Fame used to come from talent, determination and success, but today it seems to be more about looks, money, and connections.

This is how society views fame…

So I can be famous if I wear no clothes and twerk until I can’t twerk anymore right?

Why are we so consumed with the superficial drama of these people? What makes us care at all? Is it that we are curious, jealous, wanting to trade places if only for a day?

Fame = fortune. So much money that you can spend it without a care in the world knowing there is always more where it came from. In fact, there is someone to clean up your mess, even convince you when you do something that is clearly
wrong and quite possibly awful that it really was someone else’s fault all long.

These hangers-on are known as enablers, the posse, the ultimate users along for the ride and determined to make damn sure the celeb doesn’t screw it all up, FOR THEM. Yet, when asked the most simple of all questions, “Would you like to trade places and have both fame and fortune with a posse of your own for one day, how would you answer?" Honestly, and not feeling very proud about myself for the answer I am about to give, I would say, ”Yes”.

You see, one truth is that we strive for it. We crave that billion-dollar check and all of the add-ons that come with it. It has nothing to do with developing skills or some unique expertise that set you apart from others based on sheer talent and the drive to use that talent to become the best. No, this post is about the talent-less, who somehow rise to a media darling or media curiosity status. 

What these people often don’t understand is that when you become famous, you are no longer an independent individual. Of course, I am not at all sure they ever were. Instead, their sense of self rises from a shallow public with a short attention span and even less common sense.

So as I think through my own words and keep writing, something unexpected seems to be happening. I think I may resent these people more than I want to be like them for even one day.

Why, well for starters, with all that money and fame, they don’t seem happy. Nothing appears to satisfy them. They take everything and everyone for granted. They seldom care about anyone but themselves. A simple act of kindness toward another is virtually non-existent. They are generally
lazy. Their moment of fame will pass at some point and then what… I am guessing most will say so what and take whatever time is given to us to savor a life like theirs. I thought I did too, but not anymore.

I know this is taking the discussion from one extreme to another, but what if today was your last day of life? While you may or may not want to spend it on a university campus, there are other choices that have nothing to do with fame and fortune. We call them friends and family, and probably a good stopping point for another blog post. In closing, our gut impulse tells us that it would be a great time to hang out with the rich and famous, to be just like them, for at least a day.

Upon further review, if we really stop and think it through, is that really what we want? Closing with a current events update, would any of us want to be in Bruce Jenner’s shoes right now? Bad accident that contributed to the death of a 70 year old woman and all the attention about his possible gender change? No thanks. I can’t say everyday is all that I want it to be at UT, but most of the time I am happy and fulfilled with my friends and my studies. For right now, for me, that’s good enough!