Kudos to Liz G. for posting what is the most viewed article on Gather.
It is a story about Chris Brown beating Rhianna and just since last night it has received over 3,600 hits.
For that I credit Liz G. and in no way do I take anything away from her and I am not in anyway criticizing her but I find the popularity of the post to be a very sad commentary on our society.
It is a sad state of affairs when a preponderance of interest is found in the meaningless antics of two individuals whose lives have little if any impact on anything that matters in our lives. With all that is going on in the world and the fate of nations being determined as we speak, the actions of Chris Brown and Rhianna are what Americans are most interested in.
If these two beat the life out of each other, it would be sad and it would leave the pop charts with a few less hits but what beyond that would it mean?
Do Chris Brown and Rhianna have any bearing on our lives? Do their efforts restore health to a cancer victim like doctors do? Do their service to America defend us from terrorists as soldiers do? Will their decisions determine the economic fate of our nation for decades to come as our representatives in government are about to do?
I will not take anything away from the talent of Chris Brown and Rhianna and their music. I will also not take anything away from the entertainment value of their works. As entertainers they help provide those who like their music, with moments of pleasure and relief. They provide people with a temporary escape from the sometimes overwhelming reality that we face.
However, are they so important that more people know who they are than they do the name of their own representative in Congress?
Are Chris Brown and Rhianna more interesting than whether or not the political fate of our nation for the next ten years might be determined because of one decision made by the White House regarding the census?
Are they more important than our free nation's conversion to socialism?
Apparently they are.
Apparently more people are more interested in what is going on in the lives of two pop stars than they are in what will determine the quality of their own lives for decades to come.
Just today, a courageous man received the keys to New York City for his ability to save the lives of 155 people when the airplane they were on lost power. The man saved lives, yet Chris Brown gets more attention for hitting Rhianna then Chesley Sullenberger gets for saving lives.
As I said I do not knock Liz G. or take anything away from her post. I give her credit for providing the people with what they want. I am just disappointed in the fact that what the people want is to know more about two rich pop stars than anything that matters.
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Comments: 13
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That said, I'll openly admit that I'm a fan of entertainment stories (the good and the bad); it's a business that I'm particularly interested in and having an opportunity to read and write about it is fun for me. (Not to mention I'm a fan of both Rihanna and Chris Brown's music.) I think for a lot of people it's a way to escape from reality and that's why they choose to read things like this. But that doesn't mean that people like myself aren't interested in worldly issues.
As for the Chris Brown and Rihanna article, part of my success was the timing. This is a hot topic at the moment. However, if someone decides to talk about a current political topic that is breaking news, I think it has the potential to reach that number of page views too.
As you pointed out, I was just making a point and although I do not diminish your interest I was just focussing in on the fact that there are more people worried about Britney Spears and the unravelling of her career than there are worried about things such as increased drug violence and drug gang incursions into the United States from Mexico or the socialististic designs on the very air waves that carry Chris Brown's and Rhianna's music.
1. chris brown and rihanna.
2. chris brown and rihanna on who gave who herpes.
3. grammys, chris brown, rihanna
4. the octuplets
5. grammys
Just in case you thought other topics would come at 6,7, and 8
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6. joke on recession
7. chris brown ri....
8. porn star running for senate
Alan.... Interesting list!
I saw lots of interest in politics when elections were coming up. Everyone knows the experience of voting and can participate. But this big ole bailout was going to happen whoever got elected. And it's so abstract. The proportion is beyond human, the outcome beyond my control. Granted I can't stop celebrities from doing their dumb things either.
I think if politics became more human there would be more interest. The inauguration was really interesting because there were so many normal events you heard about. Obama in a car, handshakes, oaths, music, big hats, bush in a helicopter, the note on Obama's desk, the parties and dancing.
Well I don't even know what Chris Brown did to Rhianna. Something violent I think. It goes in one ear (partially) and out the other (completely)... but the buzz it makes traveling through my head does keep me a headache.