Saturday, January 12, 2008
Fame or Shame
Why do we hold actors and sports figures in such high regard? A recent poll shows that most elementary school students when asked to name a hero will name a actor or sports figure. However, with the recent steroid issues in sports, the "Brittany" saga or O.J. Simpson mess we must question why these types of people would be heroes. Should public personalities private lifes be held up for scrutiny for the public? What do we expect of public personalities? How do we (or should we) react when they do something that we consider wrong?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
39 comments:
Well, firstly I don't think that these famous figures should be looked up to. It's not only the small kids anymore looking up to these people who they call "heros"... its also teenagers... They see these celebs as "perfect" because everyone knows them and they seem to be able to get away with anything and everything. Some of these high school girls feel they arent pretty enough or skinny enough because they dont look just like Lindsey Lohan or Paris. But in all reality its because some of these guys (no offence men!!) look at these skinnier than rail girls and not the normal ones. I also believe that just because your famous, it doesnt mean you can get away with a DUI or cocain possesion. You are still under the law of America, just because you have money. You make the choices, you have to deal with the concequenses. For instance, Paris Hilton. She had multiple DUI's and possesion, yet she only got a few weeks in a cell, still treated like royalty. I was one of the people that was highly pissed that these famous figures can do anything...even if its MURDER and almost walk. I feel these kids should have real hero's, the people that actually make the world a better place, not flaunt their money.
i would think that kids and or teen should still look up to professional athletes and celeberitys but make sure that you look up to the ones that have a positive attitude toward there profession and a positive outlook on life in general. Kids are taught at a young age what is right and what is wrong. so they do know the difference when somebody does something bad. About having a real role model but you cant pick a person's rloe model for them they pick the one that they see on t.v. the most. How about instead of going after the people with the money and wasting time why dont we go after the people that control the situation:the police officers, the court officials, judges, and the other people that are involved in the court system that dont stand up and uphold the law. They let these people go and spent about a quarter of the time as countless others that do the same. So are we going after the right people or just the people that are in the eyes of the public.
The reason that today's culture holds actors and sport figures in such high regard is because of the multiple publicity ads and attention is given to them by the media. Kids today shouldn't always be exposed to the mere detail that goes on in the private lives of these star athletes, actors, singers, etc. When a person is of such great fame knows that millions of small children are watching him/her, that puts a greater call of duty to them to show how to publicly behave in order to set an example for the people who look up to them. "To whom much is given, much is expected." That is a quote that people of this status must live up to. When people like O.J., Michael Vick, etc. do things that our society considers "wrong" it should be known to all fans or admirers. But when it comes down to the end, people are still going to like who they want to admire no matter what the actions of that person are. I also believe media takes it to such a higher cause than things that happen to these stars really should be. On the contrary, court cases, jail time, and fines should not be persuaded or bended because of a person's status, but from the looks of it so far, there has been no stopping it.
In response to david's comment, yes, many and a majority of people go after what looks good on tv or in the eyes of the public. Is this always a good thing? Definitely not. But children at a young age don't always know or are taught the difference between right and wrong so what they see their role models do, is what they think is "okay." Honestly, people are still going to admire their favorite stars no matter what negative actions they take, because they only view the positive sign of it. Which isn't always a bad thing because many people, including myself, admire many athletes strictly for what they do physically on the court or field and not always off. yes, these people should show good examples both on and off the playing fields, but that isn't always and can't always be the case.
I think that the actors and other figures people admire is based on the amount of media they are given. If kids hear or see one person in the news or on TV multiple times the odds are they're going to think them admirable. Kids don't learn the names of more admirable people until they get older but by that time they already know the names of the actors and sport players. By then I don't think they care about other people who might be better to look up to. I don't think it's wrong to look up to celebrities people just have to realize who they should look up to. Since we were younger we learned the difference from right and wrong and that just needs to be applied when looking at these certain figures.
I do think that these figures personal lives should be published for everyone to see or read. It's important to know the truth about ones so called "hero". If who they are was never printed for everyone to read we would never know who it was we looked up to. I think that would be worse than knowing the truth about them.
As for our reaction, I don't think that anyone should act differently just because the person is famous. They should get the same punishment some regular person would get. They shouldn't get treated special because they famous or have money to bail them out of the situation. They broke the law and should pay for that just like anyone else would.
