Re: Famous-person etiquette
I walked past Terry Prachett in the basement of the Forbidden Planet store when it was near Centre Point in London. He was sat down with two or three people around him,signing a book or something like that- not sure if it was something official or impromptu(since I didn't notice anything about him being there in the front of the shop).
Also I managed to get Jeremy Clarkson to comment on a loud shirt I was wearing many years ago,which was amusing.
Re: Famous-person etiquette
I worry about the people at the level of fame where they have to dress well every day, they are snapped every day, they are spy snapped on holiday, they need personal security, they have to have chauffeurs, they are so in the public eye that the mere-est of transgression would push them under a bus in terms of public image.
Taylor swift, for example. The Royal Family especially William and Harry. Major YouTube stars and major TV presenters. Mainly people like the 11 year old female star of Stranger Things who is now going to go through brain development (up to the age of 25) with all the pressures of being an "A list celebrity".
So it concerns me. I've not Got much else to input here. So - maybe society will evolve to the stage where these people are able to do what they want?
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ttaskmaster
What, just randomly, completely out of the blue? Would you ask him to autograph a brick, too.
Obviously not - apart from the fact I don’t collect autographs, few bricklayers are stonemasons, so carving his signature would be difficult, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass him, and a brick isn’t a particular easy thing to store! :)
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Millennium
So - maybe society will evolve to the stage where these people are able to do what they want?
Probables not... In Roman times it was athletes, gladiators and philosophers who were the celebs. In Medieval times it was famous jousters. Later on it was writers, explorers, scientists, then writers again, drivers, pilots.... Celeb culture is not especially new.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
peterb
Obviously not - apart from the fact I don’t collect autographs, few bricklayers are stonemasons, so carving his signature would be difficult, and I wouldn’t want to embarrass him, and a brick isn’t a particular easy thing to store! :)
Paintbrush and chalk paint for the sig, then drill out an old brick and lay the signed one directly in the outside wall of your house - Job done and your house is now certified by a genuine artisan!! :lol:
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ttaskmaster
Probables not... In Roman times it was athletes, gladiators and philosophers who were the celebs. In Medieval times it was famous jousters. Later on it was writers, explorers, scientists, then writers again, drivers, pilots.... Celeb culture is not especially new.
I'll politely disagree. Everything has changed now. Call it r lived experience if you wish.
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Millennium
I'll politely disagree. Everything has changed now. Call it r lived experience if you wish.
History says otherwise and today the internet provides great accessibility to many people's private lives - People worshipping celebs have not changed in over 3,500 years, so unless the internet goes away I don't see why this would suddenly change... and would genuinely like to hear what lived experiences you have that might suggest otherwise...
I can see general fame tailing off, once the market has been flooded with more YouTube stars and X-Factor finalists. The 15 minutes of fame thing might reduce to perhaps 30 seconds or getting your own Reddit AMA thread, but those who do more than just a few eps of Big Brother and make it beyond being famous for just being famous will probably still be part of the Cult Of Celebrity.
Maybe we'll have a nuclear winter and finding food will be more important than knowing how many goals someone once scored...
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Well, all I can say is that photo bombing someone on their wedding day is going too far, as is asking for a photo with the happy couple. They'll probably oblige just to get rid of you, but seriously people? Our photographer took it in their stride as the selfie crew descended and captured the moment so we now have a bizarre comedy shot in the album, and I wouldn't mind betting that selfie photo is floating around various facebook accounts in the middle east... still it's all a laugh isn't it. Most of the more "famous" folk I know just want to be treated like a normal person - and there's no point hanging around the ones that don't IMO, life's too short, and it's not worth the hassle.
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Millennium
I'll politely disagree. Everything has changed now. Call it r lived experience if you wish.
The only thing that has changed is accessibility and the opportunity for self public publicity so one can become famous for being famous.
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Millennium
I'll politely disagree. Everything has changed now. Call it r lived experience if you wish.
Tend to agree - even though there has always been celeb culture, hero worship, lionizing & what-have-you, there have arguably been shifts in attitude & boundaries, in terms of public & press behaviour. Eg just to look at the past few decades, there were differences; that bit more respect & restraint, royalty held in higher regard &c, willingness to accept a glamorised/sanitized image of one's favourite screen idols etc - that were not just to do with accessibility.
From a recent article (re Hollywood's Scotty Bowers) - "The book and film are rich in gossip, casting an unsparing spotlight on a Hollywood of old, where secrecy was all and the stars protected by a ruthlessly powerful studio system, aided by a media that, while frothing in gossip, rarely if ever trespassed too far into the sex lives of celebrities." In other words even where information was there it was not handled in the same way as today.
Of course that protected & closed-off atmosphere had its own damaging side for young/child stars, today's face less out & out maltreatment, but still, exploitation, & a set of pressures including a more entitled, possessive & selfish 'fanbase'.
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
CAT-THE-FIFTH
I walked past Terry Prachett in the basement of the Forbidden Planet store when it was near Centre Point in London. He was sat down with two or three people around him,signing a book or something like that- not sure if it was something official or impromptu(since I didn't notice anything about him being there in the front of the shop).
Also I managed to get Jeremy Clarkson to comment on a loud shirt I was wearing many years ago,which was amusing.
I met Sir Terry on a number of occasions. We went to the same school, although I attended much later after it had changed it's name and moved to a different location. He was always overjoyed to meet and interact with fans. Clarkson on the other hand has a reputation for wanting to be left alone...
Re: Famous-person etiquette
*starts poll: "who hasn't met Sir Terry Pratchett?"*
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sammyc
*starts poll: "who hasn't met Sir Terry Pratchett?"*
who?
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sammyc
*starts poll: "who hasn't met Sir Terry Pratchett?"*
SOmone, somewhere is sitting on a collection of rare, unsigned, Discworld novels...
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sammyc
*starts poll: "who hasn't met Sir Terry Pratchett?"*
He might have been around me at some point, but I really didn't care for his work and so wouldn't have noticed...
Re: Famous-person etiquette
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sammyc
*starts poll: "who hasn't met Sir Terry Pratchett?"*
I never had the opportunity, sadly, but my wife met him a couple of times. There was a time he used to go out for a curry* with the owner of the local friendly book & game store in Lancaster, but as his fame grew his publishers & minders put a stop to that, apparently...
Everyone I know who's ever spent any time with him reckoned he was a very decent bloke though.
* I may be misremembering the exact foodstuff they consumed together, but you get the idea...
Re: Famous-person etiquette
I would very much like to happen upon Bill Bailey, purely for the opportunity to point both fingers at him and say "Heyyyyy! Same coat!" Despite not actually wearing a coat. He might not find it funny, but I would. :mrgreen: