Let's all take Blindboy seriously now...

I think I know what you mean there. But I suspect I know what he might have meant too. I am always rather suspicious of News Paper articles quoting something from an interview rather than hearing the whole interview in context. But I think you were close to it in your third sentence when you mentioned "Notoriety". In the article he actually makes the distinction between fame and notoriety specifically. And suggests that he prefers the latter over the former. Which tracks.

As you say yourself quite rightly - the currency of anyone in art or entertainment is of course attention. Recognition. Brand. If you do not have those things you do not have a career. So it is as obvious as water is wet that you need people to know who and what you are to have such a career.

So what I suspect here is that he does not mean that when he uses the word "fame". Which is evidenced by his reference in that article to "hierarchy" in the same breath as mentioning "fame". And you are wholly right he is interested in the things that _you personally_ are associating with the word fame. The currency of his career. Rather I suspect he is discussing the trappings that go along with that currency is what he has no interest in. That he means by "fame" something different to you.

Van Morrison has often said the same thing. That of course he wishes his music would get to as many people as possible and he wants to entertain people but he would very much like if the rest of "Fame" and the industry would just go away. "It's just a job you know" he says in both interview and his songs. You can want your product to be famous without you yourself being famous. You can want it of course. But I wonder how few artists or performers ever achieve it. In fact in a couple of interviews some famous people have expressed jealously towards Blindboys "bag" persona for that very reason.

I suspect the article is badly trying to say exactly that. He of course wants the spectacle of "Blindboy" to be successful and known and to sell. He wants the real person behind that spectacle to be a boring unknown however. In the same way George Ivan Morrison would love to live a life entirely untouched by Van Morrison. Or authors who release books under a pseudonym.

Contrast that to people who are after fame for fames sake. Big brother contestants and Tiktokers and the like. I would think that is the distinction being made in the Headline you quoted.

He's the exact same as Joe Rogan, both come out with nonsense but BB has the approved twitter opinions so he doesnt get the same **** Rogan does

I really struggle to get the outpouring of hate for the fella.

I've zero in common with him politically, socially or musically and his surrealist stuff means nothing to me, but I find his podcast genuinely entertaining, and find him fairly humble and self aware.

All I'd say to those that dislike the fella, maybe listen to his podcast over a few weeks, skip the mental health themed or short story ones and see what you think of him then.

Imo, he has a pretty unique way of seeing things, and genuinely loves the podcast. Sure I'll roll my eyes every so often, but the pod is first on my weekly listen list

....

Ah that was class. Some level of effort. Months of work.

Not a fan of him at all but he annoys abominable dognut so he must be doing something right.

From an interview with him in today's Irish Independent Weekend Magazine.

Q: If you could have a superpower what would it be?

A: This is corny as f**k , but I'd love a magic wand that instantly grants a person deep empathy and compassion for someone else.

What a tosser, nobody even half normal would say something like that, just pathetic virtue signalling.

BTW compassion and empathy are good things but answering a lighthearted question like that with such self important bollocks really gives you a clue about him.

So someone does not trot out the same answer(s) many people always give to such a dumb ass question - like being invisible or being able to fly and all that - and this makes them a bad person? Or they give an answer you personally do not like so that makes them a "tosser"? Seems here the problem is you and how you respond with vitriol to others - rather than him in any way. I see nothing wrong with such an answer. And as for him being "half normal" well he is diagnosed as autistic isn't he. So exactly what standards of "Normal" are you demanding he adhere to here? Yours? Demanding an autistic person adhere to some standard of "Normal" you might hold is very ableist and prejudiced indeed. You might wanna check that prejudice and privilege at the door.

As for "virtue signaling" I think the bar of what qualifies for that equally tired term is really dropping if something as inane and innocuous as that answer is qualifying for it. Yet another term losing its utility by people diluting to almost nothing what it actually means. Actually the answer is very much on message for things he says quite often. It is very much within what I would expect him to say given everything I have heard him say before.

Put on the spot during an interview with a silly cliche lazy question - there is nothing wrong with giving at least a slightly out of the ordinary answer that is not equally cliche and tired. What would you actually want him to say really that would be good enough to overcome your likely tendency to hate anything he would say anyway? That he wants to be like Superman when superman disarmed all the nuclear powers? Gag me with a spoon of bloody saccharine and kill me now :)

All that said though - his answer is not entirely original. The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy movie had the idea of a gun that when fired at someone - the target instantly had complete understanding and empathy for the gun holders entire world view. Wonder Woman also had the Lasso of Truth. Nothing "virtue singnaling" about thinking that that would be a damn fine weapon to own to be honest. I could think of a few people I would love to aim it at. And actually because their world view baffles me so much - no matter how much I try to get into the headspace of the seeming nonsense they spew - there are a few people I would like to be shot at by too.

Agree. To be fair might roll my eyes a little, but such a strong reaction is very strange.