Celebrities Shmelebrities

They're not worth fawning over

Kate Neuhaus

 

Many Americans suffer from a common disorder: celebrity obsession. Think you're celebrity obsessed? Take this simple quiz and find out:

 

Answer yes or no to the following questions:

If you answered "yes" to three or more of these questions, then congratulations, you have joined the millions of Americans who are obsessed with celebrities.

 

It seems hard to escape celebrities. They are constantly on T.V., movies, and smiling out from every newsstand you pass. Well, doesn't this constant barrage of the rich and famous tell us something? Obviously it is what sells. Magazines and expose shows like Entertainment Tonight or X-tra earn their ratings and money by discussing and revealing celebrities. The American public just can't seem to get enough. The Osbournes and Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica are two examples of TV shows that flourish because they allow Americans a peek into the actual life of a celebrity. Our society has even created the E! show, Celebrity Revealed. All these glimpses into the lifestyles of the famous seem like overkill.

 

As if it isn't bad enough that we watch them nonstop on television, many people bother the celebrities in their private lives as well. We have all seen or read a magazine with pictures of famous people shopping, dining, or vacationing with their family.

 

Hmm…in order to obtain these photographs, a member of the press had to physically be within picture-taking distance of the famous person. Sure the pictures are fun to look at; you can see what Kate Hudson or Jennifer Aniston really look like in their everyday lives; but seriously, give these celebrities a moments peace.

 

Much of our country was recently captivated by the courtship and engagement of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. They were followed and questioned about the wedding and each other everywhere they went. The media even nicknamed the couple "Bennifer." The constant barrage of attention from the public and the paparazzi eventually forced the couple to cancel their planned nuptials. Spokesmen for both celebrities cited "too much media attention" as the reason behind this sudden change of plans. This is a clear sign that the media, and the public craving this personal information, have both gone too far.

 

If you scored positively on the quiz, fear not, there is a simple cure to this celebrity obsession. Get a life! Concentrate on your own friends and activities and stop worrying about what famous people are doing. Enjoy their movies and music, but leave it at that. They're just celebrities, after all.