Socialite Abuse

I'm wondering, TBC - what do you think of all the controversy going on with Paris Hilton?

Do you think there's such a thing as Socialite Abuse? I feel very bad for Paris and I don't subscribe to the notion that Celebrities understand that they are in the public eye.

Rather, I think that this whole notion is a way for Voyeurs of the world to continue to gawk, comment and make derogatory statements about people - and receive NO CORRECTION for it when their comments are nasty!

I think this is Socialite Abuse.

I know that a general public expects that celibrities DO KNOW that they are in the public eye and that they DO KNOW that whatever they do or say in public is up for discussion...but aren't we, as a general public - just pushing a little too far?

Look at when Mel Gibson got drunk - he's still paying for what he did many months ago. If he was just Joe Schmoe, nobody would blink an eye more than once and Joe Schmoe would not be publicly pursecuted, risk reputation-death and all that stuff.

Who are we - as a general public - to say that Celebrities have to act a certain way? We are BUYING THE PAPERS, watching the TVs, watching the NEWS and do this sometimes just to GAIN smutty, derogatory, controversial information about celebrities.

People like Paris Hilton and Mel Gibson have given thousands of dollars to charity and done other fine works for humanity. But a general public keeps pushing the fact that they acted out in certain ways...

I dunno, TBC - what do you think?

I have recently decided that I will NOT buy anymore newspapers, any more magazines and I no longer watch certain portions of news broadcasts on TV - for the same reasons as I used to - because I don't want to support the media in their HAZING of so many people.

I bought a newspaper the other day ONLY BECAUSE I am looking for a new apartment to live in and am looking for proofreading and editing jobs. Other than that - I will not buy a paper to read about the garbage I see on the front pages. Even if I am interested in a celebrity that I like, I do not buy any 'gossip' magazines. It has been at least 2 years since I have bought a 'gossip'-based magazine. If I hear a story on the news about a celebrity I like and it's information that is valid (like that he or she is in a new movie - or he is giving a speech somewhere in support of something) and not on gossipy topics like 'who someone just divorced' or 'who just got caught cheating' - then I watch on the TV but as soon as I hear gossipy garbage, I turn the channel or turn the TV off.

No matter how awful everyone else thinks that Paris Hilton is - I do not support all the garbage going on in the media about her.

If I purchase a paper or watch news with derogatory information about her - I might continue the discussion about her incarceration, her lifestyle, her faults - and I don't believe that Paris has ever done anything bad to me to deserve that.

I do not believe it is necessary for me to know details about her incarceration - I only hope to hear news soon that any addictions she had problems with are being addressed and managed well - and that statement, I will accept when I hear Paris Hilton make it - but not through some editor's comment about his or her opinion of the 'whole paris thing.' Not from some reporter's biased text or 'story' on tv.

As it stands for me - when I have heard people strike up conversations about Paris' lifestyle and other issues, I have been able to pointedly say, "Yes I heard about some troubles Paris was having - but I don't follow media coverage of her lifestyle or those other issues. I hope that Paris will be as 'okay' as anyone else soon who is experiencing problems with the law and with addictions." In this way, I dont' perpetuate negative discussion about her - but at the same time, I do acknowledge an awareness of some issues going on.

TBC - can you think of a better way to deal with this?

Do you think all this coverage of Paris is necessary?