Avoiding Responsibility

Seriously, I just don't understand. I'm not afraid to admit that. As far as I see it, it's one of the wonders of this world, and our existence in it, that there are things that we don't understand, and our drive to understand them. It's what makes us human - it's what has allowed our species to survive as it has and dominate it's environment (so far). So I'm not unhappy about any of it. I just don't understand.

What you ask? I don't understand the current fascination with 'celebrities'. I use the quotes around the word because in many ways, I'm a conservative about such things. In days gone past, a celebrity was some who was renowned for their deeds or their words - actors, politicians, freedom fighters. People that we as the plebs of society would recognise because they had an impact on our lives.

In todays world of disposable media, the concept of celebrity has changed. It used to take either a long time, or a significant world event, to create a celebrity. But in the Youtube world, it takes a 30 second video that for whatever reason appeals to a significant number of people and hhere you go - you are a celebrity. There are lots of questions to be raised about that, but I'm not going to get into that issue - it's too complex for the ramblings of this blog.

What I'm interested in are the 'celebrities' that are famous for slightly more than their 30 seconds of Youtube. The people that have attracted at least an inch of a column in a tabloid or a glossy womans magazine. These are people like minor pop stars, slightly-known models, trust-funders and others of expectation. These are people who really haven't contributed anything to humanity other than filling a couple of pages of a throwaway, or possibly given us a song that after falling into obscurity in the next month or so will be revived as a 'guilty pleasure' in 10 years time. You know the ones.

Anyway, in this day there appears to be some overwhelming fascination with the minutia of these peoples lives. What did they wear that day? Was it different from the day before? If so, how. If not, why not? Is it scandelous? Does it mean they were sleeping with another 'celebrity' of the same ilk? Does that mean they are conducting an infedellious relationship? Why would they be doing that? Is it because someone's penis is to small? Because someone does not provide adequate oral stimulation? What handbag were they carrying at the time? Why do they always where so much/so little makeup? Do they have something to hide? etc etc ad nauseum

This is what I don't understand - why does anyone give the slightest fuck about any of this shit!?! What does it matter? How does it have any relevance to anyone else's life other than the people who are actually doing these things that everyone else is reading about? What possible benefit could anyone derive from knowing the fact that some person they have never met and likely will never meet enjoys having sex with orphaned amputee midgets?

I just don't understand. In a world that is currently experiencing a phenomenal amount of change in the pecking order of global superpowers; where the dominent empire of only 10 years ago is crumbling in upon itself and new empires emerging; where a sleeping giant of a former glorious superpower slowly becomes aware of its economic might and begins dictating terms to its neighbours once again; where inequity and luck-of-birth still dominate an individuals prospects for enjoyment and longevity of life; why could anyone give a fuck about the shoes that a particular person was wearing to a particular club on a particular night?

I just don't understand.