Celebrities can, but should they?

**yesdachi** · 10-13-2006, 18:48

Celebs, do they have a duty to use their popularity to champion a cause or should they just shut up and do whatever made them a celebrity?

**Crazed Rabbit** · 10-13-2006, 19:14

No. To often they seem to think that being famous means their opinions are important.

Crazed Rabbit

**Big King Sanctaphrax** · 10-13-2006, 19:21

Well, they've got the right to say whatever they want. The question is whether you should listen to them, surely?

**Csargo** · 10-13-2006, 19:27

I vote no.

**highlanddave** · 10-13-2006, 19:28

let's see.... they can read....they can remember their lines..... now they want to rule the world. whenever i hear a celebrity speak, even about their own movie, i tend to look away.

**Lemur** · 10-13-2006, 19:47

As BKS said, they've got a right to say what they like. Whether or not anybody give's a rat's posterior what they have to say is a different problem. Those who get angered by Clooney talking about Darfur are more rightly angered by the culture of celebrity, where these entertainment workers are treated as mini-royalty.

**doc_bean** · 10-13-2006, 19:57

I agree with the Lemur and BKS. It's not because people are famous that they suddenly lose their right to free speech.

**Lemur** · 10-13-2006, 20:03

What's more, I didn't read the question carefully before voting. There's no way celebs have a duty to speak out, but they have as much of a right as anyone else.

I should have voted Gah. But when isn't that the case?

**Abokasee** · 10-13-2006, 20:10

DEATH TO CELEBS!!!!!! CELEBS OUT OUT OUT!!!!!!

**Xiahou** · 10-13-2006, 20:11

They can, but usually they shouldn't. Whenever a celeb takes a strong stance on a controversial/politically charged issue they're guaranteed to tick off a significant portion of their fan base. The more strident the stance, the more irritated the fans.

Sure, they're free to say whatever they want- but they'd better be prepared for any ill-effects that is has on their career.

**whyidie** · 10-13-2006, 20:24

If it pleases them, go ahead, champion a cause.

**Kanamori** · 10-13-2006, 21:02

If they want to champion some cause, sure they should...

**Major Robert Dump** · 10-13-2006, 21:26

A couple issues ago the Weekly Standard had a great piece on Bob Dylan, and how hippes and liberals thought he was their musical champion, even though he never said jack poop about politics and none of his songs were about any specific war. Fact is, no one really knows what the guy believes except his close friends. More stars should be like him. Shut up and sing

**Lemur** · 10-13-2006, 21:38

Originally Posted by Major Robert Dump

A couple issues ago the Weekly Standard had a great piece on Bob Dylan, and how hippes and liberals thought he was their musical champion, even though he never said jack poop about politics and none of his songs were about any specific war.

Originally Posted by Bob Dylan

In the 1960s, came the Viet-Nam War;
Can somebody tell me
What we're fightin' for?
Too many young men died,
Too many young mothers cried;
So I ask the question,
Was God on our side?

It certainly sounds as though he's talking about a specific war ... not to dispute the Weekly Standard ...

**Kanamori** · 10-13-2006, 22:14

Why should performers keep their opinions to themselves if they want to voice them?

**Crazed Rabbit** · 10-13-2006, 22:29

Of course they have the right, but what gets me is that they seem to think their fame makes their opinions important, that they know more about it than the average joe.

not to dispute the Weekly Standard ...

As well you shouldn't!

CR

**yesdachi** · 10-13-2006, 23:33

Not inquiring about their right but their duty. Of course they have the right to say whatever they want but to take a lesson from Uncle Ben, with great power comes great responsibility, right? If at any moment I could speak and the world would listen do I have a duty to champion a cause?

**spmetla** · 10-13-2006, 23:43

The more intelligent ones should raise awareness about some issues. I voted no though because most are rather ignorant about anything outside of hollywood. They are about as commited to their causes as beauty queens are to world peace. If they used their vast wealth to fund organizations that actually are succesful at achieving some sort of goal then more power to them.

**Pannonian** · 10-14-2006, 00:53

The classic example of people using their celebrity to support a cause would be Audrey Hepburn's work for UNICEF.

**Derfasciti** · 10-14-2006, 01:10

No, they're already way too self-riteous(sp) as it is. No need to actually hand them a microphone when they're not on stage and say "tell us your opinion..."

NO ONE CARES!

**Mithrandir** · 10-14-2006, 01:16

Bono, Live aid, Dance 4 life.

Nuff said.

**Ronin** · 10-14-2006, 02:49

i´mk guessing that yesdachi just like me gets a stange urge to kick Bono in nuts everytime I see him on tv......just shut up already!!!

am I right?

**yesdachi** · 10-14-2006, 03:35

Originally Posted by Ronin

i´mk guessing that yesdachi just like me gets a stange urge to kick Bono in nuts everytime I see him on tv......just shut up already!!!

am I right?

You are reading my mind! I like to hear him sing but I hate to hear him speak. I did see him on TV this afternoon, he and Jolie were my motivation to start the thread.

**CountArach** · 10-14-2006, 04:44

Originally Posted by Abokasee

DEATH TO CELEBS!!!!!! CELEBS OUT OUT OUT!!!!!!

AGREED!

**Major Robert Dump** · 10-14-2006, 06:37

Originally Posted by Lemur

It certainly sounds as though he's talking about a specific war ... not to dispute the Weekly Standard ...

That lyric you gave does not mean he was against the Vietnam war. Plus, its one verse from one song from a man who has written and recorded 100s. Several of his songs were about war and corruption in politics, but again, people took the vague refernces and assumed they were about vietnam, johnson, nixon etc and in support of protesters and marchers even though some of them were written in the 50s. He also has a history of snubbing political concerts.

Anyway, thats off the point. But I like styles like his

**JimBob** · 10-14-2006, 06:55

As much of a duty as any citizen, so yes they do.

**Samurai Waki** · 10-14-2006, 07:33

There are some celebrities that champion good causes, and some that Champion their own. You have to be able to distinguish between who's being truthful and whose not. Now, I live in a place, fairly close to the "Hills", where many-a-celebrity live, and for the most part they don't tend to cause any dissention, or we're so used to the pandering that we just ignore it. The one celebrity that I do respect is Brad Pitt, who actively helps in rescueing endangered species, more commonly bears, but he isn't outspoken about it, he doesn't complain or whine about the situation, he just does what he can to actively help out, during whatever free time he has.

**whyidie** · 10-14-2006, 13:33

Originally Posted by CountArach

AGREED!

You guys are crazy. Celebrities are the greatest!

**Avicenna** · 10-14-2006, 13:49

Originally Posted by whyidie

You guys are crazy. Celebrities are the greatest!

They're the greatest surviving celebrities, I'll give you that. But greatest anything else? Umm.. don't think so.

**Fragony** · 10-14-2006, 13:57

If Paris Hilton(diediediedie) suddenly starts caring about starved children then she probably wasn't the centre of attention for a second or two, as fake as it comes. Not that the starved children care about all that but I find it a bit hard to cheer for that kind of love, it's all so cynical.

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