Commentary on Polanski and Hollywood

[Maddy00]

This article says it all. I'm so sick of Hollyweird thinking they (or others thinking they) are our moral compass. Unfortunately, most are so out of touch with regular joes and they just don't know it.

Enjoy this..it's a great read!

Commentary: Hollywood is clueless when it comes to Polanski – Campbell Brown - CNN.com Blogs

[MONICALEIGH]

Thanks for posting. I don't care how talented he is, or how much he's been through, what an arrogant bast**d to think he shouldn't have to pay the price like everyone else.

I have a daughter and when I think back to when she was 13 yrs. old, and if some 44 yr. old pervert took advantage of her nude photos and all, I can't even imagine the rage I would feel if he didn't serve his time. JMHO.

Monica

[Lesley]

I don't know of anyone in real life that has had Hollywood set their moral compass.

[Maddy00]

Unfortunatey Lesley, many in America look to celebrities for information and opinions and they place a lot of value on it.

I am sure you can't deny the likes of Sean Penn, Bono, Oprah, Barbara Streisand, Gyneth Paltrow, are just a few names of those who have been vocal and even campaigned for Obama and company. Far too many like Penn's latest movie or Oprah's latest episode and believe what they say must be the truth and nothing but.

It's one thing to hold a point of view because of your own beliefs or philosophy, it's another to do so because of your favorite star.

To argue against that would be disingenuous.

[Lesley]

Not disingeneous at all. Reality. What's disingenious is to imply that this nation is filled with people that do just as you stated....listed to a celebrity to form moral opinions. I siply don't think that to be true. Americans in particular are generally very opinionated and difficult to herd on one direction. They take very seriously their rights and opinions and abilities to march to the beat of their own drummer.

It's heartening for me to hear famous people be on the same page as I am, politically. But certainly I nor anyone in know IRL, will take a 180 deg turn on a personal moral issue because Shean Penn said something or Oprah. Those people have a platform and they use it. They can state out loud the truisms I also believe in, but I don't feel like I'm being heard. Those platforms are used often for no more that unifying like minded people and creating a loud enough voice to be heard, and not for changing minds.

[intheknow]

Originally Posted by Lesley

Not disingeneous at all. Reality. What's disingenious is to imply that this nation is filled with people that do just as you stated....listed to a celebrity to form moral opinions. I siply don't think that to be true. Americans in particular are generally very opinionated and difficult to herd on one direction. They take very seriously their rights and opinions and abilities to march to the beat of their own drummer.

It's heartening for me to hear famous people be on the same page as I am, politically. But certainly I nor anyone in know IRL, will take a 180 deg turn on a personal moral issue because Shean Penn said something or Oprah. Those people have a platform and they use it. They can state out loud the truisms I also believe in, but I don't feel like I'm being heard. Those platforms are used often for no more that unifying like minded people and creating a loud enough voice to be heard, and not for changing minds.

Trillions and trillions of dollars in advertising expenses says you are flat wrong.

[Maddy00]

I happen to think you're wrong. It's a part of our culture and I know VERY few who would disagree. I'm sure now many here will pipe up, but off this bb...not so much.

And ITK is right...the amount of $$ spent on magazines, commercials, and PSAs, and the time and effort given to getting this point of view out there (in order to gain support) is enormous. I'm pretty sure no advertising firm would agree with you!

[Lesley]

ahhhh....advertising, a horse of a different color vs. celebrity opinions.

Celebrities in advertising? Generally used to gain that crowd that already resonates with that person. Still not use to sway a 180 degree moral compass. That is what we were talking about right? Moral Compass? Johnny Depp will never be able to get me to start spanking my kids, or press them into sex slavery.

[robine]

Depp's kids are into sex slavery?

[rae]

Originally Posted by Lesley

Not disingeneous at all. Reality. What's disingenious is to imply that this nation is filled with people that do just as you stated....listed to a celebrity to form moral opinions. I siply don't think that to be true. Americans in particular are generally very opinionated and difficult to herd on one direction. They take very seriously their rights and opinions and abilities to march to the beat of their own drummer.

It's heartening for me to hear famous people be on the same page as I am, politically. But certainly I nor anyone in know IRL, will take a 180 deg turn on a personal moral issue because Shean Penn said something or Oprah. Those people have a platform and they use it. They can state out loud the truisms I also believe in, but I don't feel like I'm being heard. Those platforms are used often for no more that unifying like minded people and creating a loud enough voice to be heard, and not for changing minds.

I don't know that I'd agree with this. There are literally millions of people who have anxiously awaited with bated breath, just to hear which book Oprah is reading next in her book club. Instantly, the book makes all the best-seller lists, turns the author into a millionaire, as millions upon millions of viewers run out to buy their copy.

Ditto with Oprah's Favorite Things. Each holiday season, all the items she mentions on her show sell out of the stores within minutes. Well, at least the affordable items sell out that quick. The computers and such take a 'ltttle' longer, but they are all hot ticket items, too. And all because Oprah likes them.