[Marcarc]

Stop believing what the media are telling you, the vast majority of the population are not watching television or movies-as for youth they are 'creating' their reality, in other words playing video games (which isn't always good).<br /> <br /> Schools still put on plays and have events, if your kids aren't there you just aren't hearing about it. Community art and venues far surpass what they used to be, mainly because communities are bigger. Take a look at some web sites for indy films, they are growing at an exponential rate, even hollywood has acknowledged this, take a look at the number of studio films that feature nobodies. <br /> <br /> There always has been celebrities of some sort, they used to be politicians, intellectuals, and those of more prominent positions. Read, for example, Anne of Green Gables, the local 'celebrity' was the schoolteacher and kids spent all their time gossiping about them. For adults whenever a leading politician came through it was cause for starry eyed adults to go and see them. Obviously technological changes have changed that, but the effect is still similar, and the vast majority of the population cares no more for celebrities than for their local politicians. Of course marketers WANT you to think that's not true, but regardless...

[oh canada]

I have a little rant about celebrities as well, but with a different spin.<br /> <br /> Last month I heard on news that Ellen Degeneres and girlfriend Portia De Rossa (sp?) bought Brad Pitt’s and Jennifer’s home for $20 million…Pitt & Anniston paid $12 million for it. First, I don’t understand why this is newsworthy and why anyone would give a shit. Then I thought, why don’t people actually think about this for a minute. These so called stars and celebrities really do shit, they tape a 1 hour show or come out with a movie that provides 2 hours of entertainment (if the movie didn’t suck ass) but get paid in the millions. If they didn’t make the movie or tape that show, would the world not exist? Would there be total chaos? No. So why pay them like that? The same can be said for money professions such as “professional” athletes.<br /> <br /> However, people who directly impact communities and essentially the world in a positive way don’t get the appropriate recognition, be it through a pay cheque or public image.<br /> <br /> I just don’t understand how we as a society let this happen. I really cannot understand why people who get star-crazed and feel the need to idolize and worship these people, who really have done nothing for them, deserve so much more respect and attention.<br /> <br /> Big deal someone acted in a movie or sang a song…they didn’t write the screenplay, the lyrics or even the music, didn’t play any instruments…heck they don’t even do their own hair!<br /> <br /> What ticks me off is those stupid commercials and the beginning of a movie at the theatres where the cast and crew talk about who gets hurt from pirated movies. Well, why don’t you tell the big paid stars to make $15 million instead of $20 so you don’t have to charge the average joe 15 dollars for a movie ticket. What’s worse is when these big stars whine like idiots about getting jipped…what about the public who gets ripped left, right and centre?<br /> <br /> We’re supposed to dish out our hard earned money for over inflated prices so these big “stars” can frivolously spend their money on “lavish” items such as a 6th home with 20 bedrooms with only 5 people staying there 1 month out of year <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/evil.gif' alt='Evil'>

[Marcarc]

That's very true, but of course many people are far too tired to deal with looking at other people in a critical way. The thing about celebrities is that there's really no way of emulating them, that's why so much energy is put into making them look a certain way and why so few are political.<br /> <br /> For me I am not going to move to Hollywood to try and be Brad Pitt, I'm far too ugly. But if there were similar energy put into, say, a volunteer at a local meals on wheels then firstly, it would make me feel guilty I'm not doing more, or worse, it will make me get more involved. Both of those don't sell product.<br /> <br /> So it's not surprising that they act this way, but like I said, there's only a minority who really care about such things. I never even heard of the above, and like I said, couldn't care less. No doubt somebody could build a village out of lego's and give all the characters a personality, etc., and there'd be tons of people who would dwell over every incident-that's essentially what television is. That's radically changing, even just look at how few new comedies or dramas there are. They're all reality shows, and soon there won't even be that. Somebody will rig up the security cameras of some downtown city and make a show and people will be enthralled (patent pending).<br /> <br /> It is partly our fault though, it takes no time at all to write letters to the editor, etc. Virtually every organization that does charitable work has some kind of awards show, get advertising them and talking about them, nobody else will. Yes, part of that is self directed, because I don't do such things either, but maybe I should...

[Dr Caleb]

No. Two points: <br /> <br /> Firstly; Celebrities are entertainers to me, nothing more. They entertain me, and if they are good at it, I applaud them. I see no need to give them any more respect than that. <br /> <br /> Second; When some rich two-bit-brainless floosie (I want to use a harsher word, but will refrain) gets recorded doing the nasty by her 'boyfriend' on a poor grainy night vision camera, and then this person is suddenly a star with a 'reality' show called "I want to be a {insert family name here}" where the winner gets to marry her sister - well, then there is something seriously wrong with society.<br /> <br /> I could give other examples, but won't. Let's just say that people like Dean Kamen, Mark Tilden, James Watson, Francis Crick and Allen K. Breed should be household names, but aren't. Many know the name Stephen Hawking, but how many know why? How about Edward Witten or Stephen Wolfram? People know the name 'Albert Einstein', but why not the names of the three smartest people alive now?<br /> <br /> Basketball stars are lauded as 'celebrities', but who invented their shoes that help them win? Society focuses on too many 'shiny things', instead of who affects them directly.<br />

[FootPrints]

I agree with Dr. Caleb. These people are merely entertainment, there's nothing wrong with that. You can choose to put them on a pedestle or not. I am certainly not against watching a great movie, comedy show, and I never miss a Leaf game, after leaving this site sometimes my brain needs a hiatus! I absolutely adore George Carlin, but do I "idolize" him...no. <br /> <br />

[Spud]

Total flakes.Get a life.Read the Vive!Read a book.Ride a bike,go for a walk,cook a meal,exercise,buy bikes at the police auction and rebuild them,feed the birds,smack yourself in the head <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/mrgreen.gif' alt='Mr. Green'> <br /> But forget the damn celebrities. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/wink.gif' alt='Wink'>

[AntiFate]

NO we dont, they are over paid and too full of themselves. <br /> very soon computer animated characters will replace them.