Who'd Want To Be A Celebrity?

[mso489]

Is celebrity fun or awful? You can be a celebrity for being incredibly good at some activity (show biz, sports, politics, business) or for nothing at all other than acting out a big personality in public. Are there more pluses or minuses. If you could choose, how would you choose?
Bill Murray had a good observation in an interview, saying that what he liked about success in comedy and acting was the money and the freedom it bought. He didn't say, but I suppose there were several nice (and big) residences in that, some fine automobiles, and travel to suit himself. But he readily admitted the downside as being lack of freedom in being continually recognized, intrusions by unpleasant people who were rude and drunk and otherwise negative, and the ongoing stress and limits that caused. Would you rather be your own man (or woman) or to some degree the public's?
Personally, I don't consider celebrity a win, nor anonymity a loss. You work with your circumstances and hope to realize the benefits of those.

 

[skraps]

Interesting question.
I'm in the anonymity camp. They can keep all the flashy cars and houses. Trappings of a life that isn't truly your own.

 

[ashdigger]

Not me, not even close.
Sometimes at big fire scenes there are news media with their cameras, so I walk up to the cameraman and tell them, "I'm in the witness protection program, you can't include me on your footage."
So far, I've avoided being on TV or the newspaper.

 

[bootlegbonvivant]

Interesting question, for sure. While I'd love to have that kind of income and financial freedom, I don't think I'm much for the intrusion of privacy. Some celebrities do it right and stay out of the spotlight as much as possible.

 

[jkrug]

No thanks....I enjoy my quiet, simple, private lifestyle.

It would maybe be nice to have an overflowing bank account but the rest of the BS that comes along with celebrity status is not for me. ::

 

[p4ttythep3rf3ct]

Infamy or bust!

 

[puffy]

I would like the money,but not the fame.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I'm in the anonymity camp.

+1000

 

[beefeater33]

"Everybody's a dreamer and everybody's a star

And everybody's in show biz, it doesn't matter who you are

And those who are successful

Be always on your guard

Success walks hand in hand with failure

Along Hollywood Boulevard"
-Ray Davies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yp_QkUVZGPc

 

[toobfreak]

Most people who become famous, never intended or set out to be. You do what you do and sometimes it brings you fame. Some will tell you they eat up the attention but privately, most will admit it is a burden.

 

[theloniousmonkfish]

I suffer from the physics disorder "observer effect". The act of observation affects my behavior. Silence is golden, anonymity is priceless.

 

[brian64]

Celebrity is especially unappealing these days because, for whatever reason, there seems to be a greater-than-usual epidemic of mental illness among them...and seems to be worsening by the day.
And the worst type of celebrity by far are the TV "news" celebrities who masquerade as journalists. They also tend to be the type that craves celebrity the most.

 

[tuold]

This topic reminds me of a favorite poem, part of which was set beautifully by Henry Purcell.
If ever I more riches did desire
If ever I more riches did desire

Than cleanliness and quiet do require,

If e'er Ambition did my fancy cheat,

With any wish so mean as to be great,

Continue, Heav'n, still from me to remove

The humble blessings of that life I love.
Upon the slipp'ry tops of human state,

The gilded pinnacles of fate,

Let others proudly stand, and for awhile

The giddy danger to beguile,

With joy and with disdain look down on all,

Till their heads turn, and down they fall.
Me, O ye Gods, on earth, or else so near,

That I no fall to earth may fear,

And, O ye gods, at a good distance seat

From the long ruins of the great.

Here wrap'd in the arms of Quiet le me lie;

Quiet, companion of Obscurity.

Here let my life with as much silence slide

As time, that measures it, does glide.
Nor let the breath of Infamy or Fame

From town to town echo about my name,

Nor let my homely death embroider'd be

With scutcheon or with elegy:

An old plebeian let me die.

Alas, all then are such as well as I.
To him, alas, to him, I fear,

The face of Death will terrible appear,

Who in his life flatt'ring his senseless pride

By being known to all the world beside,

Does not himself, when he is dying, know,

Nor what he is, nor whither he's to go.
-Abraham Cowley

 

[sajgre]

I can't think of a single situation where fame would be a good thing. But celebrities from my small country have it much worse since they get ridiculously low pay.

 

[dottiewarden]

I'm in the anonymity camp.

x 1000
@tuold
Great poem!

 

[akfilm]

I personally know celebrities, and it seems a very lonely life. You don't know who truly wants to be with you or be friends with you because of you, or who you are. Also, public personas are sometimes quite different than their public ones. Having fame or fortune is both a blessing and a curse. For me, I'll just keep on keeping on. I wouldnt mind it, I'm a bit of a hermit anyway.

 

[alexnorth]

I wouldn't mind the riches but being constantly followed and scrutinized by the Savage anti-intellectual media no thanks!

 

[cranseiron]

Mat, enjoyed the link to Ray Davies insightful lyrics. He's quite the songwriter.

 

[radio807]

I am the kind of person who couldn't attract attention even if I were to set fire to myself in a crowded room, and I like it that way. Invisibility is a blessing.

 

[ssjones]

Nice Ray Davies reference, I love that song (and most of RD's work)!