Hot Topic (8/2): Does Hollywood have a negative impact on the world?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

When Sarah Palin resigned she blasted the media and petite Hollywood "starlets"!

Do you agree? Does Hollywood have a negative impact on the world? And how do you feel about the media and their lies. Case in point being the latest, with the reports of Sarah and her husband divorcing.

[BeamerBruin]

I don't know exactly what Sarah Palin said, so I can't comment on that, but I do NOT think that "Hollywood" is the exact same thing as the MSM. Journalism has ALWAYS been biased - some publications/newshows lean left and some right...some make more of an effort to be moderate but they are all biased. I think it could be argued that some forms of MSM have overlapped with "Hollywood" and of course you have the faux entertainment news shows...but really I don't think you can lump the two together.

As for "Hollywood", I have always considered our celebrities to be America's replacement for royalty...it's in human nature to look for leadership and to enjoy gossip and in the past, this was usually geared toward the ruling elite...oftentimes true Royalty (look at the way Britain is with Diana, etc.)...Over the years, many of our politicians have been rather boring (except JFK - Jackie O was very much a celebrity) and with the rise of "Hollywood", actors and actresses became (and were molded into) "stars/starlets"...They present an image of themselves and then basically sell this image as a commodity in order to promote their movies, etc. (is this making sense?). Anyways, I think all of this has led to "pop" culture and the obsession with celebrities...Unfortunately, this obsession (but I would argue NOT the stars or "Hollywood" itself) can have a VERY negative impact on society, especially on impressionable youth.

Sorry for the long-winded explanation, but I was just trying to build up to my point which is that I think that our job as parents is to teach our children morality and ethics APART from what they see in "Hollywood", even though this can be difficult when young people are bombarded with images of skeletal actresses or a hyper sexual pop culture...ultimately, our children are going to grow into adults who need to have the ability to discern true character and not be governed by what Hollywood or pop culture tells them is right or wrong.

Since I've already written a little novella here, I won't even comment on "media lies" ;)

[Imsupermom2]

Yes, Hollywierd ( oh I mean Hollywood) does have a negative impact on the world in far to many ways. The ones that do have made it that way.

[MAUREEN55]

Absolutely, but not in the way Sarah Palin was complaining about.  I think when celebrities use their fame to promote causes they feel strongly about that's fine. 

But the way reality TV and entertainment shows cover the lives of celebrities has brainwashed this country into thinking that lifestyle is the American dream.  We can't figure out why the economy is in the tubes, yet tons of 16 year old girls think weekly manicures and pedicures are a necessity and people spend $500 on purses when they can't pay their rent.

[sappharie]

 YEAP AND YEAP

Quoting MAUREEN55:

Absolutely, but not in the way Sarah Palin was complaining about.  I think when celebrities use their fame to promote causes they feel strongly about that's fine. 

But the way reality TV and entertainment shows cover the lives of celebrities has brainwashed this country into thinking that lifestyle is the American dream.  We can't figure out why the economy is in the tubes, yet tons of 16 year old girls think weekly manicures and pedicures are a necessity and people spend $500 on purses when they can't pay their rent.

[resamerie]

I think people in Hollywood need to step back out of politics unless they have some sort of education in world affairs instead of just an Oscar. Look at Schwarzenegger . His only higher education is a B.A. in marketing of fitness and business admin. from 1979. But he's in the movies so he must be smart....right? Now, look at the state of Cali now. I can't say too much about the stars though. It's the idiotic people that vote for or listen to them because they are so star-struck.

[Mom2LiamNMolly]

I live in a town where Hollywood vacations or has second homes. What bothers me is their two faced nature. In California, Jamie Lee Curtis drives a Prius but up here she has a VW Toureg which is proven to the least efficient car in existance, even over Hummers... and speaking of Hummers, Arnie claims to have sold his fleet... and maybe he did but to a family member because 16 still sit in his garage here... in his 44,000 square foot (yes its ONE acre) house.... and speaking of big houses, John Kerry and Teresa Heinz have a place here that is so NOT eco-friendly..... down to the THREE gas powered mowers to do the lawn, the HEATED tennis courts that are on all year even thought they are here maybe 4 weeks a year, and the full time staff thta utilize energy all year long... oh and when they are here, they have nifty gas guzzling ford excursions.... 2... in black.... Nice guy Tom Hanks is a real azzhole who put a local contractor under and destryed the evidence of bad contracting against judges orders....his wife is a snobby bitch insisting on business closing to the public if she is going to go there.... she has her assistant call ahead to make sure the place is clear and locked and then has confidentiality agreements signed before entering even a clothes store!!!!! Or a carpet showroom.... These people all pitch things and are totally different in real life.. the ones true to self are those like Peter Cetera (Chicago), Bruce Willis, Carole King, Buzz Aldrin, Chad Stuart (chad and jeremy... not that any of you are old enough to know them), and Annette Benning.

[lynz63]

In my opinion most of the Hollywood people are disgusting. The good stars are dying off...and what is left??? trashy girls  and guys, acting trashy in public. They have no idea how to be discreet regarding their affairs. When I was a teenager, there were movie magazines. We bought them to learn the latest gossip. Now You can't even buy a regular magazine without a picture and story of one of the celebrities. and something sleazy they usually done. And they make disgusting movies...every thing's about sex. It ain't like it use to be.

[rozepyle]

yeah it does, take for instance my situation, i love CLOTHES and heels. i wear nice clothes and heels all the time.... even places that one might not want to wear something like say a dress to the park (no my shit doesnt show im appropriate) my hair is done, i dont do my nails i paint my own toes i keep up my appearance does it take me long to get ready? no! 1/2 hr tops on lucky days 15 other days, i just know crafty ways to do things quickly... but i get shit on.... all the time, i get comments like your not a fucking celebrity why do you get to wear wedges and designer jeans to the grocery store? it makes me feel good! it makes me look good, celebrities are ALWAYS decked out when they go out even if it its just to walk around or go shopping, and that is what we see and thats how we want to look, but on the other end people like me are getting dissed on since when do you have to be famous to wear nice things and like nice things?

[mrs_khan07]

I can't stand people who follow Hollywood news as if it will affect their lives at all. It drives me absolutely crazy. I hate everything about Hollywood. It's like we're all constantly trying to escape reality. Gee I wonder why the world sucks so bad, none of us are really in it. These people make ridiculous amounts of money pretending to be someone they're not and w spend ridiculous amounts of money to watch people pretend to be someone they're not. It's a disgusting chain that needs to be broken.

Here's another thing that irritates me. The celeb mags and those who can't live without them and must buy them, but at the same time say, "It's too bad they can't have any privacy because of the press." Well, the reason why the press is hounding them is because you keep buying their damn magazines! I cannot watch TV, it has lost all enjoyment for me, I just get angry and lose faith in mankind.

Don't even get me started on pro-athletes. They are heroes???!!!! Are you kidding me? I'm so sick of the world.

[margroc]

Quoting resamerie:

I think people in Hollywood need to step back out of politics unless they have some sort of education in world affairs instead of just an Oscar. Look at Schwarzenegger . His only higher education is a B.A. in marketing of fitness and business admin. from 1979. But he's in the movies so he must be smart....right? Now, look at the state of Cali now. I can't say too much about the stars though. It's the idiotic people that vote for or listen to them because they are so star-struck.

Just curious - do you feel about Reagan?