Re: Jade Goody
 

Hmm... I was wondering why there were mattresses on the wall.

If this woman hadn't appeared in the human equivalent of a goldfish bowl, would we have managed 26 pages of posts?

Re: Jade Goody
 

Possibly not, but she has hence the posts

Re: Jade Goody
 

What does that say I wonder? We are more concerned about a complete nobody who appears on a reality TV show than we are about those people who might actually make a contribution to society.

Re: Jade Goody
 

How do we measure what someone's contribution to society is? Whilst Jade may not have found the cure to a disease, or split the atom, she has caused millions of women to think about their bodies and to get tested. If, because of the publicity, one woman went for a checkup and cancer was found early and removed safely, is that not a contribution? Just because a few random people on an expat site don't like her, presumably a lot do - or she wouldn't have caused the yards of press coverage, and presumably she has entertained them? She's brought two boys into the world who presumably will do something with their lives? I would also assume the amount given to cancer charities has risen sharply over the past few months because of the publicity.

I don't know the answer but I'm not sure she's a complete nobody who's contributed nothing. :unsure:

Re: Jade Goody
 

How do we measure what someone's contribution to society is? Whilst Jade may not have found the cure to a disease, or split the atom, she has caused millions of women to think about their bodies and to get tested. If, because of the publicity, one woman went for a checkup and cancer was found early and removed safely, is that not a contribution? Just because a few random people on an expat site don't like her, presumably a lot do - or she wouldn't have caused the yards of press coverage, and presumably she has entertained them? She's brought two boys into the world who presumably will do something with their lives? I would also assume the amount given to cancer charities has risen sharply over the past few months because of the publicity.

I don't know the answer but I'm not sure she's a complete nobody who's contributed nothing. :unsure:[/QUOTE]
Perhaps but then there are people who are not famous at all who have contributed so much more.

It's a very strange world.

Re: Jade Goody
 

No arguments from me :D Just wondering though, if you ignore everyone in the world who haven't 'contributed' you'd be left with a very very very small bunch of possibly uninteresting but very worthwhile people. The UK media would implode :lol:

Re: Jade Goody
 

So you have to be famous to be a 'somebody' otherwise you are a 'nobody'.

So Jade made some racist comments in the past, build a bridge and get over it - she wouldnt have been the first and she wont be the last.

If the woman down the road got cancer, I would feel sorry for her but as Jade is in the public eye constantly (recently), I feel like I 'know' her more than the woman down the road.

The Goody effect has prompted a few of my colleagues to have their pap tests - mine is a bit overdue so I am joining them.

The fact of the matter is she is dying, the media are reporting it, she wants the money to go to her boys - why should that amount be capped if the papers are prepared to pay her that much?

My Mum never got any media attention when she was dying nor the finances that can come with it, her passing didnt influence even my sisters to stop smoking.

So if Jade can influence just one woman into having a Pap test then as others have said, that is her contribution.

It is tragic that anyone has to die of cancer and I do think some of the things that have been said on here are quite nasty.

Pretty soon the boys will be left without their Mum, a Mum without her daughter, husband without his wife and the true effects of cancer will be felt.

Who cares that shes made money from it, if donations to charity have gone up then it keeps on funding the research.

A somebody or a nobody - they all deserve respect when trying to fight this dreadful disease.

Re: Jade Goody
 

To reply to your first sentence I'm actually saying the opposite. She is famous without achieving anything in particular. In effect an ordinary person. Your point is a good one, why should she receive attention your mother didn't receive?

I don't know the answer. It's got something to do with human nature. We're a fascinating species.

Re: Jade Goody
 

Re: Jade Goody
 

Excellent answer PP
Thankyou

Re: Jade Goody
 

I feel a lot of compassion for Jade, but also feel the same for anyone who is going through this awful disease, or have lost love ones from cancer !

Just because you express this to someone who is highlighted in the media does not mean you cant feel the same way for the millions of others out there suffering also !

My sympathy does not have a limit !

Nicky

Re: Jade Goody
 

My Mum didnt receive media attention because she never put herself in the public eye nor had the opportunity to do so.

However, if she were alive today she would have total sympathy for a woman about to leave her children, admiration for the bravery displayed and she would also be applauding Jade - purely for her efforts for bringing cervical cancer to the attention of everyone.

The Goody Effect will go on long after Jade Goody has died, for every woman prompted to have her pap smear by what is happening to Jade, for every woman who has abnormal cells picked up, they will all be grateful to the 'nobody' who indirectly managed to get the policy changed on screening young girls.

My Mum would have loved to have made a difference like that - but after does it matter who makes the difference as long as that difference is made?

Re: Jade Goody
 

I wish I had your way with words PP ! I think your post says it all

Nicky :)

Re: Jade Goody
 

Hear hear, well said my mum was a guinea pig with her doses of chemo and that was 31 years ago but they have come along way. She died when I was 6 and her best friend has been given the all clear. If you can catch it early enough and I suppose if you have a bit of spare cash like Kylie you get the best!!!

Sometimes it's just your time and only him upstairs decides that no one else.

Carol

Re: Jade Goody
 

So the fact that she is dying makes her racism acceptable ? I just can't get past the fact that this is a girl who's claim to fame is a blow job on national television and that she's a racist.

It is sad that she is dying, of course it is, but should it garner such attention from our nation. I personally believe it's a reflection of the sad state of society we live in. A society where anyone prepared to drop their pants on national television is worth more in the eyes of the public than the doctors now trying to save her life.

I also know that people relate to characters on soaps, but it doesn't mean that you know them. You know what they want you to know. I guess the point I am making is just because you feel a connection with this girl doesn't mean you have the right to force your opinion on anyone else by trying to make out that people who don't have this connection are in some way heartless.

I have heard this countless times in recent weeks, almost always by people who are arguing the case for Goody sainthood. According to the statistics she is indeed increasing the awareness of cervical cancer and need for regular screening. However I'm going to throw a few thoughts out there about this.

Shouldn't you, being a responsible sexually active women, be having regular tests anyway? Isn't Jade just reminding you how lapse you have been monitoring your own health? isn't this "if Jade can influence just one woman" comment really just a means of deflecting your own concerns about lack of screening.

How many young women have taken up the HPV Vaccination since it's inception ? Hopefully it's introduction into the national immunisation programme last year will mean that the large majority of the next generation will be immune to one of the primary causes of cervical cancer.

I totally understand a dying womans desire to acquire as much money as possible for her childrens future but, don't fool yourself, the media are making a hell of a lot more from the nations obsession with this. Just think of it this way, she will still get the money from the magazine, TV and newspaper deals regardless of if you watch her dying or not. Do we all really need to keep watching now...

I don't personally feel that this is showing respect for her. Will there be a cameraman to photograph her dying breath, will it be televised? What do you think you watching this will do for her children. Where does it end.

Where is the respect for all the others who are dying all around us while the UK is focused on Jade Goody ?