Paris sentenced to 23 days in celebrity prison

[RaphistheBest]

I can just see it now. They'll screw with her first by asking questions about makeup tips and such and just when she really gets into helping these women...BAM! She gets totally thrashed.

[Anarky]

I deliberately waited a while to post this since my initial post would have been way, way angrier...

Now then, I guess everyone's heard it. Paris Hilton isn't really going to jail. She's going to Celebrity-Jail for three weeks plus a bit. That's basically like a hotel room. Nice. And why did she suddenly get this amazing special treatment? She appeared to court on time.

And so I ask myself if I'm the only person who sees the Orwellian irony in this whole situation. I mean, if you look at it from an Animal Farm point of view, it becomes so ridiculous. To give you the short form: At one point in the book, someone said "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." If you ask me, this is more than an outrage. This is a blatant offense against everything the glorious United States and democracy in general stands for. I don't even care if she bought herself out of prison or if the judges thought that she's a nice girl after all, but this is offending at the deepest level. And what is even worse, why is everyone too blind to see it?

And my guess isn't on buying herself out of prison anyways. Paris Hilton can't go to normal prison. There isn't a chance in hell she'd make it out of there healthy. After all, we remember that announcement by that Lesbo-Gang who threatened to rape her. Assuming Paris would have been sent to prison and would have indeed gotten raped or beaten up, like so many women before her in the same prison, what would have happened when she'd gotten out? Naturally, she'd have talked about it, and as it is with Paris Hilton, when she says something, the world listens. Short: It would be a public relations nightmare for the US-justice system.

[iris]

Originally Posted by Anarky

And my guess isn't on buying herself out of prison anyways. Paris Hilton can't go to normal prison. There isn't a chance in hell she'd make it out of there healthy. After all, we remember that announcement by that Lesbo-Gang who threatened to rape her. Assuming Paris would have been sent to prison and would have indeed gotten raped or beaten up, like so many women before her in the same prison, what would have happened when she'd gotten out? Naturally, she'd have talked about it, and as it is with Paris Hilton, when she says something, the world listens. Short: It would be a public relations nightmare for the US-justice system.

Exactly what I was thinking. Only, I don't think people would believe her, or care, and I'm not OK with sacrificing the girl.

I really hate that people can buy their way into the hotel prison. That just means that the regular prisons won't be fixed because the people with the money and the power aren't affected by that issue. But it's really not Paris Hilton's fault that messed up law exists.

US prisons are a travesty because people are stupid enough to believe that people who go to prison "deserve whatever they get in there."

[Anarky]

It doesn't matter if people believe her or not when she says she was raped and/or beaten. It doesn't even matter if it's true. The media will pick it up no matter what and then there will be one guy or girl who had it happening to him whil ehe was in prison and voilà, a perfect public relations nightmare.

And I really don't think she bought herself into Celebrity Prison. I think that whoever's in charge of picking prisons decided she had to go to CP because whatever happens to her in normal prison and she'd talk about would end up in a huge debacle for the US-justice system. Even if she said "I got addicted to cocaine in prison" regardless of whether she was addicted before or never snorted a single line. The media will listen, then someone will step forward who had it actually happening to him and voilà, PR-nightmare ensues. Therefore it was the best thing to have Paris sheltered from regular prison so that she can't talk about anything that happens there. Because if she says "They got me cocaine in prison" everyone knows that it was celebrity prison and that people in there get all kinds of special treatment anyways.

But I think the bigger issue altogether is the Orwell-thing I mentioned above.

[iris]

Maybe. I think I'm a little jaded about it because I actually try to get people to pay attention to this stuff. I don't think people will care. It won't be a PR nightmare. Most Americans know that prisoners are raped and that prisons are rife with violence and social diseases. But it's some kind of big joke here. Don't drop the soap Har Har Har. :p

I didn't get your point about Orwell...? (I've read Animal Farm though.)

[Voltron]

Thank God. We can't imprison our celebrities! You have no idea what they mean to the nation! I mean, could you imagine what kind of sex tape she would have to make in a gruff, NORMAL prison? Dispicable.

She'd have to sleep on something other than goose down, and bathe in water instead of the blood of virgins.

Well, I for one am thrilled she's getting the royal treatment at some minimal security vacation prison. If she didn't, she might have learned something, and I shudder to think what this world would be like if Paris Hilton had half a brain.

[iris]

I really don't understand the anger people have toward Paris Hilton. It seems to be in the same vein of reasoning that Dem Terrists use to convince themselves they're justified in committing atrocities against the western world.

Get a grip. If you're sitting at a computer connected to the Internet, just killing time, chances are good that you have no reason to complain about other people's extravagance.

[Jo Dawn]

People are angry because it's unfair, and there's no justifying it. She did something wrong, she should do what she has to, to pay for it. Not some special 'not-as-bad' punishment. I think it's a travesty that they even consider lightening any kind of sentence with her.

And in regarding her, though I had no respect for her at all, I'm in the negatives now, with her despicable crying about this. Anybody with any decorum or respect would just own up to what they did and pay for their crimes. Especially since it's so cut and dry that she was wrong.

