I've had a couple of more thoughts on the article below, about Celebrity Worship.
I take exception to the assumption that celebrity worship is driven by looks. If you take David Beckham, whom I admire, but don't worship; or Plácido Domingo or Jonny Wilkinson, my most enduring and most recent celebrity crushes, what they all have in common is that they are exceptionally good at what they do. And I enjoy what they do.
What reallyturns me on about Plácido is his voice. With Jonny and David, I would far rather watch them play a match (and win...) than stare at any photo of them or watch them being interviewed or whatever. Okay, they all happen to be good looking, too, but I doubt I would particularly notice that if it wasn't for their supreme talent.
I jest about my celebrity crushes, and having 'fessed up, I think it's bloggable subject, but I don't take them too seriously.
What is worrying is when you hear of people whose lives revolve around their idol. Those sad people holding a vigil outside Michael Jacksn's courthouse. Or people whose houses are a shrine to Elvis Presley. Or what's going on in people's heads? You hear stories of fans who accuse their favourite singer or player of not smiling at them this evening "What have I done to upset you?", not realising that the venue is filled with thousands of other people.
Then you get the stalkers. I simply honestly cannot imagine a situation where I would actually stalk a celebrity. I will freely admit that I fantasise a great deal. I have always lived an imaginary life in my head. When I was very young (pre-school) I had imaginary friends. As I grew older, my imaginary friends took on the personas of real living people. All those fantasies about my imaginary-real friends have to be based on the assumption that some event occurred to make them become my friend. I suppose if I was the mad stalker, or simply delusionist, I would engineer a situation whereby I actually met the object of my desire. But because I can separate reality from fantasy I can't see any point in doing that. Can you imagine how it would go?
(Assuming you've been wise enough to choose a situation where they're "on duty" - after a match or concert, say - rather than hassling them in a restaurant or whatever).
Me: I'm a fan of yours
Celebrity: Oh, right
Me: Can I have your autograph, please (NB I haven't collected autographs since 1985...)
Celebrity: sure, who shall I make it out to?
Me: Gert, please. Oh, and can I have a kiss?
Celebrity: (depending on who it is). Yes. (Or No)
Gert: Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh. I'm never going to wash my face again. Can I take you home and shag you. You know you've been waiting all your life for me. I'm the one for you. We're soulmates. Ditch the bitch you're with and shack up with me.
Celebrity: Er, looks like another mad stalker woman. Next, please.
I just wonder whether it has ever crossed the minds of the delusionally stalking-type fans that a) they're just one of many; b) most celebrities are at least a little bit irritated at the obsessive fan; c) if you are of the delusionally stalking personality type what on earth makes you think that your chosen celebrity is going to be attracted to you specifically when there are thousands of sane women who wouldn't say no if asked; and d) if the celebrity of your choice is married or in a longterm relationship, maybe it's because they want to be.
And have you ever noticed on the telly, the people they show who are madly obsessive about their chosen celebrity are almost always mingeing?