I personally don’t believe that our celebrities should be looked up to. It is very understandable to why they are though. They are constantly in the lime light having attention drawn to them with out even trying. This can be a bad thing because we see everything they do, all the "wrong" things. The people who look up to these celebrities see what they do and think..."oh huh, they do it so why not me?" so then in that case we have kids attempting these adolescent immature stunts. I also believe that if our celebrities were not in the lime light like how they presently are, less juvenile actions would be taken place. Once again though the lime light action is our fault because we are too obsessed on what these "famous" people are doing instead of caring about who our real heroes are, the people who ACTUALLY are making an impact on our lives.
WE HOLD ACTORS, SPORTS FIGURES, MUSICIANS, AND PEOPLE WHO BECAME FAMOUS JUST BY BEING FILTHY FREAKIN RICH IN HIGH REGARD BECAUSE OUR MEDIA BELIVES WE SHOULD. THEY ARE PRACTICALLY TELLING US WHO TO ADMIRE BY PUTTING ON SHOWS LIKE CRIBS AND BEHIND THE MUSIC. THESE FAMOUS PEOPLE INVADE ALL OF OUR ENTERTAINMENT AND HUMAN NATURE WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE US TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT THEIR LIVES. THAT IS WHY IF I TELL YOU SIGMUND FREUD DID COCAINE YOU WOULD BE MILDLY INTERESTED BUT WHEN YOU FIND OUT BOBBY BROWN DOES IT YOU GO BERSERK.
I BELIEVE IT TO BE IMPORTANT TO PUBLICISE PERSONAL STUFF LIKE THAT TO THE PUBLIC BECAUSE THEN YOU SEE THE REALNESS OF THE PERSON THAT YOU CANT SEE IN MOVIES OR ON THE FIELD BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO VIEW THESE TYPES OF THINGS TRY NOT TO TAKE THEM TOO SERIOUSLY BECAUSE CELEBRITIES ARE PEOPLE LIKE THE REST OF US AND HAVE THEIR SHARE OF MISTAKES AND BAD DAYS. PLUS THE ADDED PRESSURE FROM THE CAMERA CANT BE GOOD FOR THEM EITHER. SURE, WE DO EXPECT A LOT FROM THEM BUT WE SHOULDNT BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I.
I HATE IT WHEN CELEBRITIES GET OFF SCOTCH CLEAN JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE FAMOUS ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU KNOW THAT THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN A BIGGER SENTENCE IF THEY WERENT FAMOUS. O.J. GOT OFF MURDER, R. KELLY GOT OFF PEEING ON A MINOR, AND PARIS HILTON GOT OFF MULTIPLE DUI'S. IF THEY WERENT FAMOUS THEN THEY WOULD HAVE GONE TO JAIL FOR AT LEAST MORE THAN A WEEK. IM NOT SAYING THEY WERE GUILTY, IM SAYING WITH THE EVIDENCE THE PROSECUTION HAD AGAINST THESE PEOPLE THEY WOULD HAVE PUT A REGULAR PERSON IN JAIL. IT SADDENS ME THAT PEOPLE WOULD HAVE THE WOOL PULLED OVER THERE EYES SO FAR AS TO LET THESE PEOPLE OFF. TO IDALIZE THEM IS ONE THING BUT TO TREAT THEM AS IF THEY ARE BETTER THEN THE REST OF US IS SETTING A BAD EXAMPLE FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUR CELEBRITIES. IF WE DONT PUT A STOP TO TIS SOON THEN OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS WILL THINK IT TO BE OK TO RAPE AND STEAL AND KILL.
I completely agree with colin.
I believe that the media shouldn't go to far into ANYONE'S life because they will eventually find something that makes them look bad. If the media doesn't cover an athlete's case so harshly then the kids won't grow up even knowing what they did was wrong because they WON'T know about it. They should learn about it at a later age when theyare mature.
in response to colin. You are right about fans always admiring their favorite players. How much they publicity they get over something isn't always their fault unless they did something horrible.
Personally, i don't like to cheer for someone on the feild or court when i know they did something bad or are bad people. why would you want to praise someone bad?
if the presisdent raped, murdered, or stole something then he'd probably lose his job, ubnlike a football player who would just keep playing and getting paid, and being cut off lose.
They may be hero's but they're still citizens of the world. they need to follow the rules and be punished by the law if they deserve it.
It's not fair that Johnny gets jailtime for hitting a car and driving off but an actor, singer, or w/e get's away with it completely.
how did paris hilton get her sentence to be so low. It'snot like she even qualifies for a here. She doesn't touch or inspire millions of people like an athlete would. it's crazy how social class, though "there arent any", can change the way the law is percieved.
