If you are interested in a good, long read, check this out

[kranky]

I enjoyed reading it.

What's with people asking for cliff notes? It took less than two minutes to read that. Too much TV watching, I guess.

 

[squeeg22]

Originally posted by: dabuddha

Originally posted by: Looney

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: Looney
It was a decent read... certainly nothing original or new. The reason why Hollywood celebrities are 'stars' is because we live in an achievement oriented society... and although their achievements aren't spectacular, in that they're not saving lives or making the world a better place by acting, their accomplishments require them to be the best in their industry. For every rich Hollywood celeb, there are a thousand others that tried and failed. Although the soldier who went to disarm and died instead did something worthy, their achievements really aren't outstanding or difficult. Yes, those firefighters that died in 9/11 could be considered 'heroes', certainly more than Brad Pitt is in my book, but it doesn't take that much skill to be a firefighter.

Why do you say that the achievement of a soldier is not outstanding or difficult? I think it's outstanding and certainly difficult. Far more difficult than reading lines for a camera. Of course not anyone can be a good actor, but that doesn't mean that anyone is a good soldier.

Because in order to 'succeed' as a soldier, it's not as difficult as it is to become say Brad Pitt. Sure, there's some training, there's some skills, but it's not as difficult to become a soldier as it is to become a famous actor.

I agree with you, dismantling a live bomb requires much more skill than to simply memorize some lines... but a good actor has to do more than memorize lines... otherwise it would be easy to become an actor that gets paid millions of dollars per movie.

Take a thousand people, and train them for 5 years in dismantling bombs... and i would say you're going to have a good number of those people who successfully become these skilled soldiers. Take a thousand actors and train them for 5 years, how many of them will reach the pinacle of Hollywood?

I think that was the point of this article. He was not blaming actors for being good at what they do. He was just saying that they are no longer his heros.

Yeah i know. I was just giving my opinion as to WHY it's the way it is. I agree with him and you, i think it's absurd how much we idolize these people.

You're comparing apples to oranges there. An equal comparison would be a soldier vs an actor. Brad Pitt vs a navy seal sniper commando ultra badass. Not easy to become both but the soldier actually does something worthwhile for the world and puts his life on the line. I don't see Brad Pitt doing his own stunts

You hit it on the head. It is just as easy to become an actor as it is to become a soldier. But to excel in either is rather difficult. The one huge difference between the two is that at no point in their lives does an actor risk his life. A soldier, on the other hand, faces situations most people could not imagine. I can easily decide to become an actor, fail at it, and move on in my life. But if I become a soldier, get sent into a warzone, and screw up, the consequences are great. Therefore, comparing an actor (whether Brad Pitt or an extra in a commercial) to a soldier (a Navy Seal or a recruit who can't make it out of boot camp) is definitely apples to oranges. The soldiers deserve all the respect, honor and glory. They have it from me. I support them.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: squeeg22
You hit it on the head. It is just as easy to become an actor as it is to become a soldier. But to excel in either is rather difficult. The one huge difference between the two is that at no point in their lives does an actor risk his life. A soldier, on the other hand, faces situations most people could not imagine. I can easily decide to become an actor, fail at it, and move on in my life. But if I become a soldier, get sent into a warzone, and screw up, the consequences are great. Therefore, comparing an actor (whether Brad Pitt or an extra in a commercial) to a soldier (a Navy Seal or a recruit who can't make it out of boot camp) is definitely apples to oranges. The soldiers deserve all the respect, honor and glory. They have it from me. I support them.

Bingo. You said it much better than I did.

 

[Judgement]

:thumbsup:

 

[mordantmonkey]

Meh. i agree with your criticizing our celebrity obsessed culture. but you fail to recognize the root of it is our society's fascination of money, and fame. shallow aspects with little reward. Think about why those people are laying their lives on the line overseas. For freedom? that's not what i was told. even if that is now the reason, does that mean those in the army will be liberting every oppressed society forever to come? I'd feel a lot better about bush convictions if he had been willing to lay his life on the line to "liberate" the vietnamese.

this does belong in P&N.

 

[CRXican]

took him 7 or 8 year to realize how stupid worshiping celbs is?

I realized that a long time ago.

I wouldn't have said anything about soldiers though I respect them. How about teachers, police, and doctors/surgeons?

 

[Muadib]

Ben Stein is full of sh@# he a celebrity, and he's not exactly poor!!!!:disgust:

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: Muadib
Ben Stein is full of sh@# he a celebrity, and he's not exactly poor!!!!:disgust:

So what?????

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: Muadib
Ben Stein is full of sh@# he a celebrity, and he's not exactly poor!!!!:disgust:

So what?????

So he's crying sour grapes!!!! He feels this way now, after he gets canned? Why didn't he feel this way when he hobnobbing it with his celeb buddies, or when he had his game show, or when he was teaching Ferris Bueller? Or when he was writing for Tricky Dick? It's just bs.:disgust:

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: Muadib

Originally posted by: ThePresence

Originally posted by: Muadib
Ben Stein is full of sh@# he a celebrity, and he's not exactly poor!!!!:disgust:

So what?????

So he's crying sour grapes!!!! He feels this way now, after he gets canned? Why didn't he feel this way when he hobnobbing it with his celeb buddies, or when he had his game show, or when he was teaching Ferris Bueller? Or when he was writing for Tricky Dick? It's just bs.:disgust:

He had a change of heart, people are allowed to do that. And he wasn't canned, he LEFT.