What Price Fame?

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What Price Fame.
I was watching the 1983 Motown Special that launched Michael Jackson. I knew then this young man was on his way. I was not then nor am I a Fan of any entertainer, though I love the talent of these gifted people. I was 34 years old at the time and as I watch this young man decay right before my eyes, it truly saddened me. I said he didn't deserve this. Since his death I have watched some of his videos and literally saw the starvation in the eyes of his fans who worshipped him. How does a human being deal with that? The answer is, they don't, not easily anyway. This kid had no friends he could rely on to help him mature. He was a mere child, mentally when he died after his life was literally drained from him. I do not know the truth behind all the litigation surrounding his life, but as I said in another thread; he never knew what hit him. That truly is a shame.
The same fame destroyed Elvis Presley, another very lonely man. Even those who lived in his home idolized him. There are those who survive thanks to those close to them that bring them down from the clouds and help them keep their feet firmly on the ground. What is it about us that obsessively cling to these people. What is it we think they have that we are sorely missing? Is it fame in itself? I think it goes deeper than that. I will leave this open for discussion. Let's not delve in the sensational tabloids exploitation, but seriously explore what it is about us that sucks the blood out of such gifted people. Here is, what I think, the best song he ever sang. It is the theme from "FREE WILLY".

YouTube - Free Willy music video

William

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@William,

what price fame and fortune as well...

i was thinking of this when i read the story about solomon linda. suppose he had been given all the royalties he 'deserved'? what would his life have been like? we will never know, of course.

sometimes it is more depressing to achieve a high measure of success because you are still the same person inside as you were before. nothing has really changed, like you thought it would, and you still have the same problems because fame and money cant bring happiness when there is something broken inside. and how many people are running around with their hearts or minds broken? i think a whole lot...and they would be the ones who are chasing after fame and fortune.

look at the lives of marilyn monroe, freddie prinze, the list is too long to repeat.

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@William,

Thanks Salima,

I created this thread to create discussion as to what it is that causes us to "idol worship". We caused that which happened to those gifted people and yes there are those exceptions, I will agree; but what are we so lacking of that would cause us to "worship" another human being? There are people who worship championship wrestlers too. I am of the opinion, like you, money cannot buy happiness, yet we spend billions on searching for it in our worshipping of idols, the drugs we take and so forth to glean some measure of fulfillment and peace not available to us in this reality. Yes it is an enigmatic problem as I have noticed 31 people have viewed this thread and I guess are speechless as to what they can arrive at to explain this "idol worship", for most are idol worshippers themselves. Introspection in extremely hard for seeking the truth hurts for there is so little of it in the public domain. It is not welcome there because it falls contrary to that we have become accustom to and idol worship is one of "those customs".

Thanks, as always Salima, for you valued contribution. You are a true asset to this forum.:a-ok:

William

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@William,

thanks, william-
sorry, i really didnt notice the question you were asking, and rereading the op i still cant see it! maybe other people also missed it. i sort of responded to something relating to the issue that i had already been thinking about i guess.
idol or hero worship is harmful in all aspects, and it seems to be innate in human nature. as to why we do it, maybe it is just a case of mistaken identity or looking for the right thing in all the wrong places.

-ideals are something worth cultivating. they too can lead to our downfall...nothing sadder than someone who has abandoned their ideals.

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@salima,

Hi,

I think some people like huge ups, like surfing a big tide, climbing a high mountain, or jumping from a parachute. But like a see-saw, the big ups are followed by big downs.

As for me, I have learned to enjoy the little things in life. So I avoid the big ups and therefore the big downs.

People enjoy watching other people surf (take the risks), as they enjoy the glamor of celebrity idols. It is like an audience watching an exciting movie with big ups and big downs - without taking the personal risks.

Rich

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@William,

IMO, here is the truth. These remarkable innocents have something to give we all need, whether it be laughter, music, intelligence, knowledge, personality, or what ever, it is pure and unadulterated and we purchase them and put them on display and plug into them and drain them until they are all used up and then we discard them. Whitney Houston, Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Richard Pryor, Freddie Prinze, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Christ all reach their epiphany of their being and had no more to give, (or sell). These innocents make fortunes for the parasites that control them. This is not just in the entertainment industry, it is the function of this reality. Apply it in all strata that represent the landscape of humankind, and I use "humankind" tongue in cheek. God help us if this is humanity.

William

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@William,

When we come into this world, We have our dad and our mom, and sometimes siblings. Our family. When we leave, it is our family that accepted us as we were. This is a time for him and his family. Fame is now irrelevant.

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@Elmud,

Elmud;73141 wrote:

When we come into this world, We have our dad and our mom, and sometimes siblings. Our family. When we leave, it is our family that accepted us as we were. This is a time for him and his family. Fame is now irrelevant.

Thank you Elmud for you contribution. You are espousing the root of the problem. It is the family that set the roots for this young man's destruction. It is the family that "pushed" their children into the limelight and therefore profited handsomely from the talents of their children. I do recognize there are exceptions as the Ozmonds will reflect; though they, too have had a rough row to hoe. That is not my point. Perhaps it is only to allow us to look at ourselves to determined what it is that "draws" us to the exceptional individuals. When we understand that, then we will understand all humankind has their unique qualities and we can then surround ourselves in nuturing "entertainment". At this very second there are those "parents" who a are grooming their offspring for the arena. I think that is sad. IMHO.

William

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@William,

Can a man in his fifties not learn from his own problems in life? We speak of Jackson as a naive child-like individual who didn't know any better. Sure there is no doubt that this man had his fair share of dark times and had been through enough drama to destroy the spirit of anyone, but to label him as an innocent who was destroyed by fame or family or whatever, i believe is slightly naive in itself. Michael Jackson made some odd decisions that made us cringe at times, made us worry about his children's safety, made us wonder what planet he was living on and at the same time appeared to be a gentle man who worried about the suffering and pain on Earth. So we witnessed the unstable man and the gentle caring man. In my opinion, Jackson was not an innocent idiot torn apart by fame or family. I believe when he left the Jackson 5, he did what any young man does, he went into the world with his own ideas, and with so much wealth at his disposal he built up so many comfort zones he was unable to grow out of them. I don't believe anyone should be taken by the hand and guided towards the perfect life. Jackson had to make his own decisions, unfortunatley he made the wrong ones.

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@William,

I guess I am of a mind to say, regardless of anything else, this should be a time of privacy for him and his family if that is possible. Thats all.

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What Price Fame?

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