Stop Worshipping Celebrities

[3nigma]

In our sick society today, I come across countless people... in my own life, and even me at times... worshiping celebrities and people of high status such as rock stars like they are literally Gods. I usually snap out of it once I find something wrong about person, as no one is a saint. Something always comes up that makes you go "Aww... I knew you weren't perfect. BOOOO!" Then I catch myself, and I realize that these people are just like me. "What am I doing?" I ask myself. Then I realize another thing, how much of an item you label celebrities and people in the spotlight of our culture. If they perform at your standards, you love them. If they do something crazy, everyone immediately laughs at them, ridicules them, harasses them, pry through their personal life, when in fact they're really just an equal like you.

They all take a morning ****, they all have to eat, breathe, and sleep. They're just normal people. Once I realize that I can reach their level, or even go beyond it, I stop seeing them as these sort of "figures that humans can't touch." But what's really going on is... you're just giving up your unique potential and surrendering it to these people, like you can never reach their plateau. "Ohh... This star is at a signing... I dare not approach them for fear of passing out!" Ridiculous.

You think these people care about you at all? They don't even know you exist, let alone your name. You think they sit around their mansions and go "Oh man, that Susan is the BEST fan I could ever have! She's so wonderful! I can't believe it! And oh, that Brian is amazing at throwing money at me!"

Stop worshiping Actors, Musicians, Millionaires, Self Help authors, etc etc etc. Whenever you're signed up to a fan site... there's something wrong. Anyone that has a fan site, or a cult following... Do not subscribe. You can do anything someone else has done on this planet. Potentially, we are all able to be Leonardo Da Vinci, or Bill Gates, or a homeless person, or a murderer. It's not that important, find something else to do with your time.

[Jamie]

Can I worship you instead, 3nigma?

[jonarmis]

Stop worshiping Actors, Musicians, Millionaires, Self Help authors, etc etc etc. Whenever you're signed up to a fan site... there's something wrong. Anyone that has a fan site, or a cult following... Do not subscribe. You can do anything someone else has done on this planet. Potentially, we are all able to be Leonardo Da Vinci, or Bill Gates, or a homeless person, or a murderer. It's not that important, find something else to do with your time.

I agree with you 3nigma. This is plain fanaticism. You don't need role models to lead a good life. You just need to start from within. Others will emulate you even if your not a celeb if you give a good example. It's ok to like them but not to the point of idol worship. This can be very dangerous. Don't get lost with all the hype!

[3nigma]

Originally Posted by Jamie

Can I worship you instead, 3nigma?

NO! But you can send me money, I'd like that.

[Jennihul]

I think there is a difference between worship and fascination.

I deny that they are worshipped because when they fade from the spotlight, they are cast aside like trash by society who then moves on to the next source of fascination.

Jennifer

[evrgrn3]

I am a believer that we choose our destiny, likewise, we choose our obsessions and celebrities are a great example of where choice can have multiple effects!

I would challenge that for some people, it is in their very nature to idolize and even worship those that they are not able to connect with...it is a safe obsession, isn't it -- to be able to obsess from afar?

The question really comes down to: what is really underneath that desire to follow the habits, lifestyles, clothing etc of the rich and famous.

[Herbalist]

I consider myself a big fan of Steve and Erin. But I don't worship them. I respect them very much, I listen to their opinions carefully, I like very much both them personally and their actions/achievements. But I know they're not perfect. And sometimes I disagree with their words. (Nevertheless, I'd be very happy just to talk to them someday, even without any particular point).

The same applies to Bill Gates. And to Leonardo Da Vinci

So, in my opinion, the blind worshipping is the attribute of immaturity. So, stop worshipping "high-level" people and try to reach their level (in your own way, of course)!

[makessense]

People that do worship are easily influenced and don't believe in themselves to do what it is they want to do. Everything that can be attainable through hard-work, persistence, and dedication seems like a dream. Their reality is skewed to a point where they don't even know who they are anymore. They just seem lost. Sometimes we need to ask ourselves if we seem lost in something and recognize it before it's too late. Ironically, It doesn't have to be about worshipping people, it can even be about personal development. Do you find yourself coming to these forums every minute, every hour, every day? Do you find yourself being critical of people or of yourself too often? Too much of anything is unhealthy. Sometimes we just don't realize we're living in our own world until somebody puts us in check. For the people who don't want to recogize it and get offended, it would be very difficult to "stop worshipping". Then again, getting offended, angry, getting any type of emotion is one of the first steps to recognizing a problem -- it's apathy that's difficult to change.