I, personally, cannot fathom why people would lower themselves to defending her. She did something wrong, people. She's not above the law.

Oh, wait. She is. Gotta love our legal system.

Well, I for one am thrilled she's getting the royal treatment at some minimal security vacation prison. If she didn't, she might have learned something, and I shudder to think what this world would be like if Paris Hilton had half a brain.

Hah! No kidding, or what?

[Mecha Cow]

I really don't understand the anger people have toward Paris Hilton. It seems to be in the same vein of reasoning that Dem Terrists use to convince themselves they're justified in committing atrocities against the western world.

Get a grip. If you're sitting at a computer connected to the Internet, just killing time, chances are good that you have no reason to complain about other people's extravagance.

What is it with you? Is it really that hard to understand that people are upset because someone is escaping the consequences of her actions just because she is famous?

I'm sure poor old Paris really appreciates you sticking up for her and her millions of dollars every time someone makes a comment about her though.

[iris]

Originally Posted by Jo Dawn

People are angry because it's unfair, and there's no justifying it. She did something wrong, she should do what she has to, to pay for it. Not some special 'not-as-bad' punishment. I think it's a travesty that they even consider lightening any kind of sentence with her.

And in regarding her, though I had no respect for her at all, I'm in the negatives now, with her despicable crying about this. Anybody with any decorum or respect would just own up to what they did and pay for their crimes. Especially since it's so cut and dry that she was wrong.

I, personally, cannot fathom why people would lower themselves to defending her. She did something wrong, people. She's not above the law.

Oh, wait. She is. Gotta love our legal system.

I'm not defending her. I just despise lynch mobs.

Of course they considered lightening the sentence. Apart from the appeals system, the sentence was heavy to begin with. 45 days in County solitary is NOT a light sentence for driving without a licence and having an attitude problem. They were making an example of her.

Rich people get lighter sentences because they have the money for better legal defense, are better informed, and know what their rights are. Is it right that poor people get heavier sentences for being poor? Of course not. But it's backward to say that rich people should get heavier sentences to make them even with people who have less money. How about everyone else getting better legal representation? How about improving prisons? No, let's just get angry at people for having more money than everyone else.

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

I'm sure poor old Paris really appreciates you sticking up for her and her millions of dollars every time someone makes a comment about her though.

Yeah, she does. I got a thank you card and a Porsche from her this morning.

ETA: You want to know what's with me? OK. I'm exasperated because so many people care about the fate of OMG Paris Hilton!!, but nobody seems to care about the 19-year-old who gets busted for marijuana possession, gets minimal legal representation, gets a long mandatory sentence because it was OMG DRUGS!!, and gets AIDS for the rest of his life because prison rape is a joke.

[Jester]

Wasn't she on probation also for previous crimes...so the charges are violating probation, and driving on a suspended licence. What's a "normal" sentence for that be?

[Anarky]

Originally Posted by iris

I didn't get your point about Orwell...? (I've read Animal Farm though.)

Okay, in the beginning of the book, every animal is equal after the revolution. As we all know, the pigs get corrupted by power at one point. Like "No animal is allowed to sleep on the bed. Apart from the pigs." and at one point, someone says (now this is translated back from German): "All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others." So basically, while everyone is the same, some are the-same-er, meaning that they're allowed to do things nobody else is allowed to do in a system where nobody should be allowed to do things.

And I don't get the hatred against Paris Hilton either. I mean, sure, she does an amazing lot of dumb things, but I doubt she sentenced herself to prison. That's still the judge's and jury's job, if I remember correctly.

[Jester]

I think that's the source of the anger, the whole "Some animals are more equal than others." If this was anyone else who did what she did....there'd be no question where we'd end up. That and she can be a failure and still fall back on daddy's money. I think that's what it is. She's just some dim bimbo who's famous for being a rich party girl who occasionally attempts to go legit with a crappy movie or TV show, something normal people couldn't do.

[iris]

Originally Posted by Anarky

Okay, in the beginning of the book, every animal is equal after the revolution. As we all know, the pigs get corrupted by power at one point. Like "No animal is allowed to sleep on the bed. Apart from the pigs." and at one point, someone says (now this is translated back from German): "All animals are equal. But some animals are more equal than others." So basically, while everyone is the same, some are the-same-er, meaning that they're allowed to do things nobody else is allowed to do in a system where nobody should be allowed to do things.

I think I get it now. Thanks for explaining. I always took that book as a diatribe about the development of communist dictatorships, but it works here too.

Thing is, if we go with the Orwell metaphor, in this case not only do the pigs have more rights, but everyone else has fewer rights than they're supposed to have. I don't think the pigs should have more rights, but I also don't that the solution is to take rights away from them until they've also got less rights than they're supposed to have. :p

Originally Posted by Jester

Wasn't she on probation also for previous crimes...so the charges are violating probation, and driving on a suspended licence. What's a "normal" sentence for that be?

Yeah, her license was suspended because she was convicted on a DUI (misdemeanor conviction where she pled no contest) and she was on probation for that. So you're right it was more than just driving on a suspended license (also a misdemeanor in CA).

