Are you pleased you're not famous?

[Paulclem]

Although the money would be good, is it really worth it?

Pros -

money
recognition
travel
a name in history
financial security for the family
a tangible contribution

cons -

recognition - can you go out?
the limited nature of your travel (depending upon how famous you are)
your contribution critically questioned and perhaps even rubbished
potentially harmful effects of your children/ family having too much money

and the manipulation of your image. This last one I was considering after noticing the Galaxy ad that was playing on the forum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx9eDoS76LM

Your face could endorse anything in the future - perhaps sold by the holders of your estate. Perhaps further into the future, your image could become a celebrity avatar in some porn production, or promote a political ideology you would not support. It may depend upon how unscrupulous the holders of your estate are, not to mention what an underground or criminal element might do with it.

On the other hand I might not be bothered by what I'm not alive to see.

Anyway - I can see the advantages of not being famous.

[MANICHAEAN]

The short answer is "no."
I think that I would hate the pressure of constantly having to attain what others expect as a certain style of writing, a constant standard, and then of course there are the deadlines to produce to.
Take away the reduced ability to mingle in the market place and be the unobtrusive watcher of the material that is the very fabric of your writing and the answer is even more emphatic.
As for the travel and the money, I am as you might say, lucky in being able to indulge in both due to the work that I do.

[loe]

I think it could be interesting to be famous under a pseudonym without people knowing your real name or your face.
So you have the money but aren't limited by recognition...

[JuniperWoolf]

Hell no, I'd love to be famous.

[mal4mac]

Although the money would be good, is it really worth it?

Pros -

money
recognition
travel
a name in history
financial security for the family
a tangible contribution


It's insulting to non-famous nurses and street cleaners to suggest they don't make a tangible contribution. Apart from feeding and housing the kids, when they're kids, let the family create their own financial security! Make the bleeders do a honest day's work.

Is money really a pro? You need enough to buy food, shelter & security. But that amount of money is easily achieved by the non-famous. Ask a Buddhist monk if money is a pro.

Is travel a pro? It can be a lot of hassle.

I've been listening to the highly amusing Reith lectures by the famous Grayson Perry, and he ended his last one by saying (paraphrasing), "I don't care what happens to my work after I die, chuck it in a skip if you like, I won't be here to give a damn either way." Cue (more) laughter, and (another) pause to recognise true wisdom. That said, Grayson seems to enjoy his fame, maybe it helps to have an exhibitionist streak and good reasons for that fame. He said he never cared about trying to achieve fame, you suspect that if he lost his fame he'd just carry on wearing dresses, creating pots & producing tapestries in relative obscurity, and be just as happy.

[Lokasenna]

It would be nice to be reconized for something meaningful - I suppose for a lot of people on here that means becoming a successful author. Doing book-signings, being interviewed on broadcast media, helping out at charity events - yep, I could get behind that. But being famous for eating kangaroo testicles in the outback, or dancing with Anne Widdecombe? Not for all the money in the Mint.

[AuntShecky]

Society today has inflated the concept of celebrity to a point at which it gives folks unrealistic expectations. When it gets to the point at which only the "Famous" are considered worthy, then ordinary people --"civilians" -- will go to extraordinary lengths to achieve fame. For a dangerous few, even notoriety is better than obscurity.


I think it could be interesting to be famous under a pseudonym without people knowing your real name or your face.
So you have the money but aren't limited by recognition...

Banksy has that market cornered.

[Ecurb]

I wish I wasn't famous. The adulation, the groupies, the constant hassle with photographers is getting to me. One reason I like posting here is nobody knows who I really am.

[Delta40]

I wish I wasn't famous. The adulation, the groupies, the constant hassle with photographers is getting to me. One reason I like posting here is nobody knows who I really am.

That's why I like it too!