The actresses should not be a role model in my opinion becouse you don't know the person. But in a way some are good role models for what they have achifed, like peolpe insports.
I some what agree with kuriarte, yes it is a good thing to admire the people who have achieved their spots in fame. Also though if they are succeeding in their achievement in the wrong ways such as taking steroids, and many other things to give the impression they are as good as people say; then it’s not right and I personally don’t want to walk around and see a much of people on steroids looking disgustingly big just to look like their favorite football player. There are the right people to look up to and the wrong people to look up to. I believe that some celebrities get too caught up in the lime light and take advantage of it in an unhealthy, dangerous, and wrong way. That is someone I wouldn't want to look up to.
I strongly agree with Carlos, our society is way too in love with our celebrities. Every one should be treated equal, it says it right there in the preamble. It's just not right how someone like us could be punished so severely for the same crime a celebrity got let off from. It's unfair and causes more chaos for the people getting the actual punishment. We shouldn't be able to say "oh well why didn’t Paris Hilton get this!" we should all be treated the same. The rules we follow should be the same for us as for them, there is no need to question it.
I believe that we hold actors or sports figures in such high regard because we see them ever where. We really only look up to the best sports figures or the best actors and i think it is due to the fact that they are always on t.v. and always being interviewed. I think it is fine to look up to someone who is popular but it should be for the right reason not just because they are popular. I think if you like someone before they become super popular then it is fine because you were with them the whole way. I do not think that public personalities private lives should be help up for scrutiny because that is not fair to them. No matter how hard they try to be good if there is enough media around they will always find something bad. I think we expect public personalities to always be good and do everything right. If they mess up and it gets out into public we usually react very strongly because we do not believe that our "hero's" can do anything wrong.
I agree with Carlos when he said that the media should not go to far into anyones life because they will find something wrong. No body can be perfect all the time and the people that always have video cameras well when they mess up the whole world will know about it and i do not believe that that is fair to them.
I agree with David about how kids should look up to the athletes and celebrities that have a positive outlook on life. If they have a positive attitude toward their profession they are usually better at it and don't mess up as much. If someone really doesn't like what they are doing then they usually don't try very hard to do well at it so therefore they are not good at what they do and those are the ones who might mess up a little bit more than those who really care about what they are doing.
So, after reading most of the entries I would say that the concensus is a media issue. Don't report the truth about people, just stay on the surface. Interesting?!
well im my opinion i think that there is nothng wrong with kids looking up to someone with fame like an actor or sports figure... some of these people have no choice becuase they might of not have someone close to them for example a mom or dad to be able to label "hero"... so they look up to the people who they see everyday on tv... and the bad thing about that is that tv now adayz just publishes the bad and not the good... instead of doing a story on how one man can make a diffrence in the world if he puts he's mind to it they do stories on crazy ladies who shave their heads and 16 yr old who are getting pregnet.. i mean is that the things we wanna see on tv?? would that be the things u would like your children to watch on tv so they would thing that its ok to do it becuase they girl on tv did it?? thats pretty much my only problem with labeling someone famous a hero.. its that instead of the tv putting on the positive people who actually work hard to acomplish something in life they go after all the negitive people and that just gives a bad example on all of us on how this county really is...
Now i know that everyone has been saying how bad it is to look up to actors, sports figures, singers, etc. But a lot of them actually do try and help out the community and do great things. Yes some of them have done some bad things and made mistakes, but they are human too.This does not mean i agree with how they get away with more.
But I don't thing it would be this way if the world didn't revolve around money. All kids see is how much money they have,nice cars, and big houses. They are too young to see how some of these people really are and the bad things they have done. All they see is how famous they are and how a lot of people wish they could be them, so why wouldn't they look up to these stars.
I totally agree with bcovarrubias. The press and t.v. producers only show the negative things about people and not the good. Also in many situations kids and teenagers don't have a hero or anyone to look up to so they look up to the ones they see everyday on t.v. or hear on the radio.
I think part of the reason these kids are looking up to celebs is because, thats all that anyone talks about. Kids dont really watch spiderman anymore. As a kid, I'm not sure I really had a "hero", so im not exactly sure what kind of skills a hero consists of. I know I never looked up to any celebs because I was too busy watching The Power Rangers and Animaniacs. Maybe they were my heros.
About celebs lives being available for all the public to see...that is completely ridiculous. I hate the fact that every person that comes through a shopping line has something to say about Brittney Spears. They're people too! My life isn't shown to everyone (thank god for that). Its really strange how people hold celebs in such high regard.
