The "Freeola Customer Forum" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
Celebrities have never had so much influence as they have presently. They're idolised, and many are more respected than the government or the monarchy, although that's not saying much. As the name would suggest, they're 'celebrated people'. It's very strange how people can become famous now, with the likes of Britain's Got Talent and viral videos making people famous for very wrong reasons. You only have to look at the likes of the Numa Numa Guy (many YouTube views, appeared on South Park, cult reference) or Chico (one cheesy music video and he's living quite comfortably off it) to see this.
So, what is it that makes us inspired by a particular person or makes us hate them? What is it that even defines a celebrity? Personally, I don't consider a celebrity to just be someone that is celebrated by others. I think it's a question of scale, or of how well known you are, whether it be for good or bad reasons.
Some celebrities that annoy me are some of the obvious ones, like Justin Beiber (I bet you knew he was going to show up) or Cristiano Ronaldo. Justin Beiber spawns from humble beginnings, playing guitar on the street and uploading YouTube videos, to now releasing movies and songs worldwide. Sounds a nice guy right? Maybe it's the fact that this little gherkin has a lot of money despite being little more than an embryo, whilst there are people out there who have fought for their country, or worked their entire lives without earning anywhere near as much. He's also a warped child too far up his own back passage.
I respect the likes of Evgeni Malkin (ice hockey player) though, and he's done little more than train physically and mentally and play a game he loves. What is it that makes me love Evgeni Malkin more than the likes of Justin Beiber? Some celebrities spawn from humble beginnings, become famous and stay the way they are. Others get sucked into the celebrity world, particularly young celebrities. I don't think anyone can argue that becoming famous at a young age doesn't mentally affect you. I can't think of many famous young people who haven't become somewhat obscure in their later life or have grown up malnourished of a real child hood (Michael Jackson, Justin Beiber).
There are also those celebrities who have become sucked into the bad side of the celebrity life; drugs and alcohol. From Kurt Cobain to Jimi Hendrix to Heath Ledger, drugs and booze have claimed so many promising celebrities. I can't understand what it is that causes celebrities to become drug dependant. Whether it's a stress-related cause or just a fun thing for them, I guess everyone has their own reasons as to why they start on the path to destruction.
Celebrities also seem to become more famous after they die. The day Michael Jackson died was unreal. For around a week, all the crazy fans came out of the cracks. Watching the news on mute, you would have thought with the tears and the number of people and the coverage of it that the second coming had appeared. It's the same with everything, when you lose something, you fully appreciate it because it will never return. A celebrities highest point in life is arguably their death. That is probably the point when the most people will remember and respect that celebrity's life, which is quite a sad prospect really.
Some of my favourite celebrities include Evgeni Malkin (already mentioned), Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson (although oddly enough, I hated the Phantom Menace), Rhys Darby, Bill Bailey, Marc-Andre Fleury (another ice hockey player), Mike Myers and Chris Kamara.
Some of my most hated are/were Justin Beiber, Amy Winehouse, Jedward, Cristiano Ronaldo, Russell Kane, Russell Brand and Wayne Rooney.
So, I put the topic to you. What makes a celebrity? Is it good for a young person to become famous? Who are your favourite celebrities and who are your most hated? If you could choose to be famous, what would you choose to be famous for?
So, what is it that makes us inspired by a particular person or makes us hate them? What is it that even defines a celebrity? Personally, I don't consider a celebrity to just be someone that is celebrated by others. I think it's a question of scale, or of how well known you are, whether it be for good or bad reasons.
Some celebrities that annoy me are some of the obvious ones, like Justin Beiber (I bet you knew he was going to show up) or Cristiano Ronaldo. Justin Beiber spawns from humble beginnings, playing guitar on the street and uploading YouTube videos, to now releasing movies and songs worldwide. Sounds a nice guy right? Maybe it's the fact that this little gherkin has a lot of money despite being little more than an embryo, whilst there are people out there who have fought for their country, or worked their entire lives without earning anywhere near as much. He's also a warped child too far up his own back passage.
I respect the likes of Evgeni Malkin (ice hockey player) though, and he's done little more than train physically and mentally and play a game he loves. What is it that makes me love Evgeni Malkin more than the likes of Justin Beiber? Some celebrities spawn from humble beginnings, become famous and stay the way they are. Others get sucked into the celebrity world, particularly young celebrities. I don't think anyone can argue that becoming famous at a young age doesn't mentally affect you. I can't think of many famous young people who haven't become somewhat obscure in their later life or have grown up malnourished of a real child hood (Michael Jackson, Justin Beiber).
