Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

shawmutt · Jan 17, 2008, 07:54 pm

Not really a debate, but a question as I visit my usual forums and they are plastered with Tom Cruise's latest Scientology rant.

Am I the only person who gets physically ill by the fact that the average Jane and Joe spends more time learning about Brittney's breakdowns/breakups, Cruise's latest wacko rant, and other useless issues than actual issues that matter (like our current issue with Iran--hence all my Iran posts)? I see any kind of celebrity "news" and I just get sick to my stomach and have to get away from the garbage as soon as possible.

Why are most folks more interested in celebrities than the rest of the world? Be honest, did you click on this thread hoping for the most recent celeb news?

gela · Jan 18, 2008, 02:59 am

I am disgusted when I read those weekly celeb gossip magazines.
For one; all the articles are so petty.
This shirt makes this celebrity look like she has a bump. OMG! she might be pregnent. That article, paired with a massive close up of a flat stomach, takes up an entire page.
Non only is it petty; but its all completely made up. I can't believe people waste their time and money caring about this crap.

Dunfunkin' · Jan 18, 2008, 03:45 am

Quote:

Quote by: gela

I am disgusted when I read those weekly celeb gossip magazines.
For one; all the articles are so petty.
This shirt makes this celebrity look like she has a bump. OMG! she might be pregnent. That article, paired with a massive close up of a flat stomach, takes up an entire page.
Non only is it petty; but its all completely made up. I can't believe people waste their time and money caring about this crap.

Most annoying of all is the assumption that simply because they are celebrities, ergo they have something to say and that their opinions should be given more credence. Don't you find that the majority of pronouncements made by these people are as banal and dreary as those of the next herbert or sheila?

Unfortunately, there are shedloads of folk out there who are prepared to accept this spurious word as gospel.

Winter wind · Jan 18, 2008, 06:21 am

What I love about this is it proves all polls wrong
most Americans say they are tired of a sex scandal, in the mean time, tabloids publishing such stories see sales go through the roof.

I think there are no people in the world who think Brittney's opinion should mean more then anyone else's. What I think happens is that they get so idolized through tv and music, that people forget that it's all a show. It's a profession, not their way of life.

grandpa · Jan 18, 2008, 09:46 am

Quote:

Quote by: Winter wind

What I love about this is it proves all polls
wrong most Americans say they are tired of a sex
scandal, in the mean time, tabloids publishing such stories see
sales go through the roof.
I think there are no people in the world who
think Brittney's opinion should mean more then anyone else's.

I agree on this. Even sadder is how these scandals don't result simply from egotistical, young teenage
readers and viewers. These are adults doing this.

Lewis Lapham, editor of Harpers explained: "The [Gulf War] begat O.J., and O.J. begat
Monica. These stories create an adrenaline rush that wears off--and
we're all addicted. We need another fix."
(Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, October 21, 1998)

Grandpa h.

Chancellor · Jan 18, 2008, 11:57 am

I think what's really going on is that the media feeds us this crap and tries to tell us that this is what's important, this is what we need to know.

Chaossaber314 · Jan 18, 2008, 12:43 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Chancellor

I think what's really going on is that the media feeds us this crap and tries to tell us that this is what's important, this is what we need to know.

You have it the other way around. The media ultimately airs what people want to see. If people tuned out when a story about Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears came on they wouldn't continue to show them. There's no agenda to be furthered by showing celebrity news.

It's a symptom of apathy. Not the cause.

grandpa · Jan 18, 2008, 01:21 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Chaossaber314

You have it the other way around.
The media ultimately airs what people want to see.

Not really. The media airs primarily what advertisers want to see.

Grandpa h.

Chancellor · Jan 18, 2008, 01:52 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Chaossaber314

You have it the other way around. The media ultimately airs what people want to see. If people tuned out when a story about Lindsay Lohan or Britney Spears came on they wouldn't continue to show them. There's no agenda to be furthered by showing celebrity news.

It's a symptom of apathy. Not the cause.

No, the media decides what is or is not news. Most Americans, being stupid sheeple, chase after what the media feeds them, inciting the media to feed them more of the same.

I think this whole notion of celebrity is pretty ridiculous!

Chaossaber314 · Jan 18, 2008, 02:49 pm

Quote:

Quote by: grandpa

Not really. The media airs primarily what advertisers want to see.

Grandpa h.

And why would the advertisers want to support stories or shows that people aren't watching or don't want to watch?

Chaossaber314 · Jan 18, 2008, 02:57 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Chancellor

No, the media decides what is or is not news. Most Americans, being stupid sheeple, chase after what the media feeds them, inciting the media to feed them more of the same.

Bullocks

More people watch American Idol than the news. The only way to get these viewers is to show what they want to see. It's very simple. If people don't care about something they change the channel or turn the TV off.

grandpa · Jan 18, 2008, 03:46 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Chaossaber314

And why would the advertisers want to support stories or
shows that people aren't watching or don't want to watch?

I didn't say people don't watch, just that the networks are beholden to commercial distributors. By and large, they determine what is one TV.

Grandpa h.

Chaossaber314 · Jan 18, 2008, 05:07 pm

Quote:

Quote by: grandpa

I didn't say people don't watch, just that the networks are beholden to commercial distributors. By and large, they determine what is one TV.

Grandpa h.

Which I don't disagree with... but who or what decides what advertisers want on TV?

I'm arguing that A=C and you're arguing that A=B

Ergo A in actuality also = B.

