"This is absolutely a new step, and I think it's scary," said Bonnie Rabin, a divorce lawyer who has handled high-profile cases. "People used to worry about getting on Page Six [the gossip page of the New York Post]. But this? It brings the concept of humiliation to a whole new level."
There's some vaguely sick and disturbing about watching Tricia Walsh Smith airing her dissatisfaction with the conduct of her apparently soon-to-be-ex-husband. Perhaps this isn't the most charitable of reactions, but I found myself wondering why Philip Smith married the ditz in the first place. Yes, divorce does strange things to people- of that much I can speak with some authority and experience. At no time, though, have I EVER even begun to consider airing my dirty laundry...such as it is...on YouTube. If Ms. Walsh Smith was looking to bolster her argument that she's being treated in a horribly unfair manner by a mean, nasty, soon-to-be-ex-husband...well, let's just say that she did NOTHING to put herself in a favorable light. In fact, she's taken a giant step backward.
The thing about any divorce is that there are two sides to the story, and the only people who fully understand and appreciate the issues and entanglements are the two people involved. Anything else is propaganda and spin control- and this rambling, virtually incoherent video certainly buttresses that argument. If Ms. Walsh Smith was hoping to taint the jury pool or convince the public of the righteousness of her cause...well, it's a big swing and a miss. First, most people likely don't give a rat's @$$ about the marital and emotional travails of the rich and immature. Second, this is about the single most immature thing I seen in...well, I'm not really sure how long.
As silly as Ms. Walsh Smith's video pity party for one is, it does speak to a much greater, and certainly more disturbing issue. Are we now a society without boundaries, where the personal becomes public because we choose (and have the readily available technology) to make it so? If this is true, it would appear that we're in the fast lane on the expressway to self-parody. This is not a trend that bodes well for our future.
While it's always arguably been a part of human nature to enjoy the public downfall of the wealthy, famous, and/or accomplished (admit it; you get a vicarious thrill out of watching a metaphorical train wreck looking for a place to happen....), I felt as if I need a shower after watching this video. Ms. Walsh Smith has transcended the ridiculous and gone straight to the realm of the sublime. Do not pass "Go". Do not collect $200. Go directly to a place where you become fodder for late-night comedians.
It appears that both shame and the willingness to deal with private pain privately both died very painful, public deaths recently. Even worse, it seems that we're OK with this.
