Why do people care...

[Lanshark]

about Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Richie or Anna Nicole Smith?

With all that is going on in this country and in this world I can't figure out why anyone cares what these people do or don't do.

The media focuses on it because evidently that's what people care about. Why?

I don't think they've done anything that merits the type of news coverage they get.

 

[doxdogy]

I honestly don't understand the fascination.

 

[Papa Deuce]

I don't have an answer for you, but then again, I don't undrerstand America's inaftuation with Princess Diana, Prince Charles, or any of the Brit royalty. I also don't understand why people care about Tom Cruise, Celine Dion, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie.... or any celebrity at all, for that matter.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I think part of it is because us "normal", everyday people just don't get them. We don't get why they do what they do. Back in the day hollywood was glamour and beauty and money. I'm sure they had the same self destructive habits but it was hidden and now it's all out in the open and honestly people like to focus on other people's issues instead of their own. It makes other people feel good to see that even the rich and famous can't keep it straight and together.

 

[jimmalru80]

I could care less.

 

[autumnbaby9]

Humans like seeing someone more screwed up then them. The worse off the celebrities are the better they feel about themselves.

I do have to say seeing Britney bald does do something for my funny bone

 

[kennancat]

I think the train wreck thing - how badly can these "poor little rich girls" mess up their lives? I really do wish we could have better role models for young girls - surely there's a cool Westinghouse science fair winner we can make famous!

 

[Lanshark]

When I checked the news groups this morning I see, "Brittany shaves her head."

We're at war for Pete's sake and Brittany Spears grabs media time.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I'm with you-I have no idea why people care so much about actors, musicians and athletes when they aren't working. I love sports, love movies and love music. However, I could care less what the artists I listen to or the actors and athletes I watch do in their free time or what they eat, read, or think about social issues.

 

[kdibattista]

The media focuses on it because evidently that's what people care about. Why?
.

Or... do people care about it because the media focuses on it

 

[blue_eyes5212]

I realize that there are more important issues than the celebrity stuff. However, after a long day of being stressed out at work it is nice to come home and read a gossip mag and unwind.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Or... do people care about it because the media focuses on it

Definately. We are so manupulated by the media. Plus, there is so much more news channels. They need something to fill time, during 24 newscasts.

I think we also watch, for the same reason, traffic slows, to see a car wreck-Just can't look away.

 

[Robinrs]

Why did they care about Lana Turner, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Rudy Valentino, Lucille Ball.... I could go back as far as the 1800s.

They are celebrities and it's this notoriety they make their money off of. People pay millions of dollars for a picture of them, why? Because they make a profit. SOMEONE, maybe not the DISer's, but lots of SOMEONEs, are interested in this stuff...

It will never stop.

 

[Lanshark]

Why did they care about Lana Turner, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Rudy Valentino, Lucille Ball.... I could go back as far as the 1800s.

They are celebrities and it's this notoriety they make their money off of. People pay millions of dollars for a picture of them, why? Because they make a profit. SOMEONE, maybe not the DISer's, but lots of SOMEONEs, are interested in this stuff...

It will never stop.

I understand the tabloid shows or the celebrity rags but I don't understand the mainstream media spending soooo much time on this stuff.

 

[JunieJay]

I'm not the slightest bit interested in any of those you mentioned with the exception of Anna Nicole Smith, and I hate to say it, but I'm a lot more interested in her since she died. It's one of those cases that if it were the plot of a novel, it would be dismissed as unbelievable.

That said, I thought she was a pretty interesting person in life as well. She was one of those impossibly beautiful people - heads and shoulders above your average Hollywood starlet from a looks standpoint - but such a complete mess, always. And everyone wanted a piece of her. Its tragically compelling, I guess, her story. That is why people are interested.

 

[grinningghost]

Their trainwrecked lives are a diversion from all the other crud going on in the world - or at least that's the most "acceptable" reason to give a crap.

I think the real reason is more along the lines of - it's entertaining.

 

[MAKmom]

about Brittany Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Nicole Richie or Anna Nicole Smith?

With all that is going on in this country and in this world I can't figure out why anyone cares what these people do or don't do.

The media focuses on it because evidently that's what people care about. Why?

I don't think they've done anything that merits the type of news coverage they get.

I think we need the diversion because the country is in so much trouble. It keeps us not thinking. During the Depression the big Hollywood production numbers are what the people wanted.

 

[JKanownik]

DH and I were watching the 11:00 news on Friday night and the top story of the evening was "breaking news" that Britney Spears had just been spotted in Sherman Oaks, CA shaving her head and getting a tattoo.

We were so shocked! Not about the fact that Britney Spears is crazy, but because that was the top story. Only in L.A...

 

[poohandwendy]

Humans like seeing someone more screwed up then them. The worse off the celebrities are the better they feel about themselves.

I do have to say seeing Britney bald does do something for my funny bone

I think that is true. I remember reading a long time ago about how, especially during times of struggle like wars/depression, people turn to entertainment to get their minds off of their difficult conditions.

I think the fascination with celebrities definitely has roots in our need to focus on lives that are more interesting, filled with more wealth/glamour and excitement than ours. The sad thing is that now, we hear so much about their personal lives. In the past there was a mystique to them, we heard more about what they were wearing than what they were doing to screw their lives up.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I'm not the slightest bit interested in any of those you mentioned with the exception of Anna Nicole Smith, and I hate to say it, but I'm a lot more interested in her since she died. It's one of those cases that if it were the plot of a novel, it would be dismissed as unbelievable.

That said, I thought she was a pretty interesting person in life as well. She was one of those impossibly beautiful people - heads and shoulders above your average Hollywood starlet from a looks standpoint - but such a complete mess, always. And everyone wanted a piece of her. Its tragically compelling, I guess, her story. That is why people are interested.

That's it in a nutshell...exactly how I feel. The complications of this situation are astounding. Just when it seems it can't get more complicated, it does. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. And with every new development, it also gets sadder.

And despite the state of the world, I refuse to spend every waking minute focusing on it.