Oscar Wilde once said, "The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about." And this view is reinforced in a sickening trend that's developing in the media, of which both those who perpetrate it, and those in the media who enable it should be ashamed: Negative Hype.
Not long ago, performers would be rightly mentioned in the media because of their obvious talents. Today, most 'celebrities' can barely form coherent sentences so the new ploy seems to be to create a negative incident then hype it incessantly, thereby gaining visibility and coverage for a 'star' too inept, worthless and untalented to achieve it on their own. A few current examples:
1. Clay Aiken.
The hamster-haired, former American Idol participant was [allegedly] involved in an airplane disturbance with a fellow passenger while en route to Tulsa International Airport. The female passenger has not claimed harassment, is never seen on TV, and is not [currently] suing.
...Yet, mysteriously, the story won't die??
Could it be that Mr, Aiken's 'people' are pushing this to regain visibility for a talent the nation has practically, and quite rightly forgotten? Could it be this 'passenger' was actually a plant? Perish the thought!...Or should we?
And while we're on the subject, 'Tulsa International Airport'? That's a joke, right? You can't get anywhere from Tulsa International Airport??...Not even to Tulsa!
2/ Miss New Jersey.
An untalented Barbie doll whose name I couldn't be induced to remember if I were subjected to mind-altering drugs claims she's doing nothing illegal in photos held by someone allegedly trying to blackmail her into giving up her crown.
The solution is so blindingly simple, even a a professional narcissist could grasp it: Publish them yourself and you cut the 'blackmailer' off at the knees. Fail to do so and you're lying for the attention.
3/ The Apprentice.
As you all know, I detest the entire 'Reality' genre with a passion that defies measurement. When half your contestants are Actors, every word is scripted and the repugnant result is merely an endless swarm of product placements designed to exploit the viewers and enrich the Producers, you have very little claim to 'reality.' And this show was one of the most repulsive examples.
My guess is the ratings were collapsing so a patronizing solution was concocted: Step 1: Announce an acrimonious 'cancellation'. Step 2: Bathe in the attention for a few weeks. Step 3: Announce that due to 'huge public demand' [which there wasn't,] the show has been 'miraculously' saved [which was always the plan].
Result? The ratings revive and you get to place more products and make more money...All without the tiresome inconvenience of forming a new idea.
And there are more examples of this manipulation than anyone should be induced to imagine. Which only serves to add more urgency to a simple question:
Given that the objective is to get attention, when will these sad egocentrics ever realize they'd have more success by treating us as intelligent adults?
Not long ago, performers would be rightly mentioned in the media because of their obvious talents. Today, most 'celebrities' can barely form coherent sentences so the new ploy seems to be to create a negative incident then hype it incessantly, thereby gaining visibility and coverage for a 'star' too inept, worthless and untalented to achieve it on their own. A few current examples:
1. Clay Aiken.
The hamster-haired, former American Idol participant was [allegedly] involved in an airplane disturbance with a fellow passenger while en route to Tulsa International Airport. The female passenger has not claimed harassment, is never seen on TV, and is not [currently] suing.
...Yet, mysteriously, the story won't die??
Could it be that Mr, Aiken's 'people' are pushing this to regain visibility for a talent the nation has practically, and quite rightly forgotten? Could it be this 'passenger' was actually a plant? Perish the thought!...Or should we?
And while we're on the subject, 'Tulsa International Airport'? That's a joke, right? You can't get anywhere from Tulsa International Airport??...Not even to Tulsa!
2/ Miss New Jersey.
An untalented Barbie doll whose name I couldn't be induced to remember if I were subjected to mind-altering drugs claims she's doing nothing illegal in photos held by someone allegedly trying to blackmail her into giving up her crown.
The solution is so blindingly simple, even a a professional narcissist could grasp it: Publish them yourself and you cut the 'blackmailer' off at the knees. Fail to do so and you're lying for the attention.
3/ The Apprentice.
As you all know, I detest the entire 'Reality' genre with a passion that defies measurement. When half your contestants are Actors, every word is scripted and the repugnant result is merely an endless swarm of product placements designed to exploit the viewers and enrich the Producers, you have very little claim to 'reality.' And this show was one of the most repulsive examples.
My guess is the ratings were collapsing so a patronizing solution was concocted: Step 1: Announce an acrimonious 'cancellation'. Step 2: Bathe in the attention for a few weeks. Step 3: Announce that due to 'huge public demand' [which there wasn't,] the show has been 'miraculously' saved [which was always the plan].
Result? The ratings revive and you get to place more products and make more money...All without the tiresome inconvenience of forming a new idea.
And there are more examples of this manipulation than anyone should be induced to imagine. Which only serves to add more urgency to a simple question:
Given that the objective is to get attention, when will these sad egocentrics ever realize they'd have more success by treating us as intelligent adults?
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