[Paulclem]

It's insulting to non-famous nurses and street cleaners to suggest they don't make a tangible contribution. Apart from feeding and housing the kids, when they're kids, let the family create their own financial security! Make the bleeders do a honest day's work.

Is money really a pro? You need enough to buy food, shelter & security. But that amount of money is easily achieved by the non-famous. Ask a Buddhist monk if money is a pro.

Is travel a pro? It can be a lot of hassle.

I've been listening to the highly amusing Reith lectures by the famous Grayson Perry, and he ended his last one by saying (paraphrasing), "I don't care what happens to my work after I die, chuck it in a skip if you like, I won't be here to give a damn either way." Cue (more) laughter, and (another) pause to recognise true wisdom. That said, Grayson seems to enjoy his fame, maybe it helps to have an exhibitionist streak and good reasons for that fame. He said he never cared about trying to achieve fame, you suspect that if he lost his fame he'd just carry on wearing dresses, creating pots & producing tapestries in relative obscurity, and be just as happy.

It's insulting to non-famous nurses and street cleaners

I make a habit of insulting non-famous professionals and public sector workers like myself. I did it today at the hospital... and yesterday

perhaps recognised tangible contribution is an acceptable phrase - though the other posters didn't seem to need this spelling out.

Is money really a pro? You need enough to buy food, shelter & security. But that amount of money is easily achieved by the non-famous. Ask a Buddhist monk if money is a pro.

Money can be a pro - and that is from Buddhism. It's all about attitude towards it. There have been plenty of rich people who have used their money well - Carnegie, Gates, Newman - Of course there are plenty of celebrities for whom it causes their death. I did also put money in the cons section.

For every Grayson Perry - I don't know who he is by the way - there are famous people for whom it is a curse.

From my own point of view, it is nice to be invisible in a city. I can go anywhere and no-one knows or cares who I am. I see that very positively. Preconceptions about you don't follow you. You can talk to people normally - or not as the will takes you. Fame and celebrity is overrated in my view.

[Delta40]

From my own point of view, it is nice to be invisible in a city. I can go anywhere and no-one knows or cares who I am. I see that very positively

Until you get mugged and people walk past you, thinking you're just another passed out druggie or drunk....

[Paulclem]

From my own point of view, it is nice to be invisible in a city. I can go anywhere and no-one knows or cares who I am. I see that very positively

Until you get mugged and people walk past you, thinking you're just another passed out druggie or drunk....

Haha. Always a possibility, but unlikely with my face.

[Delta40]

Haha. Always a possibility, but unlikely with my face.

Lol. How could you ever be invisible with that face????

[qimissung]

I don't need to be famous. I used to think it would be fun, and I would like to do something that merits appreciation, but I for sure don't have that aforementioned exhibitionist streak.

Having said that, of COURSE there is a small part of me that would enjoy a brief moment of shining adulation. Who knows? It could happen.

[Paulclem]

Lol. How could you ever be invisible with that face????

My own face is probably as unlike Boris' face as you can get. Pale, freckly, ginger-gone-grey... with a chin beard as my wife says I have no chin without it...

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Been there, done that. (i.e. been famous)
Believe me it doesn't stack up to the hype you've been led to believe.
It was around 1980/81 I was senior in high school and a member of the high school juggling club.
We hit the big time when Mr. Peppermint invited us to perform on his show.

A sampling of Mr. Peppermint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thpTyN7IlPs

Since then my eyesight has prematurely deteriorated significantly from the camera flashes.

To answer the question; I suppose a little extra money wouldn't hurt for travel, but the rest of the "pros" I could do without.

[Paulclem]

:lol:

Well he made me go cross-eyed. Where's your juggling vid Gil?

[Darcy88]

I'm kind of famous. I would do anything to become anonymous again. I am even going to move to a small northern community, perhaps rural Saskatchewan, perhaps overseas in the Australian outback, perhaps in a small castle in the Black Forest of Germany. It is ridiculous. One's entire personal life becomes known. One's family members are talked about. It is sick, disgusting. I am coping well. But at first it was very difficult.

