May 14, 2002
-
Anybody Want to Be Famous?
Have you ever wished that you were really famous? Like a movie star or a famous writer or an exceptional athlete? On the surface it would seem like a wonderful thing . . . having people instantly recognize you, know your name, wanting your autograph, wanting to be seen with you, wanting to touch you. You’d get special priviledges; you wouldn’t have to stand in lines like normal people, waiters would seat you immediately. But I think the “rich and famous” pay far too high a price for that fame.
Imagine not being able to go ANYWHERE and just be yourself. You’d always have to be “on display”, looking the part, minding your P’s and Q’s. You couldn’t go on a picnic with your family without people staring. You could never have a disagreement with your spouse without it showing up in the tabloids. You couldn’t ride on an airplane without people asking for your autograph. You couldn’t run to the grocery store for a gallon of milk if you were having a bad hair day. It would be like living in a cage at the zoo, with no freedom.
Everything you said would be quoted somewhere, whether or not you’d had a chance to think through your comments. You’d be misquoted as well. And you’d be a target. A target for con men, beggars, charities. You’d never know whether people liked you because of who you are deep inside or because you’re famous.
Nope! I wouldn’t want to be famous at all. I like my life the way it is, thank you very much.
Comments (5)
Actually, I like my life the way it is now, too, BUT, I wouldn’t mind being famous… IF it was only my name that was well known. You know, like maybe a famous writer whose name everyone knows, but they have no clue what you look like. Then you could be anonymous when you wanted to be and use your celebrity (and the money that goes with fame) when it suits you. But forget it if I can’t go to the store without people recognizing me. Interesting blog… I wonder what made you think of it
Me too! @-}-}—
Because of my work I’ve been in the papers a lot in the past. I didn’t mind as that changed the way people deal with dead babies and it changed the burialhabits- and rituals in a good way.
But I remember the days that I was shopping and people whispered and pushed each other to pay attention. ……
Now the whole neighbourhood knows that Jim has been accused, we are under close attention. At times I want to shout to them that the accusation is false and that Jim hasn’t done anything wrong.
At times I feel like walking on egg-shells. Is my hair OK, do I look good, do I do and say the right things. But I won’t let the kids play with it….. like yelling in the garden to force me to do their way….
I don’t mind the attention of the public when I’ve danced, sang, said or written something OK, but I hate the critical eyes, the people who are waiting for a mistake to start gossiping again…..
I must be famous, because I’m already a target for con men, beggers and charities. They’re called telemarketers.
And yeah, I’d still like to be a famouse writer. 
Twiddle38, you need to get a TeleZapper at Radio Shack. They’re about 50 bucks. But each time a telemarketer calls, your TeleZapper sends back a signal that basically says “this phone has been disconnected – don’t bother calling it again”. The great part is that regular callers don’t even hear the signal because they aren’t listening for it. You see, the telemarketers have a system that listens for those tones so that they don’t waste their time trying to call numbers that aren’t in service any longer. But give them time, they’ll come up with a way to out smart the TeleZapper too.