[Rockchick26]

I was actually just thinking about this the other day. I was flipping through tv to kill a few minutes and this show came on about celebrity gossip. Who wore what to what event,how much they spent,how they did their hair...i wanted to puke! Don't people realize that it doesnt matter!? Most celebrities make AWFUL role models. No wonder society is the way it is. And then i flipped to a music video station and there you got rappers singing about how much money he spent on his "grill" (braces for rappers)...i just wish we didnt have that kind of stuff to influence us. Well it doesnt influence you if you can think for yourself,but not everyone can. Like kids who are watching that. So you really cant blame them,its just how it is. I love when you find out how down to earth and normal these rock stars and actors/actresses are,unfortunately most of them dont want you to see that side of them.

[SonoranBob]

I think it's a mistake to assume that celebreties aren't ... different. Yes, they s__t, shower and shave, and they are (I think) human. But, by nature, they are extroverts ... to the point of being exhibitionists. They tend to have extraordinary genes in the departments of sheer endurance, persuasiveness and beauty. I don't see a problem in realizing that they are different in that sense, and that their extraordinary (apparent) confidence and competence is what we tend to admire because it reflects, superficially, success in the areas we feel less than successful in.

It's kind of funny to realize that what sustains the entire Hollywood / celebrity juggernaut is a perceived need for an apparent competence at something that doesn't even matter. So don't be mad / disgusted at celebreties -- they exist because enough of society wants a receptacle for its immature hopes and dreams -- a fake target to shoot for. Ultimately they're a symptom of societal ills, not a cause.

--Bob

[Jamie]

Originally Posted by 3nigma

NO! But you can send me money, I'd like that.

Yeah, but isn't that the reason why celebs court public attention? Because the end result, is more dolla in their pocket?

In some ways, they use the media on their way up, but then they don't like the media using them, on their way down ...

[3nigma]

Originally Posted by SonoranBob

It's kind of funny to realize that what sustains the entire Hollywood / celebrity juggernaut is a perceived need for an apparent competence at something that doesn't even matter. So don't be mad / disgusted at celebreties -- they exist because enough of society wants a receptacle for its immature hopes and dreams -- a fake target to shoot for. Ultimately they're a symptom of societal ills, not a cause.

--Bob

Celebrities, and all forms of media entertainment, are there to blind the American public and to keep them in a self sustained slavery just long enough for the government to constantly tax us more and more, to take away our freedoms, and to carry out their own agenda without our approval, or even knowledge. Ever notice how during the Iraq war, the spotlight has been more on celebrity's than at any other time? The Brittany Spears thing, The Heath Ledger death, The Anna Nicole Smith death. Meanwhile, we're spending billions of dollars on the war, our soldiers are dying everyday over there for a meaningless war for oil.

"OMG, BRITTANY SPEARS SHAVED HER HEAD? ISN'T THAT CRAZY? I'M GOING TO CALL UP ALL MY FRIENDS AND HAVE A LONG GOSSIPY CONVERSATION ABOUT IT FOR HOURS!" Meanwhile... 25 soldiers died in Iraq the same day. No one even knows their names. You won't see it covered on any news channel, or celebrity gossip channel.

Originally Posted by Jamie

Yeah, but isn't that the reason why celebs court public attention? Because the end result, is more dolla in their pocket?

In some ways, they use the media on their way up, but then they don't like the media using them, on their way down ...

This was another point I forgot to make. That is just their job. Why do you go to work? You can't possibly love working at McDonalds or wherever it is you work. You go there for the money only. That is just their jobs, and people don't realize it. It's to entertain people, and their money is a result of it. So, some people get envious and jealous, but really... It's exactly like your job, they're just more valuable than whatever it is you do.

[saaretjie]

Originally Posted by SonoranBob

I think it's a mistake to assume that celebreties aren't ... different. Yes, they s__t, shower and shave, and they are (I think) human. But, by nature, they are extroverts ... to the point of being exhibitionists. They tend to have extraordinary genes in the departments of sheer endurance, persuasiveness and beauty. I don't see a problem in realizing that they are different in that sense, and that their extraordinary (apparent) confidence and competence is what we tend to admire because it reflects, superficially, success in the areas we feel less than successful in.

