Why do people want to be famous?

wordy · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:20

I'd hate it to be honest, even if there was a lot of money involved.

Voltar · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:20

Vanity

alex24 · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:23

To give their otherwise worthless lives some shallow meaning.

Adsta · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:26

My agent has told me to make no comment.

WingZero30 · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:27

It's a natural desire to get attention/be centre of stage and to get that 'satisfaction' from being appreciated.

rypt · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:27

Wizzfizz said:
Money.

Begbie said:
Sex appeal.

Nitefly · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:31

I'd like to be famous to an extent, but I guess I'd like to more to be massively appreciated for something niche without having any media fuss. I like the Paul Gilbert level of fame. Lots of girls would be nice too.

Nothing wrong with wanting to be globally liked and desired, surely?

ThomasTheTankEngine · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:32

The people that bother me are the ones who want to be famous without actually being good at anything.

OriginalJonty · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:36

I'd like to be famous for having written a good book that people like. Not famous for the sake of being famous.

MickeyFinns · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:42

I think a lot of it is do with people being a bit short sighted and not considering every aspect of what fame entails.

I think being well known, as in knowing a lot of people (two way relationship rather than one), and respected for your work is what people really strive for.

Father Ted · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:43

uv said:
in the same way that Jonathon Merric was famous?

If you're refering to the Elephant Man not famous enough apparently - it was Joseph Merrick, if not then I humbly apologise ...

Cosimo · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:45

cm1179 said:
i look like i should be famous

Only we can be the judge of that. It's post your pic time.

Six6siX · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:48

"I know you're hatin' on me because I'm famous"

DailyGeek · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:51

I would love to be a famous comic. They are a rare breed where they don't get too many mental groupies I think

Plus it's pretty much the pinnacle of the career I'd like to end up in eventualy.

Podmonkey · 23 Dec 2010 at 12:58

Father Ted said:
If you're refering to the Elephant Man not famous enough apparently - it was Joseph Merrick, if not then I humbly apologise ...

I believe it was both really. Cant remember which way around but he changed from one to the other for some reason (to not be recognised or tracked I think).

Calabi · 23 Dec 2010 at 13:15

I dont think they really thought it through to be honest. They dont really know what they want to be, so they say that.

gillywibble · 23 Dec 2010 at 13:17

More to the point, I don't understand people's obession with celebrities.

uv · 23 Dec 2010 at 13:18

Podmonkey said:
I believe it was both really. Cant remember which way around but he changed from one to the other for some reason (to not be recognised or tracked I think).

Indeed, it was both:

Wiki said:
A more mysterious error is that of Merrick's first name. Treves, in his earlier journal articles as well as his book, insisted on calling him John Merrick. The reason for this is unclear; Merrick clearly signed his name as "Joseph" in the examples of his handwriting that remain.[96] In the handwritten manuscript for The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences, Treves began his account by writing "Joseph" and then crossed it out and replaced it with "John".[97] Whatever the reason for the error, it is one that persisted throughout much of the 20th century; later biographers who based their work on Treves' book have continued the error.

I remembered his name as John and not Joseph, as that's how he is referred to in Lynch's The Elephant Man. A heart-wrenching film

Beasty · 23 Dec 2010 at 13:21

I think being wealthy and NOT famous would be far better. Just get a nice house in the countryside somewhere and live my life out.

Raymond Lin · 23 Dec 2010 at 13:25

Lysander said:
Someone people want to be famous because it means they will have excelled in their field. So it's not just about attention-whoring, but being the best at their passion.

Thats diffeent, in your example, they like recognition for their work and effort. Its not the same thing as want to be famous and be in the spot light.