I don't see why it matters

[dk]

Al Gore's son faces drug charges

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The son of former Vice President Al Gore was charged Friday with speeding and illegal possession of marijuana and prescription drugs, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

Al Gore III, 24, was arrested early in the morning on July 4 when Orange County Sheriff's deputies pulled him over for allegedly driving 100 mph in his 2006 Toyota Prius.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/20/gore.son/index.html?eref=rss_topstories

I know it probably shouldn't, but it really bothers me when news sources make news stories that would otherwise NOT be in the headlines just because the person arrested was the son/daughter of a celebrity OR a celebrity.

People get arrested for smoking pot every day. But if it's Gore's son, it's a headline. If it was Jack from across the street, you'd never see it in print in the US. I don't see the logic behind this.

It just bothers me. I guess it's one of my pet peeves. :mad:

[socalheart]

No, no, no... It made the headlines, because he was driving a year old Prius. ;) Who does that?!

[P_chan]

americans care too much about celebrities and other famous people.

[Tempestuous]

You know, I thought the exact same thing when I saw the snip-it last night.

?!?! This is news worthy, why?!?!?!

[DoctorP]

Ahhh but you're wrong dk! It would be in the news if Jack did it, but the story would be one line. "Jack was arrested last night for smoking pot and driving a year old Prius!". But when a celebrity does it it warrants a full page!

Sickening isn't it!

[TheNoNamedOne]

It is in the news simply because editors know that the general population, who are of lower socioeconomic status leading more or less comparatively mundane lives than those with wealth and celebrity, take pleasure in reading about the discomfort, pain, embarrassment, or downfall, of those who are above them in life. Editors are feeding that "want" by the public and that is what sells news and advertisements -- AND that matters to news outlets, as well as it does to shareholders of those public news orgs. MAXIMIZE PROFITS any legal way is the mantra of capitalism. Businesses and the decision makers involved in those businesses are slaves to that. It drives them because it drives their salaries and yearly bonuses and keeps the kids braces on and house mortgage paid.

I can't remember, but there is a long funny sounding german word for that joy of others' pain -- freiudinfus blah bhal blah or something like that.

btw, did you just read the title of the story, or did you at least read the first para as well?

[dk]

I read the whole story.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I read the whole story.

There ya go. It mattered enough to keep you interested.

Reaction to it is irrelevant -- unless it causes you to create an organized campaign against it leading to a backlash to the news org.

[dk]

It's a habit. I tend to read every news story from start to finish. It could be on ladies health and if it catches my eye, I'll probably finish the whole story.

[TheNoNamedOne]

I understand. That's how I am, too.

I think the internet has killed a lot of the casual readers of newsprint. Those of us who still read the newspapers are for the most part the hardcore readers and loyal audience of them. We're hooked. I think editors know that.

But to be honest, I do find it interesting when stories like the Al Gore son pop up. Eventhough we already know, it is reassuring to many to be reminded that even the high and mighty have little family scandals like all the rest of us.

We also like to read stories telling us when Britany Spears shows up for an event getting out of a limouzine and flashing us her pantiless sashimi.

Or was that a different person? Lindsy Lohan perhaps? Forgot the details. Just remember the sashimi.

[TheNoNamedOne]

People get arrested for smoking pot every day. But if it's Gore's son, it's a headline. If it was Jack from across the street, you'd never see it in print in the US. I don't see the logic behind this.

Thinking a little more on it, I do think these kinds of stories are important if other people are getting arrested for the same thing. Our celebrity here in the U.S. are sort of like our version of royalty. One purpose of a free press is to let us know that a certain social group is not getting a free ride.

Imagine the uproar if news on the famous and their family were always under the table. You think we have enough conspiracy theorists now accusing the press of collusion! That would be greatly magnified if the rich and famous and their family were not scrutinized for their illegal behaviour in a public forum.

[dk]

I don't think it was Britany. Lohan sounds right, but I really didn't hear much of that story. Just saw the pictures. :P

[Boost]

Our celebrity here in the U.S. are sort of like our version of royalty. One purpose of a free press is to let us know that a certain social group is not getting a free ride.


I agree with this and also it shows us that even though they may live a royal lifestyle with their millions of dollars, they are still human beings like the rest of us and still make the same mistakes everyone else does. Not to sympathies with them, just to show they are not as high and mighty as they or we might think.