|
Post by ellie on Mar 13, 2018 16:13:06 GMT
It’s all a matter of opinion QZ. Some people would think Janet Fong is “mad” to be spending so much money following an actor round the world. And both views are arguable. There’s no definitive right or wrong opinion.
I paid €172 to see Ennio Morricone in concert last year. I adore his music and, as he is 90, I figured this might well be my last opportunity to see the “Maestro” conduct his compositions. Would I have paid that money just to be in a room with him or have my photograph taken with him? Most definitely not. I don’t mind spending money to see artists I admire do what they’re famous for but don’t see the appeal of photo opportunities or conventions.
Many people feel differently I know, but that’s just my take on the matter and lots of people see things my way too.
And, with my moderator’s hat on, I want to say this forum welcomes diverse opinions so long as they’re not malicious or abusive.
|
|
|
Post by onebluestocking on Mar 13, 2018 17:14:52 GMT
To me, paying a lot of money to see an artist perform, is entirely different than paying a lot of money just to take a photo with that artist. Of course, what is "a lot" of money is relative, so if a fan is wealthy it may not be a big deal to them.
|
|
|
Post by queenzod on Mar 13, 2018 17:54:57 GMT
As long as you’re not hurting anyone, I don’t see what’s wrong with spending your own money to do what you enjoy. It seems wrong to me, somehow, to judge people over what they do with their own money.
Unless they’re jerks like Trump, wasting money on gold toilets, lol. Tacky! Then I object. Strenuously. So, I guess if I hate you, you’re not allowed to waste money. Lol! 😁
|
|
|
Post by mllemass on Mar 13, 2018 19:20:31 GMT
Isn't this Star Sanctum Con for other people besides Benedict? He might be a big name there, but there must be others, too.
When I was trying to get a ticket for The Imitation Game at TIFF, the ticket broker wanted more than $300. I just couldn't bring myself to hand over that much money to a broker/scalper when the movie ticket was only $40. But, if the tickets had been $300 I would gladly have paid it! In the end, it all worked out for the best!
I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but when I went to TIFF to see The Current War, I saw Janet Fong there. It was actually pretty exciting, because she's a celebrity among Benedict fans. I saw her outside when I was walking back to my hotel after the movie. She was with a friend, and I saw that they had spotted Benedict's SUV, which was stuck in traffic. Karon was in the front seat, and when she looked over at us, we all waved at her and she smiled and waved back. Benedict was in the back seat, but the windows were tinted so we couldn't see him. I told JF that I recognized her from Twitter and from the Internet in general. Her friend kept telling her to cross the street and go over to the SUV because Benedict knows her by now, but she said no. I felt a bit better knowing that not even she was able to meet him for once! But, of course, the next day she posted a selfie with him. She had gone with a lot of fans to the place where he was doing a press conference, and they waited. She literally travels the world to see/meet him. I guess meeting her is the closest I'm going to get to being her!
|
|
|
Post by miriel68 on Mar 13, 2018 22:13:11 GMT
It’s all a matter of opinion QZ. Some people would think Janet Fong is “mad” to be spending so much money following an actor round the world. And both views are arguable. There’s no definitive right or wrong opinion. I paid €172 to see Ennio Morricone in concert last year. I adore his music and, as he is 90, I figured this might well be my last opportunity to see the “Maestro” conduct his compositions. Would I have paid that money just to be in a room with him or have my photograph taken with him? Most definitely not. I don’t mind spending money to see artists I admire do what they’re famous for but don’t see the appeal of photo opportunities or conventions. Many people feel differently I know, but that’s just my take on the matter and lots of people see things my way too. And, with my moderator’s hat on, I want to say this forum welcomes diverse opinions so long as they’re not malicious or abusive. Just to be clear, of course I used the word "insane" in a figurative way and it seemed to me quite obvious that I was not suggesting anyone should go to see the doctor. But just as it is ok to be relentlessly positive, I think it is ok to have a different opinion. I see a huge difference between spending money to attend a concert, a play, a performance of your favourite artist and paying huge amount of money to have a photograph or just be in the same room with them. So for example Janet Fong could be spending money on drugs or simply on designers' clothes - she prefers following B. around the world. Is it cool? Maybe. But I cannot help thinking: doesn't she has a life on her own? Is it really "sane" to project the value of your existance on a stranger? Such behaviour does not stem simply from the admiration for your idol's artistic work, IMO and probably that's why I feel troubled reading about people spending 1000 for a convention.
|
|
|
Post by mllemass on Mar 13, 2018 22:51:51 GMT
I don't think we know anything about her other than being a fan of Benedict, but I can say that someone who regularly travels around the world is leading a pretty fantastic life! My mind is blown thinking about the places she's seen, the people she's met, and the cultures she has experienced.
This past year I've been watching and loving the BBC game show Pointless. The contestants are always asked about their jobs and their interests. By far, the most common answer given by men is their interest in sports, specifically football (or soccer, as we call it here). But it's not just that! They always name a particular team that they follow. These men are always at a loss to name something else that interests them. I just think it's the weirdest thing!
(To tie this back to this forum, one contestant said "Benedict Cumberbatch" when asked about her interests. She was asked if she had ever met him, and she said "Not that he was aware of." Ha!)
|
|
|
Post by onebluestocking on Mar 14, 2018 5:19:26 GMT
I don't know anything about Janet Fong, but would any of us here feel entirely comfortable with a stranger devoting their lives to following us everywhere? I suppose it's similar to the Deadheads back in the day, but those people seemed to be fans of the music, lifestyle and experience, more than just one individual person in the band. And it just feels excessive in terms of life balance, much moreso than someone attending one expensive convention. If you like conventions, I can see paying top dollar for a less crowded one, instead of spending all day in giant lines. And again, if you're wealthy it may be no big deal to you. On the other hand, someone causing themselves financial hardship or forgoing necessities just to be in the same room as BC, may want to reexamine their priorities! But it's none of my business and I'm sure they don't care about my opinion. I know I spend more time than I need to discussing him on here, but at least it's free. Certainly sports fans pay a lot of money travelling to and attending games, but that's more like paying (sometimes a lot) to see an artist perform. They're paying to see the players' "performance," not just to be in the same room or to have their picture taken with them. Of course, some collect expensive sports memorabilia, which is more comparable to wanting photos, autographs, etc. A male fan devoted to a particular male sport, team or player strikes me differently than if he were following, say, a female tennis player all over the world. The opposite gender leads to an unsettling stalker-ish vibe, even if the person is completely nice and harmless!
|
|
|
Post by mllemass on Mar 14, 2018 10:39:41 GMT
I guess we have different ideas of what is acceptable fan behaviour. I think wanting to be in the same room as your favourite celebrity is completely normal, and watching men chase after a ball is a complete waste of time.
|
|
|
Post by ellie on Mar 14, 2018 11:52:17 GMT
I think there’s a difference Milemass. A sports fan traveling to watch a game is the same as a fan of an actor going out to watch him /her in a movie or on stage.
Travelling long distances multiple times just to be in he same room as an actor or sportsperson or have your photo taken with them is not the same thing. Janet Fong is of course free to spend her money as she wishes but I have to say she does seem to be quite obsessive.
|
|
|
Post by mllemass on Mar 14, 2018 12:16:31 GMT
Sorry, but I just don't see what's wrong with doing this. I think you're imagining that these fans have abandoned their families, quit their jobs and spent every last penny to stand in line to meet a celebrity. And maybe that does happen, too, but I'd hate to think that people judge me that way for wanting to do something a little bit exciting in my otherwise boring life.
|
|