Topic : 03/01 Sudden Fame

          I couldn't stand to be famous. I wouldn't be able to live a life where every time you turn around people are constantly taking pictures. Someone constantly wants your autograph, and then the stress and depression set in sooner or later.  Having all that money is good, but I'm sure there's an expense somewhere

Talent can be just like other aspects of one's life, in that there needs to be positive support for the person to advance in their talent in a well balanced way.  That positive involvement will help if fame comes from the talent.  But talent in artistic ways can tend to be more emotional than other types of, such as scientific, talents.

Not everyone has enough positiveness in their lives to survive fame, which can be a shame for some really otherwise nice folks.

Not everyone goes on reality shows for the purpose of obtaining fame.  As a pastor's wife I was swapped with an atheist's internet radio show's wife on ABC's 'Wife Swap.'  We spent 6 weeks in council prior to our decision to participate.  Obviiously the words 'Pastor's Wife' and 'Wife Swap' do not sound like they should be said in the same sentence.  We knew it was a controversial decision, filled with potential risks.  Though we received overwhelming support, our decision to participate did cost us a few members of our congregation.  We, however would do it all again.  We received over 8,000 hits on our site and 700+ e-mails.   Lives were changed, people returned to church, marriages were restored, parents improved at parenting,families grew closer and even the crew was affected.  The best product of the show: after having had five sons and deciding we would have no more, my husband and I were blessed by the conception of a daughter the night of our 'Wife Swap' reunion.  People locally call her the ABC baby.  My experience with reality was pretty close to reality.  I never said or did anything that was not of my own choosing.  I even had a four hour delay in filming one evening because I re-wrote the crews suggested script.  

Here's one disadvantage that those who want to be reality stars may not have considered.   On a fluke, I responded to a tv request to call a number if you would like to make someone's dream come true.  I called. on behalf of my husbands dream.  An ABC Talent Agent called me in response and told me my husband was selected for his 'dream come true, '  an Alaskan bear hunt.  I was so excited for him.  I was told by the agent to keep it a secret.  I did.  The next day the agent called again and upon discovering that we were on 'Wife Swap,' he sadly informed me that my husband was no longer a candidate.  I had to break the news to my husband.  'Honey, you almost had your dream come true.'  Tomorrow night the 'American Dream Vote' aires on ABC.  My husband was almost a candidate. Now that's another reality of reality.  It can cut you out of grand opportunities.

I do not think Brian has fully realized all the consequences that could happen to him.  He is looking at the immediate future not years down the road.  What happens if he goes through with this process and gets his wish and then meets somebody a few years from not that he really likes. 

What if she finds out about what you did for your 15 minites of fame and this goes completely against all her morals.  You could stand to lose far more then you thought just for that 15 minutes. 

We have become such a nation of followers. We allow Hollywood, corporate America, and their politicians to tell us what we like and what is good for us. We joyfully follow them to the slaughter house, bleating happily about how we are running with the "in" crowd. "Reality" shows are the best thing to hit Hollywood since Wonderbread. They don't have to hire any talent (if such a thing exists anymore) or deal with the "star's" massive egos. Just tell the fools that watch this crap that this is the "latest" thing, and they gobble it up hook, line, and sinker. The most famous people in America are skanky sluts, not talented authors or war heros or anybody that actually deserves the title. We live in such a narcissic society it is no wonder relationships have gone the way of the dinosaur and everyone is so busy worshiping themselves that they couldn't imagine giving any of that love to another deserving human being. In the end, we are all tiny insignificant specks of dust in a huge, uncaring universe, where we matter so little that our passing of time is the blink of an eye. If that is all the time I have to make a difference, I think I will wisely use my time to alleviate some of the suffering I see around me, not trying to get "noticed" by one more person who will forget about me in a few seconds.