Got gossip?
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, wearing a blindfold and earplugs the answer is invariably yes. Because gossip no longer solely resides in the pages of The Enquirer adjacent to the three-headed baby or whispered on the wind over your neighbor’s fence, you can get the daily dish on CNN, from your 11 o’clock news, and on any morning show.
Gossip has become a loud and proud part of our culture.
So when did it become so acceptable to talk about each other’s private business? And when is it fair game? The cult of celebrity gossip is rapidly growing it seems and whether we like it or not, it’s here to stay. There was always a measure of scrutiny that came with the job of being famous and from the outside looking in it appeared the risk weighed far less than the reward. But how far is too far and who is off limits? Politicians? Athletes? It’s obviously open season on actors and musicians but why? And do we truly have nothing better to do than to discuss the parenting skills of Balloon Boy’s Mom and Dad or the sex life of an ESPN analyst? (Please ask yourself now why you even know who Balloon Boy is).
Richard Heene the infamous Balloon Boy father wanted attention and I suppose this would be a case of be careful what you wish for. But would we have even heard about this story for so long much less at all were it not for the media’s insatiable appetite for dramatic, gossipy, “you be the judge” journalism? I don’t want to be the judge. Why must we judge? It’s becoming a bad habit. Keep it about the work, that’s what I say.
What is it about our society that loves to build people up to tear them down? And we say it just like that too, “Oh, you know, we like to build people up to tear them down.” Really? We do??
With childhood hunger on the rise and growing casualties overseas isn’t there a better use for our time and energy? Not to mention the airtime. We have more power than we give ourselves credit for. These shows and stories only exist because we consume them. Say no and watch how fast they disappear.
The next time you find yourself engaging in the misfortune of an actor who was caught cheating on their spouse ask yourself; Is this is really the world we want to leave our children? Picture Falcon Heene in 20 years speed dating and the girl across from him asking “Hey, aren’t you Balloon Boy?”
Perhaps it won’t cause you to donate all those plastic babies to Goodwill and you’ll still be Octomom for Halloween, but maybe, just maybe you’ll throw out that TEAM KATE t-shirt.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
ugh, I agree! My latest amazement is the morning ‘news’ shows that spend all of one minute on news of downed helicopters in Afghanistan yet lead the mornings stories with a full ten minute segment on, for example: Kate and her Eight, including an exclusive interview so she can set her story straight about who said what and who’s stealing money from what bank account. WHO CARES?! I shout, and turn it off- but I’m still not confident that will ever make a difference. We’ll still be bombarded with it next week when it’s HIS turn for an exclusive interview and rebuttal.
It’s a shame. I can honestly say, I don’t read the magazines and I don’t watch tabloid tv either. Nothing disheartens me more than when I comment on how much I enjoy an actor in something or a singer who I love to hear sing and the peanut gallery chimes in, no with agreement mind you, but instead with a remark like,”oh, she’s weird. I don’t like her. I hear she…” As if my opinion of their talent should somehow be affected by their tabloid headlines. Not to mention they are inflated out of proportion anyway. And what they don’t realize is, how would they feel if they really knew what their Physician’s personal life was like? How about their kids’ teachers’ lives? When the news DOES report real news, I think the number one lesson learned is “You never know! People are capable of anything, and most of the time, it will surprise you.” If we knew as much about the people we interact with every day, most celebrities would seem super moral in comparison.
Love ya Cass!