I agree that media shouldn't be meddling in other peoples lives. Like I said earlier people would be, ummm, shocked. Like Brittany's sister getting pregnant, that happens aaaaalll the time. but, since noone hears about it it's no big deal.
Gah!!! Ok I am just reading these right, it killlls me that most of you know all of these stories about these celebrities. That is insane!!! And again, people come through the shopping line and if they are buying magazines (a big problem in itself) they always have something to say. Dont people ever talk abou the REAL news anymore! I always thought there was special channels for the celeb crap news, but no, they broadcast it right along with the traffic and weather!
Actors and sports figures are held in such high regard because they are constantly seen on t.v. and heard on the radio, ect. Kids look up to them because society places them on such a high pedistool. It's also because young kids who play sports look up to professional athletes that they want to become. The same thing for young actors. The media portrays famous people as being able to get anything they want, such as huge house, nice cars, ect. Kids see this and wish that they could have the same and therefore they look up the that celebrity as a hero. No, I don't think public personalities private lives should be held up for scrutiny for the public. Their problems should not be posted through out the world and they shouldn't be able to get away with crimes just because they are famous. I think it's ok if kids have famous heros to look up to as long as it's not for the wrong reasons.
I agree with adahlquist that the media shouldn't push too far into anyone's life. If you treated celebrities somewhat like normal people then all the bad/weird stuff that we find out about them wouldn't come to the surface.
I also agree with David that it's okay for kids to look up to celebrities as long as the celebrities aren't beating up cars with umbrellas. hahaha There are lot of kids out there that don't have family members or anyone close to look up as a hero. In that sense I see no reason why kids can't look up to celebrities.
I think the media makes such a big deal about celebrities lives and how they live that they give children the idea that they are important. If the tabloids focused more on real issues that involve the lives of each and every person ( like oh i dont know, taxes, the economy etc. etc.) things would probably work out better!
I do agree with ryan's comment talking about how kids don't have family members to look up to sometimes. But i do think that the celebrities and athletes that children look up to should only be to certain extents. Parents or legal guardians of the children should be in control of how much of the news of these idols is exposed to them according to their ages. But on the contrary, they are bound to find out sooner or later
We always have to remember that regardless if professional players score an insane amount of points or if actors are really great and win awards that they are human. Being human one will make mistakes. I feel that the people that should be looked up to in society should be the fire fighters, police officers, teachers, military, doctors, and anyone who is willing to sacrifice the well being of themselves in order that others may benefit. We must be careful who we idolize because we want to believe what we want to believe and sometimes that leaves the truth out. Also to look up to someone without even knowing who they truly are is dangerous.
We talk about how children look up to celebrities but dont fool yourself adults do too. I work at frys and an insane amount of magazines are sold about these celebrities. In fact adults are sometimes just as much to blame as the celebrities themselves because they let there children be soaked in this money driven society. One must realize no matter how much a child looks up to a celebrity, the parents are their real role model and that is who they imitate. And yet we "normal" people like to point the finger at celebrities. The Briney crisis is a shame. Why? Because we as a whole, entertain ourselves at the expense of others and yet have no remorse nor grief nor compassion. We must realize that all our actions no matter how mundane they may appear, matter. And that we as a whole matter and can change things.
I think celebrities and athletes are held to a higher standard because people want to be them. I don't know if they're looked up to as heroes as much as they're envied. It's sad to me how much people envy them because i think it puts unfair pressure on those people. Yeah I know they make a lot of money, but money doesn't buy happiness. The real people who should be looked up to is our soldiers in Iraq.
I agree with Brett that the parents are to blame for children looking up to celebrities too much. The adults are the ones buying people magazine and watching entertainment tonight. The kids are basically just mimicking the adults.
I also agree with Derek because not all actors and athletes have problems. I think it's very healthy for kids to look up to most athletes because being a professional athlete takes so much self discipline and determination. Those qualities make anyone good at what they do and its a good lesson to teach our kids.
although it seems like some poeple can get a little carried away with all that hollywood stuff,I can understand why alot of poeple look up to actors and sports figures, especially sports figures becuase some of the things they are amazing, for example there was a wrestler named dan gable who won the olympic gold medal, in fact during the olympics none of his opponents even scored a point agianst him (which is amazing). And becuase I'm a wrestler I really look up to him. I could also understand why some poeple look up to actors if the actor does a really good job. but as for the poeple like britney spears and o.j. simpson, i'm not sure why anybody would look up to them
test
Post a Comment