Why do we care about celebrities rather than those who sacrifice for others?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

And if that is true, he should be recognized for his ability.

Exactly. I am a FAN of people able to perform spectacularly in area of sports and games. Can't think of any who are HEROES...there is the difference.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

He’s possibly the greatest to ever play the game and it’s not certain he will ever play again.

Which may be a shame, but it's also not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Some kid's parent probably died last night in some senseless way. That's a much bigger deal. There are folks that have died to protect their country or way of life or other people. That's also a much bigger deal. Some kid probably died for some senseless reason, drugs, accidental gunshot, innocent bystander to gang shooting, etc.... That kid may have been a Dr or someone that would have done great things for the world.

I could not be less interested in Kanye and Kim divorcing or TW getting in a car accident.

It's a shame that TW was in an accident and is now injured and will have to go through surgery, PT and may or may not ever be the same. The fact that it was him, is no more tragic than if it happened to anyone else. If anything, at least he's fortunate enough to be able to get the absolute best treatment in the world and therefore the best chance at the best recovery.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Exactly. I am a FAN of people able to perform spectacularly in area of sports and games. Can't think of any who are HEROES...there is the difference.

Maybe a few, but not because of their performance in sport.

https://www.ranker.com/list/athletes-who-are-military-heroes/sportsyeah

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2656316-10-current-athletes-who-are-ridiculously-charitable

https://moneyinc.com/most-charitable-athletes-in-the-world/

https://www.sportscasting.com/the-most-generous-athletes-involved-in-philanthropy/

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

Huh? No hate at all for TW. He is a legend in golf. If you are a golfer I understand admiring his abilities and accomplishments. I am a huge fan of certain athletes for their accomplishments and skills. What I am observing is the MSM is feeding top headline news about a guy who's only a great golfer and a major portion of society is obsessed with his accident for no other reason than he is a celebrity.

The only hating I am seeing is your hating my observation. You made judgements on my post without a shred of indication that there was any hate on my part.

Not trying to single you out, per se, just wondering why another thread was started, knowing that it will end up like the other one. The other one devolved into what it is, this one started out from the premise that we shouldn't care about famous celebrities and sports stars, or whatever.

I think it is simple. People have had an interest is sports stars forever. Baseball, football, basketball, motorsports, whatever. They become fans of what they do. They aren't heroes in the same sense as a military hero (or anyone that does something judged as heroic) but it's a similar thing. So, people are interested in their welfare. Same with music icons, or anyone that has done something noteworthy in any field. It's just human nature to be interested in them. Few people don't have some favorite, in some field of endeavor.

Why do we celebrate people that have done nothing, apart from becoming famous? Paris Hilton, any Kardashian, etc. Now that, I don't get personally but I bet it's something similar with their fan base. I don't get it, in that these are people that mean nothing to me, but to each his own.

[jcommin]

Did any of you comment on the Rush passing post?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by javadog

Not trying to single you out, per se, just wondering why another thread was started, knowing that it will end up like the other one. The other one devolved into what it is, this one started out from the premise that we shouldn't care about famous celebrities and sports stars, or whatever.

I think it is simple. People have had an interest is sports stars forever. Baseball, football, basketball, motorsports, whatever. They become fans of what they do. They aren't heroes in the same sense as a military hero (or anyone that does something judged as heroic) but it's a similar thing. So, people are interested in their welfare. Same with music icons, or anyone that has done something noteworthy in any field. It's just human nature to be interested in them. Few people don't have some favorite, in some field of endeavor.

Why do we celebrate people that have done nothing, apart from becoming famous? Paris Hilton, any Kardashian, etc. Now that, I don't get personally but I bet it's something similar with their fan base. I don't get it, in that these are people that mean nothing to me, but to each his own.

I think people live vicariously through celebrities (whether they are celebs because they are rich, beautiful, adept at a sport, etc...), and use their lives for their own personal fantasy life and/or some may feel better by thinking "they may be _____, but at least I don't have their problems."

[masraum]

Originally Posted by jcommin

Did any of you comment on the Rush passing post?

More lack of interest for me.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by jcommin

Did any of you comment on the Rush passing post?

Initially, I posted a couple tributes that I'd read and that I thought were well written.

Then, after that thread turned to ****, I crossed swords with a few of the usual knuckleheads, until that got to be pointless.

[Tervuren]

News businesses in this country are not honest journalism.
They sell influence and control.
Theaterical businesses in disguise are they.
Peformance is so well executed that few are even perceptive they entered a playhouse.