There are also those celebrities who have become sucked into the bad side of the celebrity life; drugs and alcohol. From Kurt Cobain to Jimi Hendrix to Heath Ledger, drugs and booze have claimed so many promising celebrities. I can't understand what it is that causes celebrities to become drug dependant. Whether it's a stress-related cause or just a fun thing for them, I guess everyone has their own reasons as to why they start on the path to destruction.
Celebrities also seem to become more famous after they die. The day Michael Jackson died was unreal. For around a week, all the crazy fans came out of the cracks. Watching the news on mute, you would have thought with the tears and the number of people and the coverage of it that the second coming had appeared. It's the same with everything, when you lose something, you fully appreciate it because it will never return. A celebrities highest point in life is arguably their death. That is probably the point when the most people will remember and respect that celebrity's life, which is quite a sad prospect really.
Some of my favourite celebrities include Evgeni Malkin (already mentioned), Ewan McGregor, Liam Neeson (although oddly enough, I hated the Phantom Menace), Rhys Darby, Bill Bailey, Marc-Andre Fleury (another ice hockey player), Mike Myers and Chris Kamara.
Some of my most hated are/were Justin Beiber, Amy Winehouse, Jedward, Cristiano Ronaldo, Russell Kane, Russell Brand and Wayne Rooney.
So, I put the topic to you. What makes a celebrity? Is it good for a young person to become famous? Who are your favourite celebrities and who are your most hated? If you could choose to be famous, what would you choose to be famous for?
Page:
chasfh wrote:
Dr. Garin wrote:
[i]For record, my impression of Essex is based upon having lived there.
Really? For how long, and where?[/i]
Chelmsford for just over a year I think it was.
Dr. Garin wrote:
[i]For record, my impression of Essex is based upon having lived there.
Really? For how long, and where?[/i]
Chelmsford for just over a year I think it was.
I agree, regional stereotypes are ridiculous. I'm Welsh and only 5 of mates actually fancy sheep. The rest of us don't find them the least bit attractive...
Dr. Garin wrote:
For record, my impression of Essex is based upon having lived there.
Really? For how long, and where?
I've lived here all my life...
For record, my impression of Essex is based upon having lived there.
Really? For how long, and where?
I've lived here all my life...
For record, my impression of Essex is based upon having lived there.
Sonic Chris wrote:
It's interesting how people can have an image of place without actually ever going there. I go a few miles east to Warrington for college and their impression of Liverpool is far from the truth. They seem to think that the entire city is just an asbolute garbage heap. Granted there are areas which are down and out (which every city has anyway), but there are some amazing parts of Liverpool. I'm lucky enough to live in one of the nicest areas.
So I sincerely doubt Essex is what it's made out to be...
Absolutely right...
Many of us CAN write, cars DO still have wheels if left in Harlow overnight, not everyone has spray tans twice a week, we don't ALL talk like we wish we were from "LUNDUN!!"
...But, yes, most of Essex IS flat...
Also, we don't all say things like "Blood", "safe", "Shweet", "innit" or "Shutup" at every opportunity...
Life does not revolve around "staffies" ....
Lambrini is not the County tipple of choice...
Oh, I could go on.....
It's interesting how people can have an image of place without actually ever going there. I go a few miles east to Warrington for college and their impression of Liverpool is far from the truth. They seem to think that the entire city is just an asbolute garbage heap. Granted there are areas which are down and out (which every city has anyway), but there are some amazing parts of Liverpool. I'm lucky enough to live in one of the nicest areas.
So I sincerely doubt Essex is what it's made out to be...
Absolutely right...
Many of us CAN write, cars DO still have wheels if left in Harlow overnight, not everyone has spray tans twice a week, we don't ALL talk like we wish we were from "LUNDUN!!"
...But, yes, most of Essex IS flat...
Also, we don't all say things like "Blood", "safe", "Shweet", "innit" or "Shutup" at every opportunity...
Life does not revolve around "staffies" ....
Lambrini is not the County tipple of choice...
Oh, I could go on.....
It's interesting how people can have an image of place without actually ever going there. I go a few miles east to Warrington for college and their impression of Liverpool is far from the truth. They seem to think that the entire city is just an asbolute garbage heap. Granted there are areas which are down and out (which every city has anyway), but there are some amazing parts of Liverpool. I'm lucky enough to live in one of the nicest areas.
So I sincerely doubt Essex is what it's made out to be...
So I sincerely doubt Essex is what it's made out to be...
pete_21 wrote:
chasfh wrote:
[i]My question is...
