Career Judgement for Gerard Butler

Ger,

Those are theories and my feelings aren't that strong either way. Yeah, I would find it easier to take if he were more of a lost soul than the other two. But I am a realist. And my realism doesn't come from a gossip site. Most of it is from how he acts and what he says and doesn't say. Nothing about him would surprise. I am way past the pint in my life where people surprise me.

And even if he is a manwhore, gay or something else it wouldn't change the fact that I cried buckets during Dear Frankie and P.S. I Love You because of his PERFORMANCE. Who he is as a man has nothing to do with how I feel about his work. I still love Bret Michaels' music despite his total manwhore VH1 shows. His solo stuff is awesome (the stuff with Poison is pretty good too). It's the music, not the man I like. I would still be a fan of his work as long as he doesn't do anything too illegal and immoral. And being a manwhore is something many men go through but most go through it in their 20s. I don't consider it that immoral if you are single and honest with your partners.

As I said in my earlier post, we will probably never see the real GB. And that is okay--he does deserve his privacy. As a human being, I want him and the rest of the world to be happy. But I also hope that he is being true to himself. I have no clue as to what that self is since I will never know him. I am in his corner, believe it or not.

K I'm sure you aware that what you put on the internet, especially on a "fansite" gets read by many people and some that are not, shall we say, very friendly? Those idiots on the gossip sites do lurk, you know, and if you are a fan in any sense of the the word, calling him a manwhore and a closet gay feeds in to the negativity frenzie and could ultimately do him more harm than good. But I guess if you don't care, that's different. "Even his fans thinks he's a manwhore!"

I do feel, in all honesty, if you are devoted enough to a celebrity to join membership on a fan site, you owe them a tad of respect, otherwise you may seem like you are using that forum to bash more than support.

Leo DeCaprio has been caught numerous times leaving clubs with more than one woman. Johnny Depp was caught out not too long ago clubbing, drunk and without wife and kids. What does that make him?

If it's just his acting that moves you, just the music that stirs your soul, just plunk your money down for the products without joining a public forum. That does them more good then merely joining something, however, in support of any celebrity, theory or truth, feeling that way about them on a public forum that is dedicated to the support of that celebrities career, is not very, well, supportive.

Sorry, just my opinion.

Ger

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you can't deny a picture

On further consideration on this point, yes you can. There are too many ways in this day age to alter photos even. From what I've seen of the pics of Gerry getting touchy feely with females, they do look legit, but we must also keep in mind that photoshopping is also alive and well and you being a journalist should know this better than most.

Ger

First, as I said, those are "theories." There's a big difference. I have always felt that we can be honest about how we feel on this board. I hate censorship and I would be gone if I felt differently. I have met some intelligent and nice people here and they know how I feel. This board was a good outlet for me as I went through some grief that came back after I saw GB in P.S. I Love You. And it has continued to be a good outlet as I have been going through these major changes in my life.

Why do I have to believe he is a lost wounded soul to be a fan? Can't I just believe he is a talented actor who has a lot of flaws just like the rest of us? Do I have to stop being a fan of every actor who has flaws or who does things I don't agree with?

And yes, I can spot a photoshop. Buttgate--total photoshop, I think. But many of the others weren't.

Thank you Nay.

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You can be a fan of his work and not a fan of the man.

This is very true. I love Tim Curry's work, never joined a fandom. Love Kenneth Brannagh's work, never joined a fandom.

BUT you can join a fandom, if only to get the latest work information if that person keeps busy...

OR in this forum's case, many early members were fans of DK and supported her, aside from not even knowing who Gman was.

I'm probably more of a fan of DK and others here, than of Gman's. I do think there are better actors, but Gman's a fun entertainer.

I also realize by saying that, that everyone who is a staunch supporter of Gman has pretty much slid down the friendship slide from me.

Personally, I don't think less of anyone for being a fan, and I hope you don't think less of me for not accepting the kind of behavior I wouldn't accept of my friends. Why should I? Why should Gman be excused for doing things I find repulsive?

There are a million reasons why each person is here, so to question someone's reason for being here or for being a fan, I think is quite bold and confrontational. Not every forum dedicated to Gman is a positive, supportive site. Personally, I don't think we should ever question why anyone is here, unless they are doing harm to members.

There are some fans who will never see another POTO show because of Gman. When we saw POTO on stage in Vegas, I heard backtalk from some of Gman's overly dedicated fans who whispered things like, "Oh, Gerry sings much better", "Oh, he doesn't sing like Gerry", (while thinking to myself, thank goodness). Those comments were whispered about the actual guy who just performed the whole show AND was giving us a tour, a Q & A, pictures AND autographs. I was shocked and appalled. If I could hear the whisperings, the guy surely would have heard.

As for respect, well, I believe that an entertainer can reflect the attitudes of his/her persona onto his fans. You get the kind of fans you want by your words, deeds, and actions, for the most part. You want respect? You gotta show it.

To me, Gman has changed, and well, so have I.

>>I also realize by saying that, that everyone who is a staunch supporter of Gman has pretty much slid down the friendship slide from me.<<


i'm still trying to figure out why being a fan of his acting can't be separated from being a fan of every detail of his life and his behavior off screen????? why can we not be staunch supporters of his CRAFT and not of his every thought, move, whim, etc? (i know you aren't meaning that we can't, alice!) i've been a fan for a long, long time and worked hella hard to maintain a fan group. it bothers me that some consider me not a fan because i don't care for his off screen behavior here lately. and like you, alice, i've been "watching" for a long time, and feel like the gerry i first became a fan of has disappeared somehow.

Maybe it isn't so much as Gerry has "disappeared" as he has actually began to "appear" to us in reality? Maybe it is the gushing of some fansites that have led many of us down the primrose path to the land of Oz, Gerryland, only to find out who the real man behind the curtain is and that's just my theory.

Ger

you might be right, ger. i have a friend who met gerry quite a few years ago. some of the behavior that is now being caught on camera is really nothing new. he's been that way for years.......but now the paparazzi just happens to be two steps away!!

then again....on the "other" side of the coin: some of us have been watching him for a long time, and even on telly interviews...he gives off a different vibe. it's not a bad thing or a good thing...just different. and honestly? i don't think anyone can become an A list star without it affecting them and their ego in some way. seems to me that iit would have to be humanly impossible.

We all change in ways good and bad so that's why I do give GB the benefit of the doubt. We don't have cameras following us around all the time. I would have hated it if some of my past behavior was on tape! But I am not a celebrity, thank God.

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Not every forum dedicated to Gman is a positive, supportive site.

Honestly? Are you saying there are forums "dedicated" to him that are for bashing purposes? Why would that be useful? Would seem more to me a bunch of fans who seemed scorned and want their vengence.

I would sooner just walk away from it all and not waste any more of my precious time discussing it.

Having said that, even though I don't condone many things Gerry does, some of it is not that big of a deal. For heavens sakes, my own Dad used to goose women and men friends right in front of my mother to get her riled and then blame it on her. It seemed like innocent horseplay to me.

The things I do appreciate about the guy are real, not fake, like his love for his Mum and family, his ability to stop drinking and smoking and his love for his little dog, Lolita. A man can't be all bad who does these things. He's got his wild side and his softer side too, don't forget.

He is, after all, a single man and we know of celebrity males who are married and carried on just as bad or worse with all kinds of women coming out to cry "foul", as K says and to me, that's a deal breaker. Where's all the women in Gerry's sordid life? You can't pay a woman enough money to keep her quiet, obviously, so that rules out that theory unless you want to spend your life paying her or many of them. I honestly don't believe Gerry's the "love machine" everyone thinks he is.

Ger

exactly! we DO all change, and most of us have the good fortune of privacy. of course.....in my case...i'm flat broke and not making the big bucks which is a perk of those careers that take away your privacy! lol! i'm about ready to lose my privacy for some money!! HA! wait. what??

and? marriages and friendships and other things change when people change. so i guess it's just natural that some of gerry's fanbase has backed off in light of recent behavior. it's amazing how many fansites have popped up and disappeared in the past few years!

I have had the same friends, for the most part, for years. We are all so different. We have changed a lot over the years, too. When things get out of hand, one of us calls "grace" and lets it go. Well, last year one of my friends came to visit me and we ended up having a very spirited debate that was on the verge of getting ugly. About that time a cell phone commercial came on about the 'three G' network. I already had "grace" so I decided to come up with my "3 Gs for friendship" because I am just a silly kind of girl! Ironic that it starts with G, isn't it!

Of course the first one is "grace." I get frustrated at some of my friends some time but I love them. So before it gets out of hand, I give them grace and move on. Whenever I say that word, my friends know it's time to stop talking about whatever was the hot topic. We have to give others the grace to be who they are and love them anyway. Lord knows my friends and family have shown a ton of grace to me!

The second one is genuineness. This is the toughest one because it involves being totally honest with each other. It has three basic principles.

1. I love you enough to not let you wear that ugly article of clothing in public even if you think you look hot.
2. I love you enough to tell you shut the hell up before you embarrass yourself.
3. I love you enough to tell you when you are about to do something stupid.

If my friends weren't genuine with me I wouldn't know they were my real friends.

The last one is the most important--GRATITUDE. I have covered enough tragedies to know how precious life is. I am thankful for everyone in my life, even when I disagree with them or am just sick of their face. I lost enough people last year to know to be thankful.

