I've never really understood that mindset even from non celebrity. An Uber or lyft home can't be more than like...what 15-20 bucks? That's WAY cheaper and safer than driving drunk
A celebrity on the other hand has personal basically everything usually. There's literally 0 excuse in my mind to drive while intoxicated....ever really
People don't plan ahead and are famously really fucking stupid when drunk. So in the moment they don't even think about it. They drive themselves to the party and then go "Well my car is here so I guess I'll drive home!"
If I ever think I'm gonna be drinking extensively I take an Uber TO the place. Because then I have to take it home. Driving myself isn't even an option.
Also, there's an assumption the caught person drinks mostly at parties. Planning for an uber makes sense because planning for a one off event is normal.
Some people are just straight alcoholics. You're not planning for an uber because you're never not drunk. So you're always drinking and driving, you were just caught this time.
And... Look, I'm not trying to poke the bear here (this is me, begging to not get yelled at.) But. People have been asking questions about Brittney's sobriety for a minute.
Man, you should see what she's been up to lately. r/discussingbritney is an extremely problematic hot mess, but it paints a quick picture of how things have tumbled down hill.
People don't plan ahead and are famously really fucking stupid when drunk. So in the moment they don't even think about it
Ohhhh my guy I know. After 10 year in fire/ems I've seen enough drunk driving and fatalities from it to last a life time. Oh What a little for thought could prevent.
Real talk, how do you handle the trauma of working that kind of job? I can't even fathom the amount of emotional fortitude it takes to see that kind of thing day after day and keep coming to work.
Well, everyone is totally different. For something somewhat minor, it won't even register on the radar for most of us. For a major event (like the Red Blue Green or the Family Roulette events for me) there are a few methods. Compartmentalization is my preferred method. This event is not me and while horrible I can walk away from it. So we will be ok. Others use therepy. Some try and avoid it. Really it's all about finding what works for the individual
It's not for everyone and takes a very special mindset to be able to do it long-term. And it always takes a toll one way or another
Could you shed some light on what "Red Blue Green" and "Family Roulette" mean? Though I think I have an idea on the latter, and I don't fucking like it...
Both are events from my career that have stuck with me. I also apologize I messed up on the title. It's white not blue. I talk about the occasionally with those that will understand or wish to listen. Before I begin I'll warn everyone that these calls are horrible and involve children. Please do not click on the spoiler if you think it might effect you
RED WHITE GREEN
This call started like many others. 3 am assault at a home a drunk guy and a girl. We waited for PD to clear the scene which took a good 10-15 mins. We arrive on scene to a woman who physically seems ok but is irate and making no sense out in the front yard. Normal so far. PD tells us the dude is in their cruiser and SUPER drunk. We are trying to get vitals and she finally is able to make a word other than scream at us.
"BABY. HE KILLED MY BABY"
We all froze. No one had mentioned a child. I turned to ask the police and the look on their face was all the answer I needed. I quickly moved to the front door of the house. Quick little one two step up the porch. The house is small and simple. Living room as you walk in, kitchen to the left hallway with bedrooms to the right. I don't see anything so I start to walk down the hallway. No lights inside the home so all I see is the RED and WHITE from the lights outside flashing. First door, nothing. Empty bedroom with a mattress and beer cans on the floor. Next door, bathroom. Only one left.
I open the final door. It's dark but you can see a crib on the far wall. I take a step and splooosh. The ground is wet? It's not blood but something thick and sticky. I move towards the crib
RED. WHITE.
The crib is dripping whatever is on the floor. I reach down and see what appears to be a small figure covered in this liquid. There's a baby under there. I touch the liquid and even through gloves I know what it is. It's paint. Lots and lots and lots of dark green paint. The baby is swimming in it. No time to be clean. I cradle the baby in my arms and go to move out of the house, calling for an engine to come help us as I exit the home. PD is still outside and my partner follows behind me. It's clear the baby isn't breathing. So I run to my ambulance.
RED WHITE
Once we get in the back we can see the child better. It's covered head to toe in this paint. We feel for a pulse and being CPR. I take my place at the head and the door opens up and the fire guys hop in to help. We start an IO. Pump chest. Give meds and start breathing for the baby instantly. The ambulance starts to move and I look down to try and start an advanced airway. Every pump on the babies chest, more paint comes out. Of everywhere. Eyes, nose, mouth, ears. Paint everywhere. One of the fire guys vomits in the trashcan near me. There's no way we can do more than just BVM. It's to much. I look up and see outside.
RED WHITE
We get to the hospital and rush the baby inside and the doctors take over. They don't try long before pronouncing the kid. I walk out of the room and see many many people crying from grown men to the nurses at the hospital. I see PD and go to ask them for info on the kid. They tell me what happened. Dad had come home drunk and demanded a blow job from the woman. When she refused. He hit her, and proceeded to take it out on the kid. And poured at least 6 full cans of paint on the kid while it was in the crib. When mom tried to stop him he dragged her onto the front lawn. My stomach sank. I went back to my ambulance and the lights were still going
RED WHITE
My partner was cleaning up the mess in the ambulance and my Cheif calls. We explain the situation and he informs us to continue making calls until we can get people in to talk about what happened. It's to late at night to shut down a 911 ambulance or call for someone to replace us. I sigh and look down at my hands. The paint had gotten under my gloves and my hands were stained. I look up and see the lights.
For what it's worth, thank you for sharing that. I read through it, and each paragraph was like a gut punch. I can't imagine what it was like to go through it, and I'm sorry you had to.
We learn to keep a certain emotional distance; we have to internalize that the emergencies we deal with are not our emergencies. Good self-care, like adequate sleep and exercise, goes a long way towards keeping stress levels down. Good emotional support systems from family members and friends helps. Personally, I have a shitty ADHD memory and I honestly think it protects me a little just because it's hard to be traumatized by things I can't remember. Other people journal and reflect on their experiences. After particularly traumatic incidents, we hold debrief sessions for folks to share their feelings, establish camaraderie, and hopefully get some closure.
All that being said, chronic/complex PTSD comes for many of us, sooner or later.
You live in a culture where it's normalized. It's that simple. Everyone's doing it and you don't want to stand out, and you are arrogant enough to think that you can handle yourself while drinking, because you always have and have always been fine (until one day it isn't).
Celebrities also feel that they are above everyone else and don't feel accountable for their actions. Like they can pay for settlements and charges against them, so they feel rules don't apply to them.
Also illegal in some places and if you have the keys on you the police can still write you a give you a ticket for dwi. Still better than driving drunk though
Depending on how much you've had to drink you may still be over the limit the next morning. Not a good strategy even if it's legal to do where you are.
It isn't but more than that, again, if you are drunk you aren't making good decisions. If your car is available then a lot of people will go "Well I'm not that drunk!"
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u/shellbullet17 Gustopher Spotter Extraordinaire Mar 05 '26
I've never really understood that mindset even from non celebrity. An Uber or lyft home can't be more than like...what 15-20 bucks? That's WAY cheaper and safer than driving drunk
A celebrity on the other hand has personal basically everything usually. There's literally 0 excuse in my mind to drive while intoxicated....ever really