I think the media pay too much attention to the private lives of famous people. Television,
' P# R$ m% W t( e, ?- Znewspapers, magazines and web sites dig up all kinds of past bad actions. They say that these are true reflections of a person’s character. This may be true if they occurred only a few years before, but some of these are things people did as teenagers. People in their forties are expected to 2 X5 C2 m) Z0 A5 B6 O& i6 J9 x0 P
explain something they did when they were fifteen. If they killed someone, obviously that’s more than a youthful mistake. Usually, though, these incidents involve experiments with drugs or being reckless in a car. They’re not something that the public needs to know.
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The media love to say that the public has a right to know. That’s not true. We don’t need to know if a movie star or politician has had an extramarital affair. That is something of concern only to
, W& A9 v" Z9 W) b* Wthe people involved. We do need to know if someone we’re electing to public office has been
9 e5 M6 S" N) S, f/ K Cinvolved in shady business deals, but we don’t need to know if he or she defaulted on a loan
) H8 J Y" G9 k( b+ S5 B' _; b8 Vtwenty years ago.
1 R: O. A/ P9 J5 yIt seems the media dig up these facts without giving thoughtful consideration to what might , {' _" Q D6 w) ]
happen. It has an effect on the celebrity’s family, especially the children. A celebrity’s good name and credibility may be ruined before he or she can prove that rumors are false. If a case goes to # \* t+ n t; ^: F
court, paying a lawyer can use up all their money. Even if it doesn’t come to that, they may find their career ruined. & t, L2 I5 u' _) x/ R
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When are we, the public, going to make it clear to the media that we’re tired of having to watch
6 b; Y/ Z& Q% n/ F* [this kind of thing on the news? Wouldn’t it be better if they would concentrate on more important : g% Y L1 C; O1 }
issues? |