Do people REALLY think that TOWIE is an accurate portrayal of Essex?!!
You mean it's not really the vajazzle capital of the UK at all...?[/i]
Not something I have a care to investigate to be honest...
I think my missus might object, and the kind of questions I'd need to ask might well get me a punch in the face (not from my missus, but from those I would be asking... although, if she was present, who knows?)...
I think, however, you would need to do a broader survey than just Essex to establish accurate numbers. Maybe one of the tabloids would be up for it?
chasfh wrote:
[i]My question is...
Do people REALLY think that TOWIE is an accurate portrayal of Essex?!!
You mean it's not really the vajazzle capital of the UK at all...?[/i]
Not something I have a care to investigate to be honest...
I think my missus might object, and the kind of questions I'd need to ask might well get me a punch in the face (not from my missus, but from those I would be asking... although, if she was present, who knows?)...
I think, however, you would need to do a broader survey than just Essex to establish accurate numbers. Maybe one of the tabloids would be up for it?
Was William Shakespeare a celebrity?
chasfh wrote:
My question is...
Do people REALLY think that TOWIE is an accurate portrayal of Essex?!!
You mean it's not really the vajazzle capital of the UK at all...?
My question is...
Do people REALLY think that TOWIE is an accurate portrayal of Essex?!!
You mean it's not really the vajazzle capital of the UK at all...?
pb wrote:
Sonic Chris wrote:
[i]Well I don't like any of Justin Beiber's music, so therefore the money he earns is unjustified from my perspective. Beiber's also turned into a right diva. Only recently, I saw a video of him having a tantrum at a photographer.
I really think Ronaldo's been off his game for a while now. He's certainly one of the best around, but when you're talking about the best players in the world, I've got the likes of Messi and Iniesta above him without question. Plus Ronaldo despite having technical ability, is still an absolute fairy on the field. I place him in the same type of footballer as Balotelli.
So no, it's not their personal lives, if I don't like what they contribute to society (i.e. what they're famous for), I'll tend not to like the person. They're still celebrities because of this, that doesn't come into question.
At the end of the day, both of these people are paid by companies that justify their worth, the companies are well versed in calculating the importance and cost of what these people do.
In Beiber's case, it doesn't matter one bit if you don't like the music, millions of records are sold and tickets for concerts sell like hot cakes, so his label can pay him based on this. This is the justification.[/i]
True but ultimately the money that the companies pay celebrities is generated by some form of entertainment that the celebrity offers. All I'm saying is
1.I don't like Ronaldo as a person. I think he's a sly cheating player (then again, who isn't these days). I don't doubt his skill, but I just don't like his manner on the pitch (as for his personal life, well I don't really know much about him, and it's none of my business anyway- that's for you Alfonse ;-) ).
2. I hate Justin Beiber's music as well as the way his fame has turned him into an egotistical brat.
For both of them I accept they get their money for a reason. From my view, it seems warped, but people will spend money as they please...
Sonic Chris wrote:
[i]Well I don't like any of Justin Beiber's music, so therefore the money he earns is unjustified from my perspective. Beiber's also turned into a right diva. Only recently, I saw a video of him having a tantrum at a photographer.
I really think Ronaldo's been off his game for a while now. He's certainly one of the best around, but when you're talking about the best players in the world, I've got the likes of Messi and Iniesta above him without question. Plus Ronaldo despite having technical ability, is still an absolute fairy on the field. I place him in the same type of footballer as Balotelli.
So no, it's not their personal lives, if I don't like what they contribute to society (i.e. what they're famous for), I'll tend not to like the person. They're still celebrities because of this, that doesn't come into question.
At the end of the day, both of these people are paid by companies that justify their worth, the companies are well versed in calculating the importance and cost of what these people do.
In Beiber's case, it doesn't matter one bit if you don't like the music, millions of records are sold and tickets for concerts sell like hot cakes, so his label can pay him based on this. This is the justification.[/i]
True but ultimately the money that the companies pay celebrities is generated by some form of entertainment that the celebrity offers. All I'm saying is
1.I don't like Ronaldo as a person. I think he's a sly cheating player (then again, who isn't these days). I don't doubt his skill, but I just don't like his manner on the pitch (as for his personal life, well I don't really know much about him, and it's none of my business anyway- that's for you Alfonse ;-) ).
2. I hate Justin Beiber's music as well as the way his fame has turned him into an egotistical brat.
For both of them I accept they get their money for a reason. From my view, it seems warped, but people will spend money as they please...
Page: