I'm 19. I don't even smoke regular tobacco let alone, maryjane. I do drink however, but occasionally. I'm a swimmer, I look up to Michael Phelps. I figured what he did in Beijing was remarkable... Even though he swims like a machine, he IS human and he will make mistakes. I'm not defending him but sometimes I think the media just blows things out of proportion.
Meh..I guess sometimes..behind the scenes..we should acknowledge that he's a human being like no other o_o I never smoked pot, but I do drink.
The role model argument always makes me laugh. He is an athlete and a human being just because he has media attention doesn't mean he won't "make mistakes". The picture doesn't seem staged and he's out of the public eye (or so he thought) it's not as if he's ranting about how great drugs are in interviews or even advocating drug use he was privately smoking some dope someone took a picture and a news paper published it and then cried "But he's a role model!". Guess what newspaper man if you didn't publish the picture and if the media didn't spread it everywhere then children wouldn't know Phelps has a penchant for green and even if they saw the picture they would probably ask why he is sucking water out of a vase...
I think it's just me, but I've never seen him as a role model. I mean, of course, I didn't watch the swimming events of Olympics 08. To me, he seems like a regular athlete and a young dude. Of course, he has easier access to drugs since he has so much money. I'm not surprised at all.
Hmm I kind of thought this would just blow over but I'm guessing this won't have a huge effect on him anyway because since the Olympics he hasn't been competing (I think...) and I'm guessing his sponsors will still be forking over cash and even if they don't he's not exactly struggling financially. EDIT//x He has been dropped by Kellogg's but that is still a drop in the ocean of multi million dollar endorsements he has and some major companies like Speedo have said already they are keeping him. He will just get some really good PR people and manage to turn it around... Kate Moss anyone?
Um, he's a romodel to millions of children- the last thing the government wants is then using bongs...
As for the tangential discussion about smoking pot: I know a decent number of people who are over 18 and have never smoked pot. There are definitely a lot of them. More girls than guys, I'd guess. Of my best friends: In my high school group (5 of us), I've smoked, and 2 of my friends have smoked (They only really did it just to try it, back when I was more into it). 2 of them haven't smoked at all. Of my old Jr. High crew (Old best friends, we still hang out all the time) (4 of us total), I'm the only one who's smoked. To be honest, in a city like Toronto where it's, well, borderline LEGAL (Look up the term Yongesterdam, cops really don't care if you're smoking, as long as you aren't openly dealing), people, I think, are less inclined to try it, because it's so readily available. I think teens down in the states are more likely to try it because there's more of a scarcity mentality about it. Same thing with Alcohol. You hear of kids going way overboard with alcohol more down in the States, than up in canada. Or in Europe. The drinking age in the states? 21. Kinda retarded if you ask me.
:O Back to your original name? lol and I know what you mean about toronto, I've heard stories about friends smoking with the cops haha I'm only 17 but for what it's worth I've never smoked (tobacco or marijuana) I mean sure I've drank, but I hardly ever do now, it's just not that appealing to me. Plus I just don't get drunk, no matter how much I drink I'm 10x more sober then everyone else where ever I am XD
I really don't think its that big of a deal. Come on, he's a kid. Just cause he is an olympic god doesn't mean he is inhuman. it was a mistake, let it slide. Its not like its a performance enhancing drug either its just recreational
Update: Nobody really cares about this, and it's not a big deal. It's just weed, it'd not like he's speeding across the express way on LSD.
It's not fair to judge him so harshly for doing something like that. There'll have been a lot of pressure on him and he'd have put a lot in to the olympics, to let your hair down and have some fun afterwards is probably healthy for him, although the bong specifically may not be :<
Yeah, don't judge him too harshly. He made a mistake and everyone makes one at some point. Just because he's in the public eye doesn't mean he's not human.
the best thing EVER is the SNL's response to it http://www.hulu.com/watch/56636/saturda ... ael-phelps WATCH IT! NOW!