Distorted Dimensions

Distorted Dimensions - Hi everyone! - Today's dimensions or rather standards according to which we try to live our lives more or less in sync with what is morally acceptable are noticeably shifting, twisting, bending and about to bust altogether. The other day I stumbled across a video on Facebook which pretty radically demonstrated the wrath of a middle- class, middle- aged, white male stirred by a recent piece of news on the radio. He had clearly been listening to a report about a teenage heart- throb having gotten himself in trouble with the law again. That man gradually got himself into a frenzy dropping the F- bomb 20 times in only 60 seconds. Not the vulgarities he used but his point made me think about that classical example of inequality completely blown out of proportion. We are all told to give our very best in our jobs and not complain about the fact that most jobs pay mediocre if not poorly. After all, there's always someone else doing much worse. Sure, there will always be someone on the bottom of the barrel. How about looking towards the ones that are doing much, much better than the average monkey? Yes, no doubt, without the right kind of educational background just the possibility of working in well- paid jobs itself vanishes into thin air, but that's not the point here today. Can anyone please explain to me why someone who's supposedly got what it takes to become a star drives home a fortune for doing 1- 2 hour concerts? Why is it that most starlets at best are paid ridiculous amounts of money and are additionally signed up and promoted for the sake of advertising? I honestly don't get it! What makes a so- called super star a worthier individual than someone who has to work two jobs even to make ends meet? Doesn't the American Constitution suggest the principle of equality after all? Judging from the facts, I really can't see where this would still apply! Most folks in the limelight screw up at least once in their careers. To be honest, being a small- scale singer/ entertainer myself, I am so glad that I'm not constantly on public display because this is just not natural. Anyway, instead of ignoring bloopers, mistakes, melt- downs and other mishaps, the media usually hunts down those stressed- out individuals like bloodhounds and ultimately leaves them beaten and exposed where upon editors, film makers, psychiatrists, etc. leap in to open more avenues to making even more money. Books and film contracts as well as guest appearances on popular TV- shows are waiting for the forlorn and fallen ones. Sweet indeed how exploitation keeps spreading! If I personally wanted to see a psychiatrist, I would have to shell out an average $200 per hour, but the vice- ridden actor, singer, chef, etc. will be given it all for free even though -unlike me- they could certainly afford paying for their own treatment. Writing their way premature memoires long before reaching the middle of their lives guarantees them a fair share of the generally fat profits. However, if Jane was trying to release her memoires at 70 or older, she'd either have to finance that project herself or, well, forget about it. Technically, even if Jane managed to have her book of life printed, published and even marketed, there would still be no guarantee for fame and fortune to follow. Even though Joe has attended acting classes and has in fact proven great talent, he will most likely never make it unless he's at the right place at the right time with the right kind of people. The stranded celebrity on the other hand will quite probably not just scratch fame but also be handed another fat cheque. You see? While the rest of us is expected and advised to keep hanging on to our hats in meagre and financially most un- lucrative jobs, athletes, actors and entertainers - most of whom suck anyway - will continuously be overpaid by the billions! No jealousy here! What does a Rugby or Basketball player need $80 million a year for when someone his age group makes a laughable $80 grand? Just ludicrous! This is what I call a complete distortion of dimensions or standards! - To be continued next week.