Saturday, August 4, 2018

Yoko and the other Celebs who people think are their FRIENDS

One of the disturbing things about social (disease) media is how many celebrities mess with it.

I mean MESS with it, as in answering stupid questions on FACEBOOK. It's one thing to have a FACEBOOK page to promote an event or two, or let people know you're alive until the next time you can PROVE IT via a TV appearance or book deal.

It's another to actually INTERACT with idiots and to suffer fools gladly. How gladly? To the point where GUYS are saying to female D-listers, "When I'm in your area, I'd like to take you out to dinner" and "How are you today, Milady? Thanks for posting that photo. I was on line for your autograph and we shook hands. I kissed my palm a thousand times!" THAT kind of thing.

It's a surprise that celebrities have short memories for such names as REBECCA SCHAEFFER and JOHN LENNON. Some of the bigger female stars, such as Taylor Swift and Brooke Shields and Gwyneth Paltrow, know, from bitter stalking experiences, to keep fans at a distance. They behave themselves in public in a very "look but don't touch" way.

That's now how it goes with FACEBOOK D-listers, who are desperate enough to prefer strangers as "friends," and to very obviously read and reply to posts and not have a secretary do it.

Comedians on TWITTER are something else. They often like to sharpen their wit by encouraging and then destroying trolls and hecklers. Insult John Cleese or Ricky Gervais and you seem to be doing them a favor. But...say something nasty to Steve Martin, and he might quit TWITTER for months.

Yoko Ono, after seeming to have had enough of it, is once more encouraging her TWITTER followers to ask her questions. Yes, what a thrill. A lot of people who formerly hated her, now love her because she FOLLOWS almost everyone who follows her, and if she replies to somebody, that validates them.

But what are they asking and what is she answering? She gets questions that would try the patience of the Pope. Or Oprah.

The point of some of these questions? Why they couldn't be asked of somebody's REAL friend, or religious leader, or teacher, instead of Yoko? Who knows. What Yoko gets out of having to reply with something pat, or with something general, I also don't know.

Sometimes stars only end up alienating the fools they're supposed to be suffering. One D-lister was asked some time-wasting question like, "What beach is it you're on in the bikini photo" and the reply was "Why do you care?" Which left the poor questioner in a dither of sorrow and apology.

Questions fielded off social media and answered on Yoko's own website...might encourage people to buy something on her site, or to at least stop the "Yoko singing" punchlines. Some celebs on Facebook seem to constantly point to where items can be bought or downloaded, which unfortunately indicates more of a financial problem than a sense of pride. It's a tricky thing, managing to walk the line between being accessible and directing fans to purchases, and being used, bored, abused, or targeted.

IF a star has enough going on to do without a SOCIAL MEDIA account, or even an official website, the star generally stays away from the hoi polloi. The smart ones put up an invisible shield. George Clooney is a master at walking along the street, a hotel lobby, etc. and smiling, giving a pat on the back...but not stopping. Even those way below his level learned to do that. Abe Vigoda, who lived in my neighborhood, kept moving, too. He'd be recognized, and as jive-ass idiots shouted "That's Fish" or "That's the GODFATHER guy" or some well-meaning fan said, "Love your work Mr. Vigoda," he'd say, as he continued along, "That's me...that's me..." As in, right, you recognized me, thanks, I'm moving on.

No comments:

Post a Comment