So I am going to give the G-man my three G treatment. And I think you guys know you already have it!

Nay wrote:

If you do not agree with his lifestyle, his career choices or his image (current or past), it does not nor will ever in my eyes make you a hater. I can confidently say DonnaKat would agree.

I completely agree.

Ladies, I don't want this thread (or this forum for that matter) become a battlefield over who is the better fan, or who is or who isn't a fan of Gerard Butler. Many of us are here for different reasons, are in different stages of our "fandom", and some are simply here for the comradarie. Instead of arguing our diversities, we should celebrate them. This would be an awfully boring place if everyone acted, talked and felt the same, would it not?

I don't always agree with people's opinions here, whether they are for or against Gerry. But I respect their opinion and right to feel the way they do, and as long as they are respectful to the other members of this forum, they are welcome to stay.

As far as "disrespecting Gerry" is concerned, I've not seen that anywhere in this thread. But if the trend begins, be sure Nay and I will be the first ones to nip it in the bud. Gerry has said himself that he is no saint, so unless someone's blatantly falsely accusing him of something, it's simply a matter of speculation and surmising.

Geranimal wrote:

Quote :

Not every forum dedicated to Gman is a positive, supportive site.

Honestly? Are you saying there are forums "dedicated" to him that are for bashing purposes? Why would that be useful? Would seem more to me a bunch of fans who seemed scorned and want their vengence.

IMDB...the forum under Gman's name is a forum FOR Gman or rather, talking about Gman, yet there's bashing going on. Why do it? I don't know. I don't frequent the place.

We all do change, move on, etc. So I don't see any problem saying I've moved on with other interests. Call me Ms. Prissy with my views, but I'm not going to relent how I feel, just because someone else is comfortable with someone's actions that I don't find appealing. But I'm also not all over the internet pointing fingers.

Personally, I don't feel less dedicated to Gman. So many fans have joined the bandwagon, I feel like someone else can take my yoke, while I go and help some other up and coming actor or entertainer. Someone else can go watch his films 20 times in the theater, buy all his dvds, go to all his public appearances, etc.

But I do believe IF I am going to spend MY time supporting an actor, he or she needs to be acceptable to me. I didn't say perfect, an angel, without problems, a saint, etc. Why do I feel that way? Because I feel my reputation is also on the line when I decide to support someone. So I really don't care what Depp or Leo does because I don't support them.

Whether Gman was like this way back when, I don't know. But whatever it was that made him either keep it under wraps before, or change now, there's nothing in the world that makes me have to accept it.

Ger, I appreciate your passionate discussion. It's been fun, enlightening, and we've learned a lot.

you're always so well spoken, alice. thank you.

i probably should say "well WRITTEN" instead of spoken. sorry...headachy tonite.

I don't believe Gerry has changed really as far as his extracurricular activities are concerned. It's just that he's more in the public eye now and back a few years ago, no body really cared enough to follow him around with a camera.

I've never been on the IMBD but isn't that an open forum for all movies and celebrities, not necessariy an exclusive support fan site?

This is still pretty new to me, so you'll have to pardon my ignorance, but I think I know the difference between a dedicated fan site and an open forum that invites a free for all. Those are the ones I stay away from altogether.

Ger

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Would seem more to me a bunch of fans who seemed scorned and want their vengence.

Okay I am new to fandom too but I don't see how someone can feel scorned or want vengeance against someone they really don't know. Those have to be people who have him on some pedestal and expect him to behave a certain way.

I don't expect him to be anything but what he is no matter what it is. That's all I want for everyone--to be true to themselves.

I go away for a few hours and this thread exploded.

I am neither a fan of GB's work nor his person. I'm a fan of a Canadian actor who's mostly unknown and very private. His fandom gets SQUAT news unless he has work that is about to show up, and that means something new about him once every 3-6 months.

I am constantly amazed at how much news and new stuff GB's fans (from the negatives to the balanceds to the gushers) get. You get tweets and photos and videos and blogs and articles and interviews, all new, on a daily basis. You even get tons of daily comments, some so idiotic they're entertainment in and of themselves. You have many fan groups to choose from and talk about that you can always find a home for your style of fandom.

I am highly jealous of all of you for having all of this.

it wasn't always this way, julie!! lol! i miss the days of answering "gerard who?" selfish attitude, i admit, but i DO miss 'em.........

DonnaKat wrote:

Ladies, I don't want this thread (or this forum for that matter) become a battlefield over who is the better fan, or who is or who isn't a fan of Gerard Butler. Many of us are here for different reasons, are in different stages of our "fandom", and some are simply here for the comradarie.

Let me clear this up for everyone, and save you all some time.....

I am the best fan.
And I am not a fan.

Oh yeah, and I'm GB.

love your fineprint, dallas!!!!!