Foo - Do you empathize with celebrities who are in trouble?

Almost everyday you hear about a celebrity experiencing some kind of a train wreck. Either he or she has gone off the deep end, had a marriage blow up, fallen prey to substance abuse, is trouble with the law, or, in extreme cases, died.

Although I know these people are human just like me, I have the tendency to view their downfall differently than that of the guy up the street. In fact, I often joke about it.

Frankly, many of the rich seem so divorced from the "real world" that it's much more difficult to relate to them. Moreover, they generally have much better access to help with their problems, but often elect not to use it.

So, I often struggle to feel sorry when a famous person goes down in flames.

Is that unfair? How do you react?

I couldn't give a care.

I think they're pretty much their own worst enemies.

could care less.
even negative news gives them the media lust their after

No. Hardly. They took a really good opportunity and made it worse themselves, if its drugs, alcohol, partying any of that.

Its about SELF-CONTROL :)

No. Hardly. They took a really good opportunity and made it worse themselves, if its drugs, alcohol, partying any of that.

Its about SELF-CONTROL :)

Well said.

Yes and No.

Personally I couldn't care less about them....but I think a lot of their problems is the fact that I'm very much in the minority. I think its partly their immense wealth and even more so their immense popularity. There are plenty of rich old CEOs who aren't doing the things they do....so I think its more the fame.

If people wouldn't care so much about them personally, their lives would be so "under a microscope" and maybe they wouldn't end up with the antics they do.

So people....QUIT CARING ABOUT THEM.

Yes - and there are plenty of celebrities that DON'T implode. They just don't make the gossip sheets.

Couldn't care less. They do it to themselves.

No more than I 'care' about anyone else I don't know. I hate to see hard times or problems befall anyone. But dayum, these folks put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. They're not gods.

depends

Tough crowd.

I don't know how many people care about the well-being of celebrities, but there sure a lot of people interested in their lives. Thus we have an entire industry distributing every rumor and snapshot of the famous.

At least in this regard, I am sympathetic to the plight of the stars. If I had a bunch of people with cameras following me around all the time, I suspect it would eventually get to me.

At least in this regard, I am sympathetic to the plight of the stars. If I had a bunch of people with cameras following me around all the time, I suspect it would eventually get to me.

So celebrities deserve more sympathy than regular people?

So celebrities deserve more sympathy than regular people?You have to factor that in when assessing their behavior.

I've got family that i care about...

Not really... it's sad to see them implode like that but most of the traps they fall into are from their own doing. Sometimes they are so far in their own world that people can take advantage of their stupidity and exploit them.

Then part of the problem is us and the media. We are so hungry to peer into their extravagent lives that the media goes digging so much because that's what sells.

Really, who cares where Britney is eating or cutting off her hair and getting a tattoo at! Let Anna Nicole die... Paris Hilton, what has she done to be so famous except to be a party girl that's full of herself and wants more than her 15 mins of fame. And sex tapes again? Like we haven't seen it all before...

It's not like this stuff is new... for most, if you didn't want the fame you shouldn't have gotten into show business. Deal with it. or move out of Beverly Hills and stop driving the Bentley that attracts attention. And if you don't want to be photgraphed eating then don't eat at the fancy restaurant on Rodeo Drive. there are millions of other places you can go. Sheesh!!

Sympathetic... I'd say I'm not.

<slinkin' in, lookin' around, slinkin' on through to the next thread>

Tough crowd.

I don't know how many people care about the well-being of celebrities, but there sure a lot of people interested in their lives. Thus we have an entire industry distributing every rumor and snapshot of the famous.

At least in this regard, I am sympathetic to the plight of the stars. If I had a bunch of people with cameras following me around all the time, I suspect it would eventually get to me.
They knew what they were up against getting in to the trade... Just like everyone else.

depends

OK, they put their depends on one leg at a time. Or is that just rabid astronuts? :eek:

I feel sorry that they let themselves slip into whatever spiral they are in. Now do I agree they should get so much tv time during their downfall.......no. They are no more important than anyone else in the world. Unfortunately, they are news worthy where as you and I are not.

With recent tv news of Smith and Spears there is no time for news worthy events even on a local nature. If the national news wants to placate to them then fine. Just as long as my local news keeps feeding me what counts........that is things that affect me right around my corner.

Funny how no one cares, but that is all they show on the news--- ANS and now BS? We need one more for a trifecta.

No one thinks the media should leave Britney alone at this point? She's obviously going through a major breakdown and needs help.

I wonder what having a serious mental/emotional/personal crisis is like when 50 camera-wielding cutthroats are coming at you 24 hours a day.

I'm no fan of anything of her work, but for heaven's sake, have some decency and leave her alone.

Meanwhile, as the media gives us 24 hours of this stuff, the real world passes us by.

The lives of celebreties have never interested me, and I'm not quite sure why its so popular for so many people to follow them. Perhaps it makes people feel better when crappy things happen to personalities that are so sought after.

I tend to empathize more with people who I actually know on a personal level. I might feel a little bit of sympathy for someone well known who has gone through some hardships, but I can only let my emotions go so far when it comes to people who I don't interact with on a more intimate level. I would rather spend my energy on those who really mean something more to me.

I feel sorry for many people who have put themselves in bad situations. It's what they do once they are there that determines how I feel or how much I care from that point. Most celebs show a pattern of making bad choices over and over. I'm usually more concerned with my friends and family than with celebs.

I am still waiting to hear about explody pup robbing a pet store and shaving rude sayings into the Schnauzers.

