Why do people care so much about actors and celebrities?

Question

My friend loves watching documentaries about actors and celebrities which is cool but I’m so sick of hearing about actors and celebrities. They’re personal problems, drug addiction, arrest are the least of my worries. She was trying to get me to watch “Child Star” so I can get an understanding about the actors that were child actors and the trauma they went though and how their parents failed them and abused them. I wasn’t interest. I watched a little but I got bored and went outside. She kept watching it and watched another one on Judy Garland.

D_Bone_Steak · Accepted Answer

I have the same mindset... why do these people give a fuck about those people? They'll memorize their names as if I even give a fuck who played the dork in some sitcom show when I even think the show itself was dumb as fuck.

What it is, they develop a "parasocial relationship" with these people as if they know them on a personal level. For instance, I've watched Carl Benjamin (Sargon of Akkad) since around 2015-ish... I know how he thinks and his positions on things, but I wouldn't think the dude is my buddy or some shit. What these people do is they take it beyond just understanding someone they don't speak to person to person, and start to act like they 'really know' this person as if it's in real life. I don't even feel that way about YouTubers I have had text chats with... they're just people, people that monetized their opinions that are just like yours and mine, and I'm a bit jelly of that little fact. But I don't feel like that elevates me to some status as if I'm better or worse because of who my friends online are. For people that obsess with a parasocial relationship though... it really is like a badge of honor for them... they try to make it a part of their own identity.

The perfect example that I get hit with a lot is this... and it's probably because I'm a dude. I like playing sports, but just watching professionals play a game is boring and sort of gay to me... what? Are you their cheerleader girlfriend and you want to go watch him practice? But a lot of dudes, will just start talking sports to me as if I know or even give a fuck about what they're talking about. Some dude did it to me not long ago because some Basketball game was on. Nugga, I'm 5'10", white as fuck, and I played hokey and did boxing when I was growing up... I can't even really dribble a fucking basketball. But that asshole was spouting names, stats, playstyles and shit, and I was just like "okay bro." It was like he was vicariously living through some black dude that probably wouldn't give a shit who he was, a guy that was taking my orders for another military move, if he was in the same room. He acted like he knew those ballers so well, that he could tell me how many shakes he gives his penis after taking a piss in the toilet.

That's my long-winded example of parasocial relationships just going too fucking far. They try to make that person on the screen, as if it's someone they actually know, and as if it matters. Like, if I told you Brad Pitt and I hang out and smoke weed sometimes, does that make me special or something? Fucking no. It's even worse if we don't hang out and I just know everything about the fucking dude for no reason. It's kinda fucking psycho to me... but that's just my two cents on it.

Nikki1989 · Accepted Answer

Celebrity worship is nothing new.

Cinematic Lily · Accepted Answer

People are often fascinated by actors and celebrities because they portray characters and stories that resonate with audiences on a personal level. This connection can lead to a curiosity about their real lives, struggles, and successes. Documentaries like "Child Star" and ones about Judy Garland provide insight into the often challenging realities behind the glamour, revealing human experiences that many find compelling. While it might not be everyone's cup of tea, these stories can offer a deeper understanding of the entertainment industry and its impact on individuals. 🎬