LOST IN THE WOODS

Tiger Woods.

It's pretty much been proven that he's the best golfer currently playing the game. But more than that he seems like a genuinely nice, humble guy with boyishly good looks. He's the man all the guys want to be, and the standard against which all men are measured by the fairer sex. He was at least.

One little car crash and the world as we knew it came crashing down. Turns out he's been having extra-marital affairs. The polls have come in; he's a lying, cheating, man-whore and no one wants anything to do with him. Ad campaigns centered around Woods are being phased out.

Regardless of what he's done, Woods is dealing with the situation with as much integrity as he can. He's withdrawing from the spotlight and spending time with his family, trying to save his marriage. Altogether it's very much in line with the way we think of him; a man who holds family as his first priority. You know, aside from the whole cheating thing.

But you know what? This article isn't about Tiger Woods. It's about us, the public at large, and our reaction to this news. You see, this isn't the first time a scandal like this has broken out.

I mean, have people already forgotten David Letterman from two months ago? Accused of cheating, he went and admitted it on live television... and came out ahead in popularity.

What about Hugh Grant? He got caught and arrested with a prostitute, and his career's still going strong.

Or how about Paris Hilton, who spun her sex scandal into a multi-million dollar career.

Don't get me wrong, there's still a long list of folks who's careers and lives were decimated by scandals like this. A certain president comes to mind.

Infidelity scandals are so wide spread the question seems to have changed from "who's cheating and who's not?" to "who hasn't been caught yet?". And when a public figure is caught, why does one person come out on top, where another is destroyed?

What is wrong with us?

Why do we laugh off Letterman, then turn around and villainize Woods?

The only thing I can think of is that is relates not to the person, but to their public image. Tiger Woods' scandal seems like a personal betrayal to us because his image is of the person we wish we could be. He's one of the Superman figures of celebrity; so perfect he seemed more than human.

Hilton... well, she was never a real role model to begin with. She was able to build her persona up as a smug bad girl. Someone we love to hate. And believe me, we LOVE to hate this woman.

In comparison, Brittany Spears went from "I'll be a virgin until I'm married" to... well, you know. It's only been recently that she's been able to reinvent herself and reemerge into the spotlight.

At the end of the day Tiger Woods is human. Just like every public figure in the world. Just like every one of us. Maybe it's time we start treating them that way.

Until next time, I'm the Trenchcoat Anti-Critic.