There is money to be made from the control and influence of celebrities.
Exactly the business our "news" is in.
So yeah, they gonna cover it.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think people live vicariously through celebrities (whether they are celebs because they are rich, beautiful, adept at a sport, etc...), and use their lives for their own personal fantasy life and/or some may feel better by thinking "they may be _____, but at least I don't have their problems."

Maybe that's true for some people.

With me, I just like watching what they can do. I appreciate a good golf shot, whether or not I hit it, or someone I'm competing with, or someone on TV like Tiger.

The last time Tiger played in Tulsa and won the PGA, I took my youngest kid to watch. He'd never seen something like that in person. Good times for all.

[Jrboulder]

Originally Posted by masraum

Which may be a shame, but it's also not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. Some kid's parent probably died last night in some senseless way. That's a much bigger deal. There are folks that have died to protect their country or way of life or other people. That's also a much bigger deal. Some kid probably died for some senseless reason, drugs, accidental gunshot, innocent bystander to gang shooting, etc.... That kid may have been a Dr or someone that would have done great things for the world.

I could not be less interested in Kanye and Kim divorcing or TW getting in a car accident.

It's a shame that TW was in an accident and is now injured and will have to go through surgery, PT and may or may not ever be the same. The fact that it was him, is no more tragic than if it happened to anyone else. If anything, at least he's fortunate enough to be able to get the absolute best treatment in the world and therefore the best chance at the best recovery.

Tiger made an impact on many millions of people, your average sad story person maybe had one-in-a-million Americans who even knew their name.

[cantdrv55]

If the Kardashian’s didn’t come up with their make up and clothing line, there’d be more ugly women around.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by javadog

Maybe that's true for some people.

With me, I just like watching what they can do. I appreciate a good golf shot, whether or not I hit it, or someone I'm competing with, or someone on TV like Tiger.

The last time Tiger played in Tulsa and won the PGA, I took my youngest kid to watch. He'd never seen something like that in person. Good times for all.

Right, I totally get watching someone that's good at something whether it be sports or entertainment or whatever. But do you get invested in TW life. Outside of watching him play, do you follow his personal life? How bummed are you that he got in an accident compared to any other person getting into a similar accident?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

Tiger made an impact on many millions of people, your average sad story person maybe had one-in-a-million Americans who even knew their name.

What was the impact, and why did he impact so many people?

Was it something to do with his personal life?

I guess if you really LOVE golf, I could see that maybe someone might view his playing as truly impressive or beautiful and may be impacted because they'd never see him play a new game, maybe (although that seems like a stretch). I guess it could be similar to a great musician never being able to play their instrument/music again which may really impact folks.

I guess I'm just the subset of folks that don't get that attached to celebrities' personal lives. If I was close personal friends with a celeb, that might be different. I also don't care that Tom Cruise is a nutjob, and can enjoy his movies. I know that there are folks here that won't watch his movies because he's a nut.

[javadog]

Originally Posted by masraum

Right, I totally get watching someone that's good at something whether it be sports or entertainment or whatever. But do you get invested in TW life. Outside of watching him play, do you follow his personal life? How bummed are you that he got in an accident compared to any other person getting into a similar accident?

I don’t follow his personal life, no. The accident bothers me, because I think it will end his career. But, there’s nothing I can do about that, either, so I’m not dwelling on it. I still remember his last major win, that one was incredible and if that’s the last major he wins, so be it. Not a bad way to finish.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Jrboulder

Tiger made an impact on many millions of people, your average sad story person maybe had one-in-a-million Americans who even knew their name.

He provided them with entertainment and was rewarded handsomely for it. He didn’t do anything to help them, he didn’t sacrifice for the good of others, he didn’t do anything that was a risk to his own life and limb, he was not a hero. He is a man who has an amazing God given gift that he worked very hard to hone and became the best ever at, that I cannot deny. Much like many other athletes, actors, celebrities, etc. We as a society need to stop convoluting talent and worth. My friend the firefighter is more of a hero in a year than the entirety of Hollywood will be in their collective lifetimes. But you won’t see his face on the cover of People Magazine celebrating a “heroic battle with addiction” or some other similarly vapid tripe. People need to get back to appreciating those who actually make a difference in our world as opposed to the dancing clowns who will do anything for a buck. Many of which would step on any of us common folk that got in their way, some with glee.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Por_sha911

I just don't see the allure of celebrity status.

[pwd72s]

^^^ Bingo!

[speeder]

It's not a binary thing, FFS. You don't have to choose between having farmers or great golfers in the world. The genius who wrote that meme also never needed great writers or painters or song writers in their miserable life but I sure have.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by jcommin

Did any of you comment on the Rush passing post?

I thought it was just the drummer?