2008-01-15 - 3:39 p.m.
Watching teen-flicks like Lindsay Lohan's "Mean Girls" truly gives me the creeps.
That first statement might surprise some of you a bit, knowing it's not a horror movie and even when you have already watched it too. But, regarding what we've mostly seen nowadays, that sounds quite sensible and relevant.
These days, it seems that many of us --- unconsciously or not --- are gradually drawn into a popularity contest. Although being competitive is natural for human beings, sometimes we tend to forget (or choose to ignore) that we can get things out of proportion. Like some celebrities we all know from our favourite magazines or tabloids, entertainment channels, and regular gossip sessions with our friends in school and at work. Some normally maintain their 'honourable' existence by upgrading their abilities; whether it's starring in more blockbuster movies, producing more best-selling record albums, writing and publishing best-selling novels or even autobiographies, or regularly showing up in social functions and trendy hang-out spots. Others can do something unusual and maybe rather outrageous, like; fighting with other celebrities in public, getting drunk at parties, or even (gasp!) showing the world that they forget to wear their underwears.
Perhaps, we don't need to look that far. We may look our surroundings. Check out our own communities, whether in offices or schools. Do we spot those who are (considered) popular? What makes them so famous? Is it because how they look like and dress up? Is it what they do, like how they interact with other people? Or is it because they obviously have followers --- groupies who want to get closer and be like them? Are there those who envy them so much, and only want them down or steal their spotlight --- right there, on the centre of this stage?
Or is it all of the above? We may point things out as we desire.
Do we want to be famous too? (Of course, who doesn't, right?) But, what kind of popularity do we wish to achieve? There are ways to go out there. There are talent searches and reality shows on TV that give us promises for quick fame and idol status. There are paths to get us noticed. Or, we can start getting to know people around us more, joining a community, and participating in social events. It's all up to us to begin our search, our journey to fame --- but the results are always up to how they perceive us as individual characters.
Of course, in our search, we have different purposes, specific goals to accomplish. Some of us are looking for more money (or, should we say, financial independence) and power. Some are expecting appreciation and more respect from others. Some are longing for social acceptance to cure their inner anxiety and insecurity. Some are even only longing for friendship and love to avoid feeling lonely. Some just want it all...more and more. That's alright, as long as we can still separate the difference between true popularity from just being plainly...notorious.
But of course, there are some of us already satisfied enough by just being who they really are. They just want simple things, like doing good and being good to themselves and others. Oprah Winfrey's even said in one of her episodes that all she ever wanted was to serve other people with good intentions. After all, each of us is unique. Through hard (and decent) work comes success, but only those few who truly deserve popularity. Once again, we may pick whom as we wish.
The Author
