celebrities, inappropriate fan behavior and setting boundaries

[rm]

cleolinda on celebrities, inappropriate fan behavior and setting boundaries.

I've had like no chance to read this yet, but you can bet I will be (and will be commenting about it) later.

http://cleolinda.livejournal.com/841629.html

Comments

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

OH GOD FANDOM CAN'T EVER HAVE NICE THINGS WHAT THE CHRIST.

(FWIW, I think you'll like the piece.)

[rm.livejournal.com]

I skimmed it enough to know that I'm nodding along, yeah.

[redstapler.livejournal.com]

Also, how bad is it that I'm relieved there's batshittery worth reading about that's NOT a new ism-Fail?

Sigh.

[britgeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

Seconded.

[brewsternorth.livejournal.com]

Not had a chance to read it in depth either, but... yes. I'm sure you will have things to say about it.

Besides "WHAT IS THIS I DON'T EVEN," which was my first reaction.

[thatwordgrrl.livejournal.com]

Several years ago, at the Browncoat Backup Bash, there was an ass-grabbing incident invovling one of the actors (who, I might add, showed up on their own time without pay because the fans got screwed out of the con that was *supposed* to happen). Essentially, some fans reached out and "pinched an inch," so to speak.

Actor was livid, as they had every right to be, and posted as to such on their MySpace page.

My stance on this is as follows: You wouldn't want your ass grabbed by some random stranger, would you? Odds are, neither would Actor.

[maryling.livejournal.com]

JFC what the fuck is wrong with people??

[rednwhiterose.livejournal.com]

They weren't told 'NO!!!' enough as a children.

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

You can say that again, since it would seem the MOTHER DROVE HER THERE.

OMGWTFBBQ!1!1!1!!1

[mellacita.livejournal.com]

I...

...

...

no.

[saoba.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I lived in Nashville for several years and Crazy Fans What Have No Boundaries are pretty much part of the landscape when you have celebrities congregated.

I mean, you saw them around, you know? Oh, look, there's Clint Black walking to his record label office, there's Faith Hill, hey, that's Johnny Cash. And the town's rules of the road were you could smile, you could speak to them briefly, you let them get on with their damn lives unless they were at an event where they were expected to interact with fans.

There was no quicker way to indicate you were 'not from around here' than to hassle the celebrities. And you still saw people doing really inappropriate stuff, like Nashville was some kind of country music star petting zoo.

I once watched as a person claiming to be a reporter came into a store and the following conversation took place.

Reporter: So, I'm doing this piece on Loretta Lynn.

Clerk: She's good people. She does a lot of good around this town.

Reporter: You've met her?

Clerk: Oh yeah, she comes in here sometimes.

Reporter: Do you know where her house is, exactly?

Clerk: Oh it's 'round here.

Reporter: Do you have the address?

Clerk: (looking at the 'reporter' with mild disapproval) Son, did Miss Loretta want you to come to her house, she'd have told you where it was, now wouldn't she?

[brightlotusmoon.livejournal.com]

Same thing in The Hamptons, where I grew up. It was nicknamed Hollywood East, since many celebrities came to Southampton and Easthampton for vacations and partying. The locals would treat famous people like people. You could always tell a non-local fan by the way they stared, or gossiped, or stalked or harassed (and in my hometown of Sag Harbor, especially, there was Absolutely None Of That, Now Move Along, By The Way That's The Police Station Don't Make Me Escort You).

[kyburg.livejournal.com]

'Fandom' is a vaccum and only as good as what goes into it.

(People, don't wonder long why I won't identify as a fan. Just, don't.)

And I've already written about this.

Ghad, I have talked myself blue already. Repeatedly.

Yes, we really should be arresting and trying this behavior as if it were attempted slavery under the thirteenth amendment. Really really.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

This is made of useful and makes me very, very afraid all at once.

[rm.livejournal.com]

Yup. Note the part of about "celebs need to set boundaries."

YES PLEASE THANK YOU.

[bodlon.livejournal.com]

"Hi. You are in my bushes. This is not how we conduct business. Please to be leaving my house now."

[rm.livejournal.com]

I think the boundaries need to get set way before that asshattery, but that asshattery? This is what police are for.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

*nods* Sadly, no surprises there.

[pocketmouse]

And this is why I have a hard time qualifying my own fannishness. Because I have any of that desire to meet them or let them know that I like them or whatever. In the general sense, if they were really awesome, I might want to work with them, but I well know that doesn't even guarantee anything either, because you can work with someone for two years, and then you move on to another project and you never talk again. RPF already squicks me for reasons along these lines. My interest in the show has nothing to do with the actors, at all.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

well said her.

And... Oh. My. Gods to the story revealed.

[orlacarey.livejournal.com]

I'm a fan of a lot of things - writers, musicians, athletes and actors...but I have a very specific attitude when it comes to them. Unless it's a clear autograph situation (book signing etc) I like being able to recognize them but AT MOST I'll smile and nod.

Even when it's a clear autograph situation I have very little to say, mostly just something about how much I like their work. The same holds true if someone they know were to introduce us - be friendly but don't impose.

My take is that accosting a public figure during their "non public" time is stealing from them. Even celebrities should get to have down time.

[eandh99.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Canada, where Diana Krall and Elvis Costello can go grocery-shopping alone, and be left alone (in my town, which is Diana's hometown), where Martin Sheen can walk down a major street alone and unmolested. There are individual batshit fans, but there's also a culture of entitlement certain places.

[nonlinearmusing.livejournal.com]

Interesting article if not a tad creepy. It's all about boundaries and people feeling they can't set them regardless of whether they are a celebrity or not. Celebrity status does not exclude one from personal hang ups it just makes them more vulnerable to the submission.

The fault lies with both the fan and celebrity. One should know the unspoken societal boundaries and the other should enforce them.

Just my two cents.

[i-amthecosmos.livejournal.com]

I read that and was amazed that it's not about Adam Lambert fandom. That's largely because Lambert isn't home much, I suspect.

I would hear some fen mention "feral fandom" in the past and I never knew what it meant-until I got involved in Lambert fandom. Ho.Lee.Shit. This is easily the most Wild West, fuck-they'll-do-anything group I've ever been involved in. I love my subjects, and some of my fellow fans, but good LORD. I actually fear for Adam and his band's safety.

Luckily, Adam has started setting some boundaries, and giving his fans little projects to keep them busy (like encouraging charity giving instead of fan groups one-upping each other by buying him things). But there's some people who are grouped under his fandom umbrella who need to start doing the same (Cassidy Haley, I mean you).

[sunday-best.livejournal.com]

Hi, I'm Vanessa! I stumbled upon your blog from newyorkers. While I'm not a New Yorker myself, I do enjoy visiting and learning more about the city as I live nearby. I thought I would give you an add because you seem to have such beautiful, refreshing insight about the world... :)

By the way, thanks for this article. I do agree that there needs to be boundaries set for all celebrities. Although pieces of their lives do fascinate me, it's also respectful to leave their personal lives private.

Peace,
V

[roadnotes.livejournal.com]

Aie, aie, aie.

I may have more to say later, but dear gods. And yes on setting boundaries.

[stardust9121.livejournal.com]

Good god. As if the blurring of public/private weren't getting alarming enough.

...OT, but on a less depressing note about fans: have you seen this? http://rm.livejournal.com/1786895.html
http://melannen.dreamwidth.org/77757.html?mode=reply

It's fascinating stuff and I'd love to hear your opinion.