My problem with all this is that it permerates EVERY form of media,one can't get away from it!! News in my IMHO should be cold,hard,fact based,Not like "As The Stomach Turns"

No,no, no, y no!

Not that I worship celebrities, but the US does have a reputation of taking them in as false idols, worshiping their glamour figures and spitting them out when the glamour is gone.
Did we ever hate, Norma Jean? This same story is repeated over and over throughout the decades. Acting talent does not matter, it's glamour. So many Hollywood figures end tragically.
Recently read an article by actress Kathleen Turner. She got fed up with the Hollywood glitz thing. An actress only has like a 10 year window, acttors like 20. She felt she had lots to give.
In order to give, she gave up on American movies or plays. SHe is doing quite well on the London play circuit.

Why the H should anyone care about the attention *****s when they melt down? I laff! Ha and Ha.

Can hardly wait to see the next "star" nose over and go into a tailspin. But really.......who cares.


Every time I see someone at the grocery store throw a tabloid mag on the conveyor I want to give them a MIKAZUKI GERI followed with a KENTSUI UCHI. :D

I do think that being famous is a two-edged sword...you have to find ways to fly under the radar, or just handle having a crowd of vermin with lenses always following them.

That right there is enough to make some snap...I know if some jackhole with a camera wouldn't leave me alone, I'd probably end up ripping the camera from his hands and ripping the film out of it, charges or not.

In the end though, I don't give them any special consideration though...stupid is as stupid does. No amount of paparazzi will make anyone choose to do some of the stupid things these folks do.

I say if they want to blow off some steam, take up a proper hobby for it.

The press gives me a pain in the azz. The video of wacked out Britney. Pounding on the reporters side window. I felt like I'd be happy to join her. I normally dispise britney.She has not talent and has always been an idiot.But, this time. Go Britney.

It just makes me wonder why WE pay these idiots all the money they have. And why sports team owners, producers and others keep paying them all that money?

I mean... no actor is worth what they make! No basketball player/baseball player/football player etc is worth $25 million/year!

Especially when teachers, police, firefighters and military members get what they're paid. Amazing.

<slinkin' in, lookin' around, slinkin' on through to the next thread>


For fun you're a wonderful toy. You're fun for a girl or a boy.

As a photographer.....no, not that kind...........I have been around tons of famous and wealthy people and most seem to be folks who just want to be left alone to do whatever they do.

I do think the wealthy and famous don't really understand how much their wealth and/or fame has made their lives easier; after all, money can be a tool if used wisely.

In my opinion, good looks can make life easier for an attractive woman. Don't know about men since I've struggled for every scrap I have.......... (Probably going to get hammered for that one.)

As for Britney, and others like her, once they are out of the spotlight aren't they yesterdays news? Thrown into the trash with the leftover spaghetti. No one knocking on your door for a movie deal or a recording contract. Being bizarre can probably be self-serving.

That said, if I ever won the lottery I would keep my mouth shut.

I am still waiting to hear about explody pup robbing a pet store and shaving rude sayings into the Schnauzers.

So it was YOU that gave him the idea? I swear I thought he posted of doing that to this guy's Bichon. Or was that a Bison??? Well, I guess we'll find out.
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I'm still sticking to the idea that since they made their own bed, they lie in it. There are a lot of regular not so famous people who are truly suffering and DON'T have the money or knowledge of how to find resouces for help.

Celebrities have the world at their fingertips. Homeless and Vets who are wacked out of their minds because of trauma don't. And to think that Vets gave up so much for this country and I see how some of them are treated....forgotten. While Britney gets a shave (gasp!) and everyone is at the water cooler. :rolleyes:

I've been thinking more about this, noting how my reaction is shaped by facts and circumstances.

Say unfortunate incident X happens to both Tom Hanks and Paris Hilton. I'm going to feel worse about the former than the latter. Why? Because in my mind, one has "earned" his fame through talent and hard work, while the other has achieved her status by being a spoiled attention *****.

I guess that's a form of merit-based sympathy.

I feel sorry for them (Britney/AnnaNicole) only in the fact that they obviously weren't given the tools they needed growing up to be successful human beings as adults. There are plenty of celebs that don't act like freaks or get into drugs/alcohol. I don't begrudge anyone the ability to make lots of money if they have a talent that people will pay for, but it is as sad to see them spiral out of control as it is your friend, neighbor, family, etc. because we are all human beings.

Maybe those actors/musicians who escape with sufficient bucks before their potential demise are the lucky ones. Hang around too long , life as a celeb gets stale. Once worked with a guy who went to school in the Bay City, MI area with singer Madonna. She was really shy as a kid, so said he. SInce she sings on her own terms , sort of like Springstein; she seems to not have a tragic personal life.
Glad Last place is not that kind of photographer. I feel the paparozzi sp?- contributed to Princess Diana's death. At least , did not the photographer go to his heavenly reward, along with Diana.

I do not empathize with them. This is mostly because without the media making a fuss over mundane stuff that happens to millions of other people all the time, I wouldn't know nor care about it. Besides, most of their problems are ones that they could have avoided but chose not to in the name of fun or pride. Why should I mourn when a good life lesson is about to be taught?

I care about them to the point that I hate to see someone suffer. My heart goes out to anyone troubled. I hate waste and a wasted life is a true loss.

As far as BS goes, the media wants her to fall. And they will be there to record her demise. Isn't this real similar to the old Greek mythology tales where their gods or goddeses were struck a blow in the name of good story telling?

I feel bad for the people who obsess over celebrities lives.

agreed they are often a bunch of flakes, but still as US celebrities US society chews them up and spits them out. Often they are to be pittied. Its not all glamour.