If that judge was serious about punishing Paris Hiltion instead of wasting time and taxpayer money on being dramatic, I bet Paris Hilton would be serving 45+ days in a prison where she didn't need to be in solitary for her own protection, and we wouldn't be hearing about this "time off for showing up" nonsense now.

[Mecha Cow]

ETA: You want to know what's with me? OK. I'm exasperated because so many people care about the fate of OMG Paris Hilton!!, but nobody seems to care about the 19-year-old who gets busted for marijuana possession, gets minimal legal representation, gets a long mandatory sentence because it was OMG DRUGS!!, and gets AIDS for the rest of his life because prison rape is a joke.

What...The hell are you talking about? This has nothing to do with anything.

*E*

If that judge was serious about punishing Paris Hiltion instead of wasting time and taxpayer money on being dramatic, I bet Paris Hilton would be serving 45+ days in a prison where she didn't need to be in solitary for her own protection, and we wouldn't be hearing about this "time off for showing up" nonsense now.

SO YOU AGREE! This is everyone's entire damn point!

[愛]

I'm with Mecha. Have you been doing some of those drugs?

[iris]

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

What...The hell are you talking about? This has nothing to do with anything.

LOL... Yeah, that's what the politicians say, too.

Paris Hilton did a Bad Thing, and has more than enough money for good legal defense.
Johnny Nobody did a Bad Thing, and has to depend on crappy court-appointed counsel (not to insult them, mostly they just have too many cases).

Basically, instead of being angry that Johnny Nobody has crappy defense, we get angry that Paris Hilton has good defense.

This makes sense how?

Originally Posted by Mecha Cow

SO YOU AGREE! This is everyone's entire damn point!

The difference is the "in a prison where she didn't need to be in solitary" part. Upthread people are laughing at the idea of her getting beat up in County. I guess prison violence ain't funny to me. :p

[gobo]

And, her entire damn point was that people are being rather nasty about it instead of doing something to fix the problem. All I've read here was "What? Celebrities get special consideration?! Instead of making constructive criticism of any kind, I'm going to piss and moan and make a fool of myself". That kind of attitude gets an individual ignored. That's all she was complaining about. Or, then again, she was probably complaining about other stuff that I didn't catch as well.

[Mecha Cow]

Paris Hilton did a Bad Thing, and has more than enough money for good legal defense.
Johnny Nobody did a Bad Thing, and has to depend on crappy court-appointed counsel (not to insult them, mostly they just have too many cases).

Basically, instead of being angry that Johnny Nobody has crappy defense, we get angry that Paris Hilton has good defense.

This makes sense how?

It makes sense, but it has nothing to do with this thread. People are angry because Paris is escaping her punishment, which -make no mistake- is a result of her fame. They are not angry because Paris is famous, at least not in this scenario.

The difference is the "in a prison where she didn't need to be in solitary" part. Upthread people are laughing at the idea of her getting beat up in County. I guess prison violence ain't funny to me.

Again, this has nothing to with this thread. I haven't read every single post here, but I don't recall anyone saying anything like this.

Look, it's not that I think you're wrong per se, but you're angry at something that just isn't there, at least not right here in this thread.

And, her entire damn point was that people are being rather nasty about it instead of doing something to fix the problem. All I've read here was "What? Celebrities get special consideration?! Instead of making constructive criticism of any kind, I'm going to piss and moan and make a fool of myself". That kind of attitude gets an individual ignored.

Not only is this another case of being angry at something that isn't there, you're also doing the exact same thing you're accusing others of doing. You're right though, I should just ignore you.

[Voltron]

Originally Posted by iris

ETA: You want to know what's with me? OK. I'm exasperated because so many people care about the fate of OMG Paris Hilton!!, but nobody seems to care about the 19-year-old who gets busted for marijuana possession, gets minimal legal representation, gets a long mandatory sentence because it was OMG DRUGS!!, and gets AIDS for the rest of his life because prison rape is a joke.

And you're making such a huge difference, Iris. If. . . if only you ran the world. . . if only.


It kind of makes me want to break out in song. . .

If Iris ran the world
It'd be a better place
Everyone would escape jail time
We'd just let them go on faith

If Iris ruled the world
criminals would roam the streets
Because courts would give a second chance
Now wouldn't that be neat?

If Iris ran the world
selling pot would just fine
even if you sold it to little children
you'd never be confined.

Oh yeah! Jail sucks
It sucks real hard
And it's too harsh for a big blonde RETARD
So come on people lets all join hands
and love each woman! Child and man
We can set her free if we just try
There's no need to make criminals cry
Oh no. . .
Oh no. . .

Let's free Tibet while we're at it. . .

And love your brother. . .
Just not in a prison shower. . .
Because that's where AIDS comes from. . .
Yeah. . .

I for one LOVE lynch mobs. They have such an effecient way of getting things done, and they bring so many people together. I mean, think of a world where you actually had to rely on the idea of one person to get something done. Do you know what that's called? I do. It's called dictatorship, and personally? I think one Hitler was enough.


All joking aside, though, I hope they give her the chair.