Answered Conundrum Next Conundrum

psionandy psionandy

Do we need celebrities to tell us what to care about? or are they important in raising issues?

Pamela Anderson is fronting a campaign to save the seals from the annual hunt on Canada's East Coast.

Why do we need celebrities to tell us about these things? Should we let the facts speak for themselves?

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2009-10-23-anderson_N.htm
Interesting Question? Yes (1) No (0)
RSS

Best Answer Chosen by Asker

raerae2
raerae2
Marked as Best! October 26, 2009 11:19 PM
Celebrities do nothing more than help bring a little more attention to the cause or causes they've chosen to support.We certainly don't need them to tell us about these causes, but it helps shine a bigger light on an issue when people we look up to (in a way) or admire are supporting them.

Again, we don't need them to raise awareness, but we certainly become more in tune of what's going on when people we admire start campaigning. We all have busy lives and when someone like a celebrity (who has an immensely demanding schedule) takes time to promote a cause and raise awareness for that cause, it helps us take note that if they can make time, them we can too. And that we should make time to fight for a cause that we believe in.

So, in the end, I'd say they are actually quite important in the realm of raising awareness, but we certainly don't need them to tell us what to care about.
Asker's Rating:
Helpful Answer? (0)   (0)
Permalink | Report
Reply

Other Answers (3)
Sort By

cheapgamer
cheapgamer
October 26, 2009 09:23 PM
The reason is simple, without someone bringing light to a fact a fact may go unseen.

The seal hunt is not news to me, but if I heard about Pamela Anderson's campaign to stop the seal hunt several years ago it would have been news to me. Her involvement may bring fresh attention to the issue.

Celeberies have a unique ability to capture the attention of the public, consider all of the things Paul Newman had done to assist the less fortunate. It is not just actors, consider Dave Thomas founder of Wendy's and his fantastic work to bring attention to adoption & foster care.

http://www.newmansown.com/ $270,000,000 to thousands of charities.
http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/
Helpful Answer? (1)   (0)
Permalink | Report
Reply
lgalatea
lgalatea
October 26, 2009 09:23 PM
Celebrities give a "Joe Famous" name behind many causes. It is an amazing thing what a celebrity endorser can do. Just look at Michael J. Fox. He has helped raise millions for Parkinson's Disease research. Few people would know much about other causes without their celebrity backers. PETA of course flaunts celebrity endorsements when they can because they understand the power that popculture has in our society. People want to be like the celebrities they watch. They learn and do more to support causes they feel familiar with through the celebrity encouragement.

Yes, it is important to be aware. It is essential for us as a people to know about causes and help support the ones that are important to us. But causes are in many cases a BUSINESS. Business means money. The CEOs rely on the commercialism in our society to make money to support both the causes and their personal lifestyle. My caveat for everyone is to research causes and find out who is really behind the heart-wrenching drama. If we don't like the way they spend the money, we should find a good way to help the same cause with maybe a different but related organization. Don't like PETA but want to help animals? Consider the Humane Society. Don't care for the CCF or Unicef but want to help kids? Consider Feed the Children. There are always alternatives, so don't let a famous face decide which one is the best organization to support. :)
Helpful Answer? (1)   (0)
Permalink | Report
Reply
jkepler
jkepler
October 27, 2009 01:00 AM
From the causes' perspective, celebrities are extremely necessary. There are many causes that I have already determined are not worth my time, and getting celebrities to attempt to change my mind is the only hope they've got. When you look at it that way, it makes a lot of sense. We don't need them to tell us. In fact, they get in the way of our own rational decision making processes. I'm much more willing to support a cause that's not worth my time over a cause that is worth my time when it's what the celebrity wants me to do.
Helpful Answer? (0)   (0)
Permalink | Report
Reply

Answer this Question


View All Causes Questions

Ask a Conundrum


140 characters left

Categories

Large Glass of Conundrum Wine

Welcome to ConundrumLand

Please enter your zip code.