Amy Winehouse dies at age 27

I find Downey more inspiring than Winehouse (although he comes across like a real jerk in interviews). Maybe that is why he survived and she didn't. He is full of himself.

It all depends on the person. I don't know of any people who do drugs because Robert Downey Jr. did them, but I can imagine that he'd be like a drug role model to people in a bad way instead of a good way. Especially with men.

I mean, as I see it, drugs are alluring. Drugs are going to be something that people will always seek out, no matter if there's tons of horror stories about them out in the world. All it takes is someone to know that Robert Downey Jr. survived drugs for them to make the decision to try it. Maybe they know his story or maybe they find him cool and like a role model or something, but it's a fact that Robert Downey Jr. didn't die from drugs.

I don't know who might reason with themselves to do drugs just because Robert Downey Jr. did them -- to be honest, it sounds like something I might say to myself if I was ever in the situation. But, hey, now I have Amy Winehouse being dead to scare me into the other direction.

The difference between Downey and Winehouse, he was an addict longer, but he could also function better than her. His life didn't unravel until he was much older.

But you would probably tell yourself I am strong like Downey. I can get through this. i am not a screwed up mess like Winehouse.

I also think the notion what brought about her end might be the news about Norway is pretty funny. I see no evidence Winehouse cared about anyone but herself. Addicts tend to be pretty self absorbed and not much interested in world events.

But the problem is -- what if I find out that I'm gonna get addicted to the drug? What if it takes over my life and I don't realize it? LOTS of people think they're strong and will get through this -- and they don't. Lots of people think they're not addicts and they are.

I find this part interesting for some reason. How did being full of himself help Downey survive? Amy Winehouse was never full of herself? Did she take herself too seriously and self destruct that way? I find this little reason you threw in at the end kinda vague and I'm curious to know more of your feelings. We must get to the bottom of why she died and he did not!

I think he is cocky and that quality helped him get through it. He had a screwed up childhood with a talented father who was also a big time druggie and also self destructed. That might have been a factor in him taking drugs. He had an inner strength that helped him get through his problem. Maybe it was around the house growing up. Winehouse appeared to be more like Garland, full of insecurities and inner demons.

I gotta admit lenny Bruce was pretty cocky. He still died at forty.

But first you have to want to get better, to admit you have a problem. Winehouse never did that from all accounts so that makes her less sympathetic to me.

He had an inner strength that helped him get through his problem. Maybe it was around the house growing up. Winehouse appeared to be more like Garland, full of insecurities and inner demons.

oh christ, will, stop already with the baseless conclusions. in actuality, you have no idea what Winehouse was like. your "she appeared to be this and she appeared to be that" are vague and seen through the eyes of a person who has little sympathy and is extremely cynical. surely, you can see that (and don't call me shirley).

Even a cursory look of how her life was spinning out of control it is clear she had demons. I have actually made less assumptions about her than some other people have on this board.