Ben Cousins to resume his career

[McAlmanac]

You're right - it sounds lame. I got drunk once and decided never again, and I quit smoking aged 11!

Cousins went through the motions of being contrite and "fighting his addictions" but he actually opted out of the rehab. programme early and was clearly just reading a script someone had written for him when he appeared on TV.

Unfortunately, kids copy what they see, not what they are told, and people in the public eye therefore are really role models whether they think it is fair our not. So, if they take the job and the money they must also accept that setting a standard as a famous person kids will model themselves on is part of the job, and not look for a cop out.

He drove under the effect of booze and drugs - which means he was prepared to risk harming others - perhaps kids!

At the risk of my moderator status, your first paragraph comes across as being a self-righteous knob.

Of course he was reading a script. Did you expect him to wing it?

Kids haven't seen Ben Cousins take drugs, but they have been told he has. So what are they copying? Probably spotting up targets from 50 metres or shooting handballs through traffic.

The last paragraph is very true.

[Psyber]

At the risk of my moderator status, your first paragraph comes across as being a self-righteous knob.

Yes I am - there should be more of us to help maintain reasonable standards of behaviour and stand up for what is right and proper instead of letting social mores dwell at the bottom of the standards heap.

Of course he was reading a script. Did you expect him to wing it?

People who are sincere may use notes but still say the odd spontaneous and obviously heartfelt thing in the process, with appropriate affect/mood-tone. They don't trot it out in a monotone with the air of "let's get this cr@p over with". In fact it was so brief anyone who meant it wouldn't need notes.

Kids haven't seen Ben Cousins take drugs, but they have been told he has. So what are they copying? Probably spotting up targets from 50 metres or shooting handballs through traffic.

The last paragraph is very true.

Unfortunately, kids don't need to see him taking drugs to know he does and that it is OK to do so because there have been no serious consequences to his behaviour.