[faithosaurus]

I am very pleased with not being famous.

I would hate all of the cameras and everyone knowing my life story, or all of the fabrications they'd come up with.

I also don't wear makeup out a lot - pretty much due to laziness - and I'm sure the photographers would have a field day with that.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I'd take the money and run and try and hideaway in some small Spanish/Italian village. I would not like being bothered in the streets. It is bad enough that I live too close to school and you get spotted out and about - in fact nearly everywhere. I've 'irate parent dodged' in Tesco and Asda several times and it's not fun! So I can see that x1000 not being fun at all. However, I would be hidden away so I don't mind.

In terms of being used after death, it would bother me a little but I'd take the bribe of rich seclusion now thanks.

[Delta40]

I hate being accosted at my local shopping centre by the oldies. They ask me to get involved in Neighbourhood Watch or run for Council. I want to go through menopause first before I consider these things...

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

:lol:

Well he made me go cross-eyed. Where's your juggling vid Gil?

At one time the club CEO had a video tape of the performance, but that was many years ago. I'm sure it's still stuck inside a video player buried under twenty feet of City refuse.
btw - our performance was choreographed to this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRtAO-nffz0

[Volya]

I imagine a bit of fame would be nice, like being famous but only really within certain circles. Not so much that their are paparazzi following you everywhere though.

[Varenne Rodin]

I would love to be famous. Whether for positive or negative reasons, fame is compelling. Celebrities have the world's ear. They're able to do a lot of good globally, if they choose to.

Oh, and I don't care how I'm thought of after I'm dead. I'll be dead. I'll have zero connection to what's happening with humanity. I'll be the void. It's neither here nor there to me.

[Paulclem]

I'm not sure they do have the world's ear - often it's the world's scorn - but they do have a bigger voice and good can be done - Paul Newman and others.

Still not sure about the use of an image.

[Scheherazade]

A sampling of Mr. Peppermint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thpTyN7IlPs



... our performance was choreographed to this... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRtAO-nffz0Gilliat, you tease!

Stop posting "false links" and show us the recording of your performance, please!

As for being a celebrity... I kind of am... There are darker corners of the net where the name of Scheherazade is uttered in whispers and dread.

:p

[Delta40]

Celebrities have the world's ear. They're able to do a lot of good globally, if they choose to.

Yeah but who ever does? (Princess Di excepted :-)

[Scheherazade]

Just been RTed by @MargaretAtwood on Twitter so that is my new claim to fame now!

"Remember the time Atwood RTed me???"

[*Classic*Charm*]

Just been RTed by @MargaretAtwood on Twitter so that is my new claim to fame now!

"Remember the time Atwood RTed me???"


*Classic*Charm* likes this :wink5:

[*Classic*Charm*]

Absolutely pleased I'm not famous. Fame would lead to severe anxiety and suspicion.

[Varenne Rodin]

Yeah but who ever does? (Princess Di excepted :-)

Good point, Miss. I was just talking about me. I would try to do a lot of good, if I had that much attention.

[hannah_arendt]

I have never wanted to be famous. However, as a result of working as a teacher and in a health center , people recognize me in my city.

[Paulclem]

It's the little things like just being able to go out to the shop, or get on a bus. A famous person would ride in a car of curse, but that's the point. Anyone can ride in a car.

[Delta40]

Oooh a car of curse. Sounds exciting!

[PeterL]

I would rather be wealthy than famous, but if the fame came with enough compensation, then I could find a way to tolerate it. As far as the strangers wanting to shake my hand, and so on, I already have that problem, and it isn't bad, especially when lovely young women smile warmly at me.

[brianadam186]

I don't like much popularity because it may affect my private life. :)

[Satan]

My profile requires me to sacrifice fame and I'm quite content with it. Perhaps in later years, or in case I die in unexpected situations.