Wednesday 15 September 2021

Why fame?

For the life of me I don't understand why so many people want to be famous. I can understand wanting to be rich and never having any more money worries, but wanting to be famous? What's the point? Do they realise the massive downside of fame?

Probably not. Celebrities tend not to mention the downside because it would spoil their image and because it would make them look like spoilt brats. They prefer to maintain the illusion that fame is wonderful and they can't get enough of it.

All the public usually see is celebrities swanning around in fabulous designer clothes, being presented with prestigious awards, being applauded and fawned over, getting preferential treatment wherever they go.

What they usually don't see is the endless invasion of privacy, the hordes of paparazzi, the social-media abuse, the phoney "friends", the obsessive fans, the fabricated media stories.

It seems to me that being famous just makes your life more difficult, more treacherous, more overwhelming. Why would you want to live in a goldfish bowl day in and day out, with people watching your every movement?

There are regular stories about people who've been unexpectedly thrust into the limelight and been badly damaged by it. Like Steve Dymond, who died seven days after taking part in the Jeremy Kyle chat-show.

A lot of musicians have had psychological crises after a sudden rise to fame - like Katie Melua, who had a mental breakdown in 2010 and was in hospital for six weeks.

Fame ? You can keep it.

34 comments:

  1. We are all famous in our little worlds Nick. You certainly are in the blog world and I in mine as well as my other groups. Once one learns how to handle it with humility, there is no problem with neurosis or anything else.

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    1. Ramana: I wouldn't call being known to a few blogmates "fame"! But yes, there are probably ways of taking fame in your stride if you're a fairly resilient and level-headed person.

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  2. I think many people want validation more than fame

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    1. John: Very true. So many people are unsure of their value and their identity they need other people's seal of approval.

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  3. Everybody worships someone and that someone is usually oneself!

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    1. Bijoux: I certainly don't worship myself. I have far too many faults and hang-ups to qualify for worship!

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  4. If you have sought fame, then you can get on with the consequences...but if fame is thrust upon you it must be pretty unbearable.

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    1. Fly: Yes, I feel for people who've been thrust into the spotlight quite unintentionally and absolutely hate it.

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  5. H'm. So much insecurity in the famous. I can't count the number who fall into addiction and often die. So many unprepared for it. It takes a huge toll in so many ways and once famous it's really challenging to back away and get some privacy for the kids who often suffer.

    It's far, far more complicated. Many times, it's only a twist of fate that makes one famous. Or infamous.

    XO
    WWW

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    1. www: As you say, addictions are very common among celebs trying to cope with fame and their personal insecurities. And yes, just a random twist of fate can catapult you to fame.

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  6. I remember my brother once saying "everyone wants to be special."
    and usually with that 'special' in today's world of the internet... WHAM! you're Out There! I imagine it would depend on how private a person you are. I wouldn't want to be 'Watched' all the time! I couldn't enjoy a simple meal anymore! so nope. nothing special for me. Or famous. lol! xo

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    1. Tammy: Wanting to be special is as odd as wanting to be famous. Why not just be yourself, however special or however ordinary?

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  7. Beats me why someone would want fame. The UK's "bonnie" prince and wife has moved the US to escape the torment to a degree.

    My favorite celebrity moment was a question period for an actor during a local film festival. It certainly was a question not in the gentleman's field of expertise. But he politely gave an opinion.

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    1. Ann: That's a puzzling set-up. They move to the US to escape the endless attention, and then do everything they can to attract more attention!

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    2. It is indeed hard to have your cake and eat it too. I do feel sympathetic to role of being a spare. How do you create a relevant life?

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    3. Ann: The role of being a spare? Do you mean someone who gets attention simply because of who they're married to/going out with?

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  8. Nope, not for me. This post does remind me of Meghan and Harry. Does your media have much to say about them?

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    1. Jean: Our media follows them avidly. The smallest supposed social gaffe will bring huge headlines and judgmental outpourings from the columnists.

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  9. The ultimate victim of unsought fame was Princess Diana. Although Jackie Kennedy Onassis had to deal with it also at least she found ways to cope that didn't include dying.

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    1. Linda: And the paparazzi don't care if chasing after people puts their prey in danger. As long as they get some juicy photos.

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  10. The downside of fame is the eagerness of paparazzi to catch you in ratty clothes.

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    1. Joanne: Yes, they like nothing better than a dishevelled celeb who was hoping to get to the corner shop without being seen.

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  11. Didn't we do fame the other week? Some can handle it, ie. Kylie, and others can't, ie. Amy W.
    Nah, I couldn't handle it.
    Sx

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    1. Ms Scarlet: You've got a good memory! And you're right. After I'd written this post I discovered I'd also written about fame in June. Tch tch, off to the naughty corner....

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  12. I wouldn't want to be famous either. I like my privacy too much.

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    1. Mary: Me too. But privacy seems to have gone out of fashion in this era of compulsive socialising.

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    2. I'm not sure how compulsive socializing is. We live in a very social community. But, only once in the nearly five years we've lived here has someone knocked on my door. And that was to tell me she completed a project on my behalf. Now, when I do go out among the community lots of people come to talk to me but they all think I just moved in. :)

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    3. Linda: We have plenty of people ringing our doorbell, mainly people offering domestic services like tree lopping or gutter cleaning or a cheaper electricity supplier. Also we know several of the neighbours so we're not at all isolated.

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  13. Perhaps some people are so needy they just aspire to wanting everyone's attention if fame is their primary goal. I'm inclined to think many really want riches and think fame will aid in reaching that goal. It's interesting to see how people cope with fame so differently, some more healthily for themselves than others. Fame thrust upon a person who isn't seeking it could be challenging to someone who doesn't have a good sense of themself.
    Fame, solely for itself, isn't anything I would want for myself.

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    1. Joared: As you say, people are very different in their ability to cope with sudden fame. Some manage okay while others are hit for six.

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  14. Fame is something I will definitely never have to worry about, Nick, and for all the reasons you cited here that is perfectly ok with me. Being anonymous is much more in fashion as they are so many more like ourselves out there.

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    1. Beatrice: That's very likely. Those of us who're anonymous are probably the silent majority! But it's funny when some people actually become famous for their anonymity - like J D Salinger, Harper Lee and Elena Ferrante.

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  15. I would never want to be famous. It sounds dreadful to me.

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    1. Agent: Me too. Everywhere you go people are pointing you out and gawping at you. Horrific.

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