Celebrity followers - why?

Why do some people go to such great lengths to follow celebrities around? I wouldn't be someone who was against celebrity culture, I sometimes read the gossip mags and Perez Hilton, and I've attended loads of concerts and TV show filmings of my favourite artists. I'd probably try to get a picture with them if it wasn't too much hassle (I've never been bothered with those autograph signing things). But some people literally follow their favourite celebrity all over the place, wait outside the hotel for 10 hours for an autograph etc. I can understand teenagers doing it, but why do grown adults do it?

This week I've attended a press junket and some TV show things to do some interviews and reviews for a magazine. The level of competition and the general attitude of some of the fans was unbelievable. I approached some fans of this celebrity I recognised from an online forum just to say hi, and my God, they were loathsome people out for what they could get. They seemed to think I was trying to get in with them in order to meet the celeb backstage (I couldn't care less) and started telling me about how the celeb had personally called them to invite them to the show (very much doubt it, they didn't even have special seats), they just didn't seem to understand that I just wanted to be friendly and say hello. They obviously wouldn't do that unless they wanted something. They just had this smug, competitive attitude and they were acting like they knew this celeb personally. Once they noticed my press pass, they changed their tune and started asking me if I knew how to get better seats. Loads of them had come as a group, but when two seats on the front row became free, they started fighting over them, and raced down to get them. The ones who remained in the 'crap' seats (two rows back) bitched about the others all evening. Quite a lot of them had flown in from another country to attend.

Why, why, why? Why do these people spend so much money and time following celebrities around? Not for a concert, but for a press junket where the meet the person for 0.3 seconds and get a scribble on a piece of paper? Or a TV show where you'd be lucky to get a wave? Why do they think they have a relationship with these celebrities? The people I met last night seemed to think they were mates, but I saw them approach the celeb for an autograph, which they signed and then left after 2 seconds without even a hug or anything. There is just something a bit pathetic about spending hundreds of euro and 10 hours of your time to see someone who won't remember your face 2 seconds later. I don't get it.

Mr. Incognito

They're the new nobility chosen by the people for the people.

That and people are stupid.

Sykk

Because my hair is a bird

kiffer

four words: many people are idiots

Michaelrsh

People are obsessed with wealth and popularity. Always have been, always will be.

mikom

Sad fuckers.
I prefer to follow my celebs on Twitter......

JIZZLORD

A few years ago westlife played a homecoming gig in markievicz park in sligo. Shane from the group lives in my locality and was living on my road at the time. There were rumors that since he was the closest to the venue all the guys were shacked up at his house on the day of the gig there were a pile of english fans outside the house staring in the gates and a pile of burly security guards inside the gates watching them. Also the guy who lived next door happened to be cutting the grass in the garden next door so a giant security guard with sunglasses and an ear piece was slowly walking the garden keeping a close eye on an electrician in his fifties going about his business as he worked the garden. it raised a chuckle as i cycled past on my way to the shop

Pace2008

[quote=[Deleted User];65646717]Why do some people go to such great lengths to follow celebrities around? I wouldn't be someone who was against celebrity culture, I sometimes read the gossip mags and Perez Hilton, and I've attended loads of concerts and TV show filmings of my favourite artists. I'd probably try to get a picture with them if it wasn't too much hassle[/QUOTE] I'm not the judgmental sort but there are people out there who'd look down their noses at you for even going that far. Everyone is someone else's madman.

Kasabian

Because people are so disillusioned with their own lives that they chose to live their lives vicariously through the manufactured lives of celebs.
That and the hope that one of these "celebs" will rightly fcuk up.

Pace2008

Pace2008 wrote: »

I'm not the judgmental sort but there are people out there who'd look down their noses at you for even going that far. Everyone is someone else's madman.

I know that. Think there's a big difference between reading Perez Hilton at work and Heat at the doctor's waiting room and following celebs around Europe, though. And attending concerts/musical performances is fairly normal. I live in London so I don't even have to travel and I get into most of them for free. I get peed off if I have to wait for an hour in line, let alone 10 :eek:

starbelgrade

[quote=[Deleted User];65646717]Why do some people go to such great lengths to follow celebrities around? I wouldn't be someone who was against celebrity culture, I sometimes read the gossip mags and Perez Hilton, and I've attended loads of concerts and TV show filmings of my favourite artists.

I can understand teenagers doing it, but why do grown adults do it?

This week I've attended a press junket and some TV show things to do some interviews and reviews for a magazine. The level of competition and the general attitude of some of the fans was unbelievable. I approached some fans of this celebrity I recognised from an online forum just to say hi, and my God, they were loathsome people out for what they could get.

Why, why, why? Why do these people spend so much money and time following celebrities around? [/QUOTE]

Possibly because the media spend so much time writing about them.

Gillington

Who was the celeb and I'll give you my honest answer!

starbelgrade

starbelgrade wrote: »

Possibly because the media spend so much time writing about them.

The media writing about films and interviewing the stars make people behave like lunatics? Really? Why is it then, that most people will just read a review in the Metro or read an interview with the star and either say 'that looks crap' or decide to go and watch it at Cineworld? Why is it only a small minority of people who camp outside hotels and think Sarah Jessica Parker is their best mate?

Pace2008

[quote=[Deleted User];65647241]Why is it only a small minority of people who camp outside hotels and think Sarah Jessica Parker is their best mate?[/QUOTE] And why Sarah Jessica Parker of all people? She's unattractive even by normal standards and very unlikeable.

Smart Bug

tl;dr

Just, em, take the next left and it's about half way up the street on the right, yeah, yeah, you can't miss it.

starbelgrade

[quote=[Deleted User];65647241]The media writing about films and interviewing the stars make people behave like lunatics? Really? Why is it then, that most people will just read a review in the Metro or read an interview with the star and either say 'that looks crap' or decide to go and watch it at Cineworld? Why is it only a small minority of people who camp outside hotels and think Sarah Jessica Parker is their best mate?[/QUOTE]

Not like a journalist to exaggerate?

My answer is, I don't know, but the media feeds all this BS out on a daily basis & plebs & loonies just mop it up. They wouldn't do it if the general public didn't have an appetite for it, but one feeds off the other & you are part of the vicious circle.

starbelgrade

starbelgrade wrote: »

Not like a journalist to exaggerate?

My answer is, I don't know, but the media feeds all this BS out on a daily basis & plebs & loonies just mop it up. They wouldn't do it if the general public didn't have an appetite for it, but one feeds off the other & you are part of the vicious circle.

I'm not a journalist, I work as a translator and graphic designer on a small magazine. Sometimes I get to interview people or write reviews, all very small time amateur stuff. Have no desire to be a 'proper' journalist. And how am I exaggerating? I genuinely don't understand why some people feel that they have a personal connection with someone they don't know. I don't really think the media has much to do with that. The media can be blamed for hyping talentless people up and stuff like that, but it seems like there must be something missing in someone's life for them to go to these great lengths to catch a glimpse of their favourite star.

SugarHigh

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

They're the new nobility chosen by the people for the people.

That and people are stupid.

But not you of course.;)

pickarooney

It's a delusion, a mild to serious form of psychosis. You're not really meant to understand it (unless you're a doctor) It's like wondering why some people walk all funny (because their hips are damaged).

dr.bollocko

Because star trek is awesome.