Overcome by Bieber fever

Sir, – I’m in my 60s

Sir, – I’m in my 60s. And the wonderful photograph of the Justin Bieber fans overcome by their emotions (Front page, February 18th) brings back many happy memories for me.

I had only to see a new photograph of Elvis Presley and I – and indeed many of my friends – were exactly as these girls.

Oh, the priorities of life haven’t changed. I hope they enjoyed the concert. – Yours, etc,

ANNA LYONS,

Woodside Grove,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 14.

Sir, – Your Front page picture (February 18th) was brought to my attention by a teacher, and there was a lot of discussion about it in class. It shows girls of my own age, in tears after catching a glimpse of Justin Bieber before a concert at the O2.

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Is this what our generation has come to? Falling into hysterics at a quick glimpse of a teenage idol we don’t even know? I listen to Justin Bieber’s music, and while I can appreciate he has an amazing voice, I don’t understand what all the fuss is about.

I don’t feel it’s right that so many people idolise him as much as they do. He’s barely an adult; and therefore prone to making mistakes.

A few weeks ago, he was allegedly caught smoking weed, which resulted in hundreds of girls all over the world posting images on social media apparently of themselves slitting their wrists in an attempt to get Justin to listen to them and stop (a practice that has been named “Cut for Bieber”). These pictures were horrible to look at, and what made it worse was that it appeared it was just young girls like myself, in secondary school (and even primary) who felt they had to horribly and painfully injure themselves for this popstar.

It’s not right or fair for someone to have the responsibilities of hundreds and even thousands of lives at such young an age. There are millions of talented people in this world who will never make it into the world of “showbiz”, and it’s not right that we idolise celebrities as much as we do. There is a difference in appreciating good music, or any form of talent, and worshipping it. – Yours, etc,

HANNAH BYRNE,

Southern Cross Road,

Bray, Co Wicklow.