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Celeb gossip has gone too far
November 5th, 2009, 6:02 am · 9 Comments · posted by Roxanne Hack, staff writer
After watching Kate Gosselin on her interview with Natalie Morales of NBC News sob while saying, “I still think the phone will ring and it will be the old Jon,” I realized I was part of the problem.
I was watching the interview.
I was watching a woman talk about a fresh divorce. I was watching a woman with a broken heart answer questions no one outside a close circle of friends and family should ask. I was watching a real person, with real problems, as if I knew anything about her.
I crossed a line once more when I read about this Lindsay Lohan tape of her sobbing to her own father — who is, by the way, the person who sold the tape.
And for what? Supposedly, to show her that she “needs help.” Really though? For money.
Here’s the thing: I have cried during phone conversations. I know, I know. Shocking, right? Me and Lindsay Lohan have something in common! Also, I’ve had a broken heart, just like Kate Gosselin — she and I could swap sad stories.
But I get to take my personal business, and I get to go home. Sure, I share tiny bits in a mom blog, but the gory details aren’t mentioned in 30-second commercial teases for the 11 p.m. news.
It isn’t right for me to listen to a personal conversation between a sad girl and her dad just because she was in a movie or two. And I don’t need to see sordid, embarrassing photos, capturing divorce or child-rearing or drinking or anything these people do. These things do nothing to enhance my life, and surely it’s only harming the people involved.
So this is my protest. For one month, I am hereby swearing off any and all celeb gossip. No Defamer. No TMZ. No more keeping up with the Anyones. I’m not even going to glance at the headlines while I’m standing at the check-out line. My hope is that after one gossip-free month, I won’t even notice its absence and will continue the protest indefinitely. I’m sure I can think of a million other things to do with my time — like teach my son that biting is bad.
Anyone else in?
More from me and my monster:
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….oh my fellow Gosselin fan…….this will be tough…but I’ll TRY to join you as well! Such a good point you have! Good luck with the no biting. If it continues, try putting just a little bit of vinigar on his little lips……he’ll give it up quickly.
I think one of the draws of celebrity gossip is that our society has really pulled away from the idea of having close knit communities. People have always gossiped, but it used to be about family members, neighbors, co-workers, that wierd guy at the downtown diner. These days it’s not unusual for people to have small families, or live far away from each other, barely even see our neighbors, and the dangers of gossiping about co-workers is public knowledge. So gossiping about celebrities becomes an outlet - everyone knows who you are talking about, there are rarely personal reprecussions for your gossiping (half the time you’re not even passing along information, you’rejust sort of all sitting around nodding your head at whatever TMZ said about the person), and it gives everyone something to talk about, since the people we work with are not the same people we live next to, or the sam people we go to church with, or the same people we hang out with on the weekends, or whatever. We live in a wierd time - we can get in touch and stay in touch with so many more people now, but that also means we have no motivation to so much as acknowledge the people we brush elbows with everyday. It’s wierd when you think about it.
That’s a really interesting theory, and I can totally see how it would make sense. Although, would it be better or worse to go back to gossiping about people we actually know? What if we just didn’t have to gossip at all? I don’t know that I really want to hear ANY girl cry to her dad, whether I know her or not. Though if Kate Gosselin were really my friend, I probably would know a lot of yucky details about her divorce, just as some of my closest friends know things about my situation. Perhaps a healthy compromise is in here somewhere?
The thing is fame chasers like Kate and Jon Gosselin INVITE people to share in the gossip. Who is twisting her arm to do these interviews? Or to continue being a “reality” TV star? I agree with you, some things need to remain private. But sadly we have created a culture that encourages everyone to share everything about themselves.
Roxanne, I used to be a gossip junkie myself. I watched the TMZ show, checked The Superficial website, all of it. I even (gasp!) read Perez Hilton from time to time. Like you I came to realize it was not helping me, and I became a little fed up with myself. If we don’t fan the flames, the flames die down, right? After my month long boycott of gossip sites, I did realize I didn’t need it.
Be strong my friend, you can do it! And in the meantime you will find yourself doing other things.
It’s tough! I didn’t realize HOW much I was listening/watching. On the way in to work, I had to keep switching the radio stations even. One DJ started saying, “Tabloid Thursday” and I went, oh crap!
Roxanne:
So proud that you are aware of this issue and that you are taking the time to help others increase awareness of how involved they are in the lives of people who they do not now, and will never, know. I hear adults and teens talking about celebs lives as if they are intimately involved.
The issue is much further than just celebrity watching and your blog has me thinking about other issues - would you be willing to avoid reality shows as well during your month long gossip-hiatus? I have sworn off reality shows, but worry about the impact they have on culture.
Our culture, of late, seems to be developing based upon watching other people’s “reality” lives - but, is it a realistic view of life? No! I am a Real Housewife of Orange County - but goodness! I do not look like, or act like, or think like the women that portray our county. My life is satisfying as is - we struggle with our budget, watch our 401K plummet, and laugh and love as our kids grow and grow, and enjoy living for ourselves and not a camera crew.
Kids and teens are growing up watching “reality shows” and this dictates how they behave. think, and feel - nothing new - TV has done that for a long time - but the impact is becoming ridiculous and worrisome when Sunset Tan, The Hills, Survivor, Wife Swap, and a whole plethora of junk is available for developing minds 24/7.
I believe that no reality shows should include children under 18- it is a terrible disservice to the children and the viewers and I hope we learn to reevaluate what we all think of as entertainment.
That’s it - thanks for indulging my thoughts! Love your blog as always!
that’s a really interesting proposal, jcab! I would definitely consider it. I’m a TV-addict, despite knowing how watching TV does nothing to fill my life. It’d be a tough habit to kick.
I was feeling very self-righteous. I don’t watch reality tv or the gossip shows, don’t read People and The Enquirer BUT when I log onto AOL each morning there is the entertainment and sports figures with their problems for all to see. Thanks for showing me there is a gap in my armor.