It's kind of funny to realize that what sustains the entire Hollywood / celebrity juggernaut is a perceived need for an apparent competence at something that doesn't even matter. So don't be mad / disgusted at celebreties -- they exist because enough of society wants a receptacle for its immature hopes and dreams -- a fake target to shoot for. Ultimately they're a symptom of societal ills, not a cause.

--Bob

I have to respectfully disagree with you there...

I think there have been loads of actors and actresses that have been documented as being painfully shy. Also I disagree with you on the thing that celebrities are better looking than normal people. Maybe the supermodels of yesteryear were, but amongst actresses/actors and current supermodels I'm sure you could find a more beautiful woman/man if you took the time to look.

Than again... Maybe I disagree with you because we think of celebrity in different ways. Is Tom Hanks a celebrity? Or are celebrities the air headed socialites that seem to make it their life ambition to get on as many covers of Us Weekly as possible.

(I'm not one to talk though... I run a celeb blog )

[SonoranBob]

Originally Posted by 3nigma

Celebrities, and all forms of media entertainment, are there to blind the American public and to keep them in a self sustained slavery ...

Are they tasked to distract us as part of some kind of huge conspiracy? Or are they there to distract us because we demand it and reward them well for it?

Steve Jobs famously said words the the effect in a speech once that it'd be great if we could blame the media on "them". We could start a revolution. Kill the bastards. But the truth is, media gives us what the public demands ... we like to flatter ourselves that we want "quality" entertainment, but apart from the small minority like many on this forum who haven't watched television in years, everyone veges out in front of the TV for one, two, three or more hours a night, watching the same old swill, night after night. No one makes them do it. They do it willingly. I'm afraid I don't feel like dignifying that kind of laziness with victimhood. They got it because they want it.

--Bob

[3nigma]

Originally Posted by SonoranBob

Are they tasked to distract us as part of some kind of huge conspiracy? Or are they there to distract us because we demand it and reward them well for it?

Steve Jobs famously said words the the effect in a speech once that it'd be great if we could blame the media on "them". We could start a revolution. Kill the bastards. But the truth is, media gives us what the public demands ... we like to flatter ourselves that we want "quality" entertainment, but apart from the small minority like many on this forum who haven't watched television in years, everyone veges out in front of the TV for one, two, three or more hours a night, watching the same old swill, night after night. No one makes them do it. They do it willingly. I'm afraid I don't feel like dignifying that kind of laziness with victimhood. They got it because they want it.

--Bob

Yes, I think it's self sustained really. Our society, more than any other society that has ever existed, puts the highest priority on entertainment. Before, in other societies it has always been hard work, intelligence, or some other virtuous values. I turn the TV on these days... it makes me SICK.

Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer type shows, That new Steve show, Maury, Tons of judge shows, self deprecating humor, drama, etc. Shows where our minds are these days doesn't it. It's funny because I haven't really watched TV in years. I turn it on every now and then to catch an episode of House or something.

YouTube - Network This clip shows exactly what I want to say.

[SonoranBob]

Originally Posted by 3nigma

YouTube - Network This clip shows exactly what I want to say.

You know, somehow, don't ask me how, I've never actually seen Network. That is KICK-ASS. It's going to be added to my permanent library. Thanks for sharing that.

--Bob

[JoeGoldfarb]

this is nothing new. throughout human history people of lower social status envied those living high status.

I have met several people who used this envy as a form of empowerment and modivation. they attempt to improve their lives by aspiring to the percieved level of those they envy.

how many people on this board "worship" steve pavlina?

[makessense]

What definition of worship are we working with here?

[3nigma]

Originally Posted by makessense

What definition of worship are we working with here?

Not like the guru worship, which is also bad. I mean simply being involved in celebrity gossip.

[verbors]

I never worshipped those people anyway.

I feel it's pointless to waste money and time knowling about someone's life when it's not going to help you.

Another reason for not wasting time on them is the way the media is portraying them. One minute they are gods, another they are worse then rapists. It's sick the way people flow with the media.

Love their work, not themselves.