Block the Vote

In recent years, there have been a lot of alt-community efforts to thwart certain aspects of pop culture. Vote for the Worst is one example that comes to mind; its purpose is to catapult the worst singer on American Idol to stardom. But whereas that is somewhat mean spirited (and arguably as much a waste of time as voting for the best), there are other forms of sabotage that seem to serve a greater purpose.

George Clooney, a tireless advocate for celebrity's rights to privacy, recently suggested that false reports of celebrity sightings be emailed to Gawker Stalker in order to compromise the integrity of its sightings reports and effectively shut the site down.

Now, it's my impression that Georgey says this as a human being and not as a celebrity, but that's just the kind of consideration that needs to be wiped out. As a nation, we're star crazy. "We" care too much what celebrities are doing and how they're living. Who cares why Clooney suggested doing this? All that matters is that it's a good idea. It's sabotage that affirms your humanity and makes a statement, that statement being: Who gives a shit.

It's pretty sad that I feel I couldn't approach a person whose art I respect and say, "hey, I dig your work," and walk away. I can't do that because we're so far gone we need to repudiate almost all notice of achievement. Well, as my old man would say, bag that. Go send your false sighting to Gawker Stalker. Do it because you're wasting away on the internet. Do it not because you care about a celebrity's privacy, but because you don't care to have their lack of it invade your own life.

If you know of other such votes or petitions (hopefully with even more meaning than this) send them my way.

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We've constructed much
of this world
and the grandeur about us.
Still, if a Star or Teacher
struggles with
a triple decker sandwich,
we giggle and look around.