Nab

With all the coverage of the famous (actors, music stars, people who are just rich) that the world has had in the last few years, I just had to ask the question: Are we, as a culture, too interested in the famous among us or do famous people just assume that we care what they're doing with their free time?

I think it depends. Of course, some people want to know what's going on with their favorites. While we also sometimes get wrapped up in what's happening on sets or with couples. 'Course, there are other times when we find ourselves thinking: "Who cares?!"

So, what do you all think?

rose parade

Hmm. I am guilty of this. I've been rapped up in the whole Britney Spears saga for weeks now.

Nab

Oh Britney.

See, that's kind of what I don't understand. She shaved her head. She keeps going to rehab, like she's going to the store for milk. I could care less. And yet, it's a top news story on CNN!

Ruby_Slippers

Yes, we are.

But we are living in depressing times. I think it is a from of distraction.

migamoo

I admit, I love to read the gossip pages/blogs. And I do like to follow some of my favorite stars, but yes, as a whole, I do think people are too interested in celebrities. They are still human beings who have the same rights as everyone else. However, I do think once one obtains celebrity status they give up their complete right to privacy because they are in the limelight so much.

Jacob1983

I think it's a combination of both. We as regular people are fascinated and interested by celebrities because in a strange way we wish we could be like them and have all that fame and success. I also think that some celebs probably believe that a lot people love them when in reality it's the complete opposite.

Nab

Very true. There are some things (Hollywood happenings and the like) that I'm interested in learning more about, but I'm not really interested in the celebs themselves.

I also think there are some celebs that need people to be interested in them and their lives. Look at Paris Hilton. She's famous for nothing, she complains about people putting too much attention on her, and yet she does things to make sure we don't forget her.

migamoo

Oh, please, let's not get me started on Paris Hilton.

Nab

I still don't get why people are so interested in her.

Papri

I think the media makes us become interested in the celebrity-life world. Seriously, if there was no National Enquirer or Heat magazine for example, would we even know about this stuff? Is it aiding my life in any way, shape or form? Not really. Rather than focusing on the real issues, the media enjoys distracting us with superficial celeb stories and we find ourselves being reeled in, however much of a fight we put up.....

cls21c

If that's true then we've been depressed for a long time. Have you seen the pics of the Beatles when they came to the US and girls trying to climb on stage and sneaking into their hotel rooms. There are some celebs that people are just crazy for and will do anything to get close to them and know their personal business.

quaist

Well, every era has got its "IT-Girls" and other celebrities.

It must be something deep inside humanity, because it's such a phenomenon. But it seems just natural to look up to someone because of his skills (f.e. sport celebs) or his body/face/whatever. Some people tend to overdo it though, and paparazzi are just reflecting what many want to see. They want to know everything about celeb's private lives. I mean: Noone cares that much if the guy next door shaves his heas as when Britney does the same thing.

cls21c

So true. In Britney's case it's like watching a train wreck, people are tuning in to see what's going to happen next.

jayne190

Personally I couldn't give a crap about what they do with their lives and just wished that the mainstream media would realize that they don't have a duty to fulfill by reporting what Brittney or Christina or Lindsey or Paris are doing with their lives; the vast majority of North Americans could careless about what's going on in these girls lives. It's unfortunate that the mainstream media feels that they need to use these storylines in their newscasts.

quaist

Well, but they do so for a reason.

People want to read that.