media. Theres no way anybody can argue that 'celebrity culture' doesn't seem to be the backbone of Dumb Britain.

I say Jade Goody but I include people like Katie Price, Peter Andre, Jodie Marsh, Peaches Geldof, Coleen Rooney in this general field - Jade Goody was just the Queen of the useless people.

I'll be honest with you, when Goody died I wasn't too bothered. Her only defining talent was the sheer intensity of her stupidity and unrivalled ignorance.
Her legacy is one of marketing stupidity and tackiness as something one shouldn't be ashamed of.

You have to say to yourself, this girl was so incredibly stupid, her 'success' can't have been her doing. There were people behind the scenes pulling the strings to make sure every penny could be squeezed out of her. Yes, Jade Goody became very rich - but at what cost? I'd argue that far from being one of life's winners, she was a victim - and it was her dimness that stopped her from seeing it.

I wonder, had it been me, on my deathbed asking myself what I'd given societ? Was the world a better place because I existed? Unfortunately, answering on Goody's behalf I'd say no. Its harsh but I feel its true. You might turn it on me personally and say well you're writing this, what have YOU contributed?

Its a fair point and although I'm no Nobel prize winner, in my opinion, Goody's existence actually did more damage than good to British society. Her life caused an intangible net loss.

To stereotype a LOT here, on the whole, everyone knows, whether you admit it or not - Goody's biggest fans were the ones with the Adidas tracksuits, the ones who mod old cars and make them look ridiculous, the ones whos children are on the street drinking till 4 in the morning. The ones who are swayed by and believe what they read in "The Sun", the ones who themselves, have no shame. Chavs.
Of course, I don't regard these people as anything other than individuals born into bad situations and have in turn become products of their environment - any of us could be in their situation doing what they do. I'd argue that in this country we have the Elite, Upper Classes, Middle Class, Working Class and Subclass. I use 'Subclass' because 'Working' doesn't really apply to the people I'm talking about.

I'd argue that people like Jade Goody and other vacuous celebs are either Subclass individuals done good (and for the rest of us to watch them is like watching a monkey in a zoo). Or, in the case of Peaches Geldof or Jodie Marsh, individuals who have been lucky enough to get something for nothing - it serves as a beacon of hope to those who already get something for nothing because they have nothing to offer and rely on handouts or crime.

Basically what I'm saying is the the 'Jady Goody effect' has simply helped to normalise that kind of cheap and tacky lifestyle. If I ever read about them, its not because I admire them, its because it really is like walking through a Victorian madhouse and looking down my nose and tittering at how lost they are in a world created for them.

Katie Price, I read, was recently not allowed in a horse show or something of the sort. Mrs Price does actually have a lot of knowledge around equestrianism however she couldn't understand why they wouldn't let her in, citing snobbery as the cause.

Well, here's your answer Mrs Price -
You can have all the money in the world, but you can't buy class.

I don't mean class as in social class, I mean it in terms of dignity. And thats what you have none of, you've sold it off piece by piece and now among people with some intelligence, they look down on you. And I do too.


OK, in a nutshell all I want to say is that Jade Goody and the like simply normalise the concept that losing your dignity, not having a social conscience, not educating yourself and perpetuating this lifestyle to others is a fair price to pay for being rich.