On Tue, 13 Mar 2001 06:10:29 -0800 (PST), Beverly M wrote: > >People like that make me sick. A celebrity should >always have a visible PFD. Some idiot won't wear one >because Chris, his idol, doesn't. The Idiot will drown >and there will be an outcry for more restrictions on >the rest of us. > Hello Beverly, While I would agree with you that it would be nice if "very visible" people would set, what might be in our opinions, a good example, it's your third sentence that is really at the heart of the matter. When you say "Some idiot won't..." or "will" do something because their "idol" does or doesn't - well - there's the real story! Idiots do idiotic things - thereby earning the title of "idiot". When you say "A celebrity should always...", I feel compelled to reply with the following... "Celebrity" is a very overblown and artificial concept - everywhere - but especially here in the USA. I happen to know a number of "celebrities", and I'll tell you a little secret... They're just like any of us (good, bad, genius, idiot, and especially all the grey areas in between - where nearly all of us - and "them" reside). It's only the visibility their particular "industry" gives them, and how so many people try to live vicarious lives through their own projections and fantasies of these people that creates "celebrity" - especially when talking about an "entertainer". It's actually a difficult life - when people, just because they think they can identify with you (or a character you've played), and perhaps buy your product now and then, think also they can hound you when you walk down a street, or tell the world how you "should" act in a given situation. Or expect you to spout peerless wisdom and set a flawless example whenever you're caught in the "public eye". Being a musician myself, and many of my friends being in one or the other of the "arts" and/or "entertainment" fields, I know without a doubt how totally artificial "celebrity worship" is. Doing something *just because* one's "idol" does it is truly the mark of an "idiot" - and the cause at the root of that idiocy is what must be dealt with - not what some "irresponsible celebrity" does or doesn't do. This, of course, can be a lifelong philosophical discussion (and quite off topic for PW), but for now, I guess what I'm trying to get at is that someone being well known for something they might do particularly well (a relative concept), does *not* a role model make. Anyone who doesn't know this might indeed be an "idiot" (or at least ignorant enough to act with idiocy), and would probably eventually be weeded out according to Darwin's principles anyway. Sorry about that - let's get back to paddling! :-) Melissa (who once was caught on a magazine cover in the surf without a helmet - but *was* wearing a PFD!) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Mar 13 2001 - 22:29:24 PST
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