What can we do about do-good celebrities...?

Question

....who feel so guilty about having so much in such a short period of time without having to really earn it and want to put the rest of us on a guilt trip because we're working like dogs to be able to provide our families with basic necessities and simple pleasures?

ROFLMAO! Wow - some of these answers are hysterical! I'm gonna have a tough time picking the best answer on this one.

Answer 1

Hope they just go away, change the channel on tv.

Answer 2

I would much rather see Bono trying to do something about a real problem than, for example, Merril Streep testifying before congress on the "dangers" of spraying Alar on apples in WA. As if she's an expert. I believe John Travolta took his boat to New Orleans to help out while while the Dem politicians blamed Bush for the hurricane. Springsteen uses the stage to promote Bush hating. Shut up and sing! At least Bono is asking our opinions. I don't have a problem with him being rich. I want to be rich too.

Answer 3

The problem is not with the celebrities . . . the problem is with you. Why do YOU feel guilty? If you are working hard and living a responsible life without excessive waste then you have no reason to feel guilty. I have never seen a celebrity attempt to put anyone living responsibly on a 'guilt trip'.

Either you are doing something that you might want to change to feel less guilty or you may want to learn how to get rid of unneccesary guilt.

Answer 4

When you encounter these people (like Bono who has a question on Yahoo answers right now) just tell it like it is. And just do what you can and encourage others to do the same. No one can do all the work that needs to be done- not alone. Do what you can and then let it go or you will drive yourself crazier. But for your real question, if celebs are doing some good, let them do it. Of course they're going to hype themselves. That's what they do. Hype helps spread the word. If you catch them pretending to be helping, but you know they really aren't, public humiliation is a powerful weapon. A little web flame can fire up the whole world.

Answer 5

At least they are out there doing something.... and I would love to see you try to make a movie. We all sit around thinking it would be glamorous to make one, but it isn't. I've had some friends that were actors... not big shots or anything, but its not an easy job no matter what part in a movie you have. The easiest part in a movie would have to be a crowd extra which is the part they give to all us "normal" people.

Yeah they have money and live in a nice house and wear nice clothes... but most people would once they got that kind of money. But at least they're out there giving money and time and effort to a good cause. Face it... no mass body will give much attention to someone who works a 9-5 job unless there''s a celeb standing next to them shouting the same thing out.

Answer 6

Those of us who have a lot can do a lot. Those of us who have little, can do a little. It does not matter how much we all have, but it matters that we want to contribute, and then if we can, we do.

Celebrities who have so much available and want to contribute, I have to commend for doing that. There are so many others who take it and run. I would support those who are able to contribute more, and give them congratulatory best wishes.

Guilt is not something that belongs to this scenario. We give what we can, and when we can't we applaud those who can. Get rid of the guilt. There is no need. It is counter productive to the individual feeling guilty for having "so little" when the truth is, we in this country, on our worst day, have it 100X better than others in Africa who have nearly nothing. Be thankful for what you do have, and grateful to those able to give more.

Answer 7

You don't think they really earn it? Wow! I'm sorry, but I think they do. The hours that they have to put in, the invasion of privacy by the media, not being able to walk down the street without being hounded....I don't think I'd want that kind of lifestyle. And I've NEVER heard any of them trying to put us on a guilt trip! Sounds like you could be a little envious of them.

Answer 8

Why do you think that they got to where they are without earning it, or they feel guilty about their status? How do you know that they didn't sing in smoky bars and coffee houses for 20 years before they became overnight sensations? Why shouldn't they use their influence to try to help someone who's worse off than them?

If they've got the ability to get the word out about a problem, and can get other people to help do something about it, I say more power to them!

Answer 9

They make that money because of YOU, you the consumer create thier success. Most people who are celebrities have worked just as hard as you, have been SMARTER than you, and deserve every bit of their success. Now of course theres Paris Hilton & people rich because of their parents, but they are in the minority when it comes to celebrities.

The fact is, you don't NEED your house in suburbia and your new car, it's the lifestyle you choose to lead. Don't knock do-good celebrities for taking advantage of thier status to try and "do good" in the world. They don't feel guilty about being successful, and aren't trying to make you feel guilty. They are trying to solve issues (although most of the time, the wrong ones).

And to the guy who said that we are hated for hollywood; we (the U.S.) are hated because of our crooked foreign policy, the one that you say helps others out "democratically". That was why we were attacked on 9/11, it was an attack on our foreign policy. The reason why hollywood is hated, is because it represents America, what they view as the "great oppressor."

Answer 10

It isn't like Bono is putting a gun to your head and saying "support poverty or die" he's talking to the people who can help out. Not the people who are "working like dogs to be able to provide our families with basic necessities and simple pleasures". He's talking to the people who can give what they can.

Answer 11

I love the fact that it seems that everyone is totally fed up with dipshit stars trying to tell us how to live our live. We must end the infatuation with those more fortunate than us as we all know that most of them are pretty screwed up individuals.

I hope that the Baldwins, Penns, Dixie Chicks etc all fulfill their promises to leave our country; we would be much better for it. They try to convince us that people hate the US because we are uncaring people, when in fact the hatred stems from the filth that Hollywood constantly streams to the rest of the world. We are not a nation of uncaring people who look for people/countries to dominate in search of cheap gasoline. We are the leader in trying to raise up others to their full potential in a democratic fashion.

Love you all for your fantastic replies, you have restored my faith that we are not a nation of blithering idiots waiting for some celeb to tell us what we are doing wrong :)