Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Got News?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010


Every morning when I get up, I turn on CNN Headline News. It’s about my only chance to catch up with what’s going on in the world. Plus, I really enjoy Robin Meade, Bob Van Dillen, and Rafer Wigel. It’s usually a pretty good start to my day, whether the news is good or bad.

But here’s my problem. When I turn on the news, I want to hear the news. I could care less about what’s going on in Tiger Woods’ personal life. He’s a celebrity because he’s a golfer, not because he’s a great husband.

It could be any one of a handful of celebrities, but let’s just pick Tiger Woods because he’s the big “news” of today. I personally, could care less about his personal life. It’s nice that he’s married and has kids, but he’s not a personal friend of mine, so basically, I don’t care about anything in his private life.

He’s a golfer. He’s an incredible golfer. So if he’s the highlight of the sports segment in the news, then that’s great. But I am so tired of seeing his face plastered all over the news. To me, it’s just gossip. Why are we as a nation so hung up on gossip?

Imagine how horrible it was for his wife to discover not only that he had cheated, but just how involved that cheating was. It must have been devastating. But then imagine how much worse it was for her when his infidelities were broadcast for the ENTIRE world to see.

Why is it anyone’s business? I believe it’s something for them to hash out as a man and wife. If people are allowing their children to look up to him as a role model, then they need to tell their children that they should strive to have his work ethic, but not his personal morals.

I think that Tiger Woods should be in the news because of his golfing ability. Otherwise, unless he is suddenly arrested for being a mass murderer, I really don’t care. If he happens to smash his caddy in the head with a 9 iron, then I guess that could be included in the sports segment.

And one more thing…I can’t believe that anyone is quacking about the fact that he has not publicly apologized to his mistresses. Please! These women knew that he was married and had children. Did they really believe him if he was telling them how much he loved them? He was lying to his wife so what would make them think he wasn’t lying to them? Apologize for what? They knew exactly what they were doing and what they were getting.

Where do you stand on this subject? Do you think that if a person is a celebrity, we all have the right to know everything about their lives, professional AND personal? Do you think their infidelities are newsworthy? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

SIS Bren

11 comments:

Chris Behrens said...

Brenda,

You're not going to get any arguments from me. I too watch CNN for news (and sometimes Fox because it's too damn funny), and couldn't care less about the latest celebrity gossip or the personal lives of people in the news. It also irks me when the news stations have to ring out the last bit of useless info from a story, like talking to a 'friend of a friend', the maid, etc.
I think a lot of people have these ideas about celebrities that they lead almost magical lives or are somehow much different from them because celebrities can afford almost anything or do things most of us can't. I think you can somewhat relate to that with your performing career. This makes some people want to follow every move a celebrity makes, and also makes other people jealous enough to want to see something like what happened with Tiger Woods. As long as people want to see it, the news will show it. And I think this is officially my longest post ever.....

Mary Stella said...

Like you, I don't give a rat's ass about Tiger Woods' personal life. Unfortunately, he and his wife made it "news" when she chased him with a golf club and he crashed his car. That took the lid off of the story.

I don't care that Charlie Sheen entered rehab. Frankly, I think that the entire world should treat celebrity drug rehabilitation like non-news and respect their privacy.

The world feeds on gossip. I'd say that it's just a case of people being ever so much more interested in celebrities and other wealthy or famous people but living in a small community taught me that it's not the case. Gossip-mongers will talk-talk-talk about everybody else's business no matter who the other person happens to be.

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Chris,

I think you're right. I think that people love to see celebrities fail. And as long as people want to see it, it will be in the news. Everybody needs to make a buck I guess.

And I feel honored that your longest post was in reply to my post.

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Mary,

You said it sister! I've been on the ugly end of the gossip (meaning I've been the gossip) and it's tough to take. I've learned that the more private you try to be about something, the more the gossip flies...and it becomes highly inaccurate gossip at that.

I also agree that we should respect the privacy of celebrities entering rehab. Their dealing with a lot as it is, they don't need their personal plights plastered all over the national news.

SIS Bren

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Um. I meant they're dealing with a lot

Tori Lennox said...

You'll get no arguments from me either. I remember the days when the news actually covered the news. Now it's all tabloid journalism. Every time the announce that so-and-so won the Edward R. Murrow award for excellence in journalism I just roll my eyes. He's probably spinning in his grave at the state of news journalism today.

SIS Barb said...

Bren,

I'm going to agree with Tori. There is a place for celebrity gossip. It's called the National Inquirer and all the other rag mags. That's what they do. That's what they've been doing for years. Right or wrong, that's just the way it is. Someone entering the world of celebrity knows this. They're an idiot if they don't

That being said, gossip is not news. If I want to watch gossip, I can turn on a number of channels such as "E" to feed my craving. News networks should be just that. News, world events, weather, etc. I don't want to turn on CNN to see who Tiger is boning. Don't care a thing about it.

SIS Barb

Beth Ciotta said...

I rarely get why mainstream media is so obssessed with celebrity news. The whole Tiger thing is hideous. Meaning it should be a seriously private thing worked out between husband and wife--period. Aside from the first day when I read about the 'car accident' I haven't bothered to read much else about it.

As Barb pointed out Celebrity gossip has always been around. And I admit, I need a fix every now and then. Who's doing what and what they're wearing (I know. Shallow), but I generally hop over to OMG for that... or People. NOT CNN (my chosen source of news as well)

SIS Beth

~Sia McKye~ said...

While I enjoy hearing about some aspects of celebrity's lives, hobbies, fun things they do, how they juggle family and their job. I don't want to know everything about their personal life. There are things that should be personal regardless of how much money or their social standing. I could care less about Tiger's infidelities and I certainly don't want to read about it. I also don't care what toilet paper he uses and how he or anyone, wipes.

Like I said, there should be things off limits to the public's obsession to know.

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Tori,

You're right also. It does seem like there is more and more tabloid journalism. Which brings me to Elle...

Yes, I agree. If I wanted to watch a show full of gossip, I'd tune into E! Or I'd go to OMG on the web, which brings me to Beth...

I too look now and then at what people are wearing or the new hairstyles they have chosen, but I think that's much much different from knowing about the very personal parts of their lives.

SIS Bren

Sisters-in-Sync said...

Hi Sia,

I guess when I hear good things about a celebrity, I don't really consider it to be gossip. Also, I don't think I would be hearing on CNN about my favorite celebrities' hobbies. It's only "newsworthy" when it's dirt. And I don't need to know about their personal failures, or like you said, what type of toilet paper they use.

SIS Bren

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