I'm not sure where I'm going with this

[Lukipela]

So i went to a concert last night. Pink performed in Stockholm, and my co-worker is a big fan. Me and my girlfriend decided to tag on, because neither of us has been to a concert in a long time and Pink isn't half bad. The concert itself was pretty great. Swinging music, tons of people and a good show. Well worth fifty bucks. Here's some pictures for you to enjoy.

But it got me thinking. You know, I saw Pink walking around down there on the stage. And it feels weird somehow, to think about that all those famous people out there are actual flesh and blood people. Normally none of them seem quite real, we've¹ raised them up to the level of demi-gods. We hang on every word they say, report it in newspapers, plaster their images all over the place. And still they're only human. What is it with us that we have such a tendency to elevate those we adore, and a t the same time deny those we hate the most basic of rights, the right to humanity? We demonize what we fear, and idolate what we love.

How is it that long after we adopted a system of equality, we still do our damnedest to ensure that there is no such thing? What manner of dark duality lies within us, that makes us proclaim to believe something yet act completely different?

You know what else struck me? there was a lot of people at that concert. A lot. And every one of those has a life, hope and dreams, needs and desires. No wonder the world is in trouble, there are so many of us. Like a swarm of locusts, we feed and multiply. But unlike them, we're all unique. And we'll never all have the chance to meet each other. And that makes me sad. How many potential friends do we miss because we don't have the time and opportunity to meet each other? How many ships sail past each other in the night.

Anyway, this was pretty pointless. But I felt like writing, so sue me.

¹ I'm using "we,", "us" and so forth in a general sense here.

[Eth]

Did Pink swing from a trapeze?

[Nuclear]

Thats OK Luki, all celebrities are scary up close. Oh, and I put Pink in the irritating/Blond catagory.....

[Alen]

She's not as bad as the lip syncing bunch. And luki, its human nature to idolize the things we love. And to demote the things we hate/dont understand.

[Rider]

I think that "It's human nature" is the best way to kill any potential conversation/discussion on the topic.

I think it might have something to do with that, these celebrities appear to have it made. They've found their calling in life and are out there doing it and doing well for the whole world to see. It's something everyone, or at least a lot of people, are hoping to find one day, but these people have it. I think it might be that a lot of "us" find it easier to latch on to people that do this then to try to effect a change in our own life to be someone, to make something out of ourselves.

Though it might also just be the illusion of power and control that these people exhibit during their shows and on TV...

[Scott_Irving]

Envy. That's what I attribute it to. Like Rider said we all want to "find our calling" and be able to show the world.

Me personally I love to make a starcontrol movie and have everyone see it and love it. I'd love to make and or build something that would change the world. But I accomplish neither. So I look at other projects and things people have done and wish I could do the same.

[Eth]

I think that "It's human nature" is the best way to kill any potential conversation/discussion on the topic.

I agree.  And I don't even think that it IS human nature to idolize people that we like.  I don't.  Does that mean I'm not human?

[Lukipela]

Did Pink swing from a trapeze?

Yeah, it was pretty impressive. She's in great shape.

I think Rider has a good point, but I'm not envious. I'm impressed by the fact that she can do what she loves and be good at it but... Is she really that good? is any celebrity really so absurdly proficient at what they do that the kind of resources they control make any sense?

I'm sure the illusion is a major factor as well. In part we love the image they present, not who they are. And that makes me sad, because that means all that love is squandered on an illusion, while a real person has to hide behind deception.

Eth, you're not human. Not quite sure what you are, maybe Vulcan?

[Nuclear]

Cardissian? Maby Romulan since they look almost like Vulcans....Stupid trapeze, how do you know the corperate shill wasen't just attached to some wire?

[Angelfish]

The issue you bring up about ships sailing past eachother...
Try public transport! So many people are in the same train/bus/plane yet everyone tries to avoid conversation and even eye contact with eachother.

[Draxas]

The issue you bring up about ships sailing past eachother...
Try public transport! So many people are in the same train/bus/plane yet everyone tries to avoid conversation and even eye contact with eachother.

That's because you never know if the guy across from you might be carrying or is high on PCP or is just mentally unbalanced.

...What? I live near Philly now, those are real concerns.

[Lukipela]

Stupid trapeze, how do you know the corperate shill wasen't just attached to some wire?

Because when she did earlier tricks, she had safety wires. You could clearly see them, they weren't some sort of invisible gossamer. And they had to be attached to her on stage, as she was running and jumping around a lot before the trick. But for the last part they didn't attach any wires at all. I suppose she could have had some sort of invisible and extremely versatile system attached to her earlier, but it seems unlikely. Besides, what does it matter? If I did that trick, I darn well want a security wire.

The issue you bring up about ships sailing past eachother...
Try public transport! So many people are in the same train/bus/plane yet everyone tries to avoid conversation and even eye contact with eachother.

It varies between cultures. The Swedes seem pretty hot on starting conversations on air planes, in swimming halls and the likes. Not on trains though, for some reason. In Finland we won't even stand closer to each other than three meters when queuing for the bus. Of course I understand that we can't all sit down and get to know each other. But it seems such a waste, so many people and so little time.

[Bleeding Star]

The Swedes seem pretty hot on starting conversations on air planes, in swimming halls and the likes. Not on trains though, for some reason. In Finland we won't even stand closer to each other than three meters when queuing for the bus. Of course I understand that we can't all sit down and get to know each other. But it seems such a waste, so many people and so little time.

I hate strangers trying to talk to me when I'm not in the mood. Which is mostly. I guess I'm part Finnish. Or possibly just bad at small talk.

[oddSTAR]

Celebrity is simply a form of mass manipulation.  The people who are "chosen" are not that superior to the rest of us at what they do.  They have only been identified by companies as a viable "product" for them to exploit so that they can lay claim to ridiculous amounts of our money by feeding the whole concept of "hero worship."  It's kind of sad, really... 

[Lukipela]

I hate strangers trying to talk to me when I'm not in the mood. Which is mostly. I guess I'm part Finnish. Or possibly just bad at small talk.

I'm having a real hard time adjusting to people being friendly, smiling and talking all the time. But I guess immersion works, it doesn't seem as odd anymore

Celebrity is simply a form of mass manipulation.  The people who are "chosen" are not that superior to the rest of us at what they do.  They have only been identified by companies as a viable "product" for them to exploit so that they can lay claim to ridiculous amounts of our money by feeding the whole concept of "hero worship."  It's kind of sad, really... 

The sad part of that are the people in question. Not that I pity the poor souls all those damned resources I'll never get, but being turned into a product sounds dehumanzing.