Milton Bradley · Jan 19, 2008, 12:38 am

It's easy to get angry with all the celebrity crap if you're what they call Right of center in the US.

It always amazes me what passes for news on FOX when they're not covering politics.

It strikes me that they're only interested in royalty, political power, and celebrity power. Well, other that the money, that is.

Winter wind · Jan 19, 2008, 11:42 am

This is why education is the silver bullet.

Yay for better education.

Tycoon · Jan 20, 2008, 12:24 am

I think it's pretty disgusting...

I keep seeing these adds for the "Screen Actors Guild Awards", where "actors vote for each other!"

Just what we needed. I can picture most of them voting for themselves.

another day · Jan 20, 2008, 11:38 pm

It's sad isn't it? I don't quite remember, but didn't it use to be only those specific celeb tabloids that had these stories? Now every regular paper has the same section with papparizi pics and stupid stories about what celeb dated who and what celeb dropped their baby on his head. The four daily papers in my area all have these sections... This is fairly new no, like in the last few years? Did it not used to be confined to the special tabloids and magazines?

shawmutt · Jan 21, 2008, 02:50 am

That and every major news website having an "entertainment" section.

Chancellor · Jan 22, 2008, 01:23 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Chaossaber314

Bullocks

More people watch American Idol than the news. The only way to get these viewers is to show what they want to see. It's very simple. If people don't care about something they change the channel or turn the TV off.

And how much does the media keep on promoting American Idol through not only commercial announcements but on news programs as well?

Jan 17, 2008, 07:54 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
shawmutt Slightly Dangerous Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,093	Celebrity gossip and drool Not really a debate, but a question as I visit my usual forums and they are plastered with Tom Cruise's latest Scientology rant. Am I the only person who gets physically ill by the fact that the average Jane and Joe spends more time learning about Brittney's breakdowns/breakups, Cruise's latest wacko rant, and other useless issues than actual issues that matter (like our current issue with Iran--hence all my Iran posts)? I see any kind of celebrity "news" and I just get sick to my stomach and have to get away from the garbage as soon as possible. Why are most folks more interested in celebrities than the rest of the world? Be honest, did you click on this thread hoping for the most recent celeb news? 78% of statistics are made up on the spot. Shawmutt.com. My Blog and Pictures of the Massively Multiplayer Offline game, Real Life.

Jan 18, 2008, 06:21 am	#4 (permalink) (top)
Winter wind Never mad Location: Hong Kong, China Posts: 1,877	What I love about this is it proves all polls wrong most Americans say they are tired of a sex scandal, in the mean time, tabloids publishing such stories see sales go through the roof. I think there are no people in the world who think Brittney's opinion should mean more then anyone else's. What I think happens is that they get so idolized through tv and music, that people forget that it's all a show. It's a profession, not their way of life. Don't forget this is all in good fun! "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details." Albert Einstein "The devil is in the details" -?

Jan 18, 2008, 11:57 am	#6 (permalink) (top)
Chancellor It's my first name! Location: Buffalo, New York, USA Posts: 3,523	I think what's really going on is that the media feeds us this crap and tries to tell us that this is what's important, this is what we need to know. "America does not go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own." -John Quincy Adams -

Jan 19, 2008, 11:42 am	#15 (permalink) (top)
Winter wind Never mad Location: Hong Kong, China Posts: 1,877	This is why education is the silver bullet. Yay for better education. Don't forget this is all in good fun! "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details." Albert Einstein "The devil is in the details" -?

Jan 20, 2008, 11:38 pm	#17 (permalink) (top)
another day slipping sand Posts: 1,915	It's sad isn't it? I don't quite remember, but didn't it use to be only those specific celeb tabloids that had these stories? Now every regular paper has the same section with papparizi pics and stupid stories about what celeb dated who and what celeb dropped their baby on his head. The four daily papers in my area all have these sections... This is fairly new no, like in the last few years? Did it not used to be confined to the special tabloids and magazines? Look out kid, they keep it all hid.

Jan 18, 2008, 02:59 am	#2 (permalink) (top)
gela Vampire Location: Newcastle, Australia Posts: 894	I am disgusted when I read those weekly celeb gossip magazines. For one; all the articles are so petty. This shirt makes this celebrity look like she has a bump. OMG! she might be pregnent. That article, paired with a massive close up of a flat stomach, takes up an entire page. Non only is it petty; but its all completely made up. I can't believe people waste their time and money caring about this crap.

Jan 19, 2008, 12:38 am	#14 (permalink) (top)
Milton Bradley BANNED Location: Ohio Province, Rep. of Comerica Posts: 7,320	It's easy to get angry with all the celebrity crap if you're what they call Right of center in the US. It always amazes me what passes for news on FOX when they're not covering politics. It strikes me that they're only interested in royalty, political power, and celebrity power. Well, other that the money, that is.

Jan 20, 2008, 12:24 am	#16 (permalink) (top)
Tycoon Queer Location: California Posts: 1,999	I think it's pretty disgusting... I keep seeing these adds for the "Screen Actors Guild Awards", where "actors vote for each other!" Just what we needed. I can picture most of them voting for themselves.

Jan 21, 2008, 02:50 am	#18 (permalink) (top)
shawmutt Slightly Dangerous Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 1,093	That and every major news website having an "entertainment" section. 78% of statistics are made up on the spot. Shawmutt.com. My Blog and Pictures of the Massively Multiplayer Offline game, Real Life.