Well why do we now feel that reality television is the new way to be seen as a way of inspiring people? Whilst people say “oh, you are just jealous” – please just think of what you have said!!
In most towns and cities, there are local people who have done well by either themselves or with the support of their family. Yet, why do people fall over themselves with “The Only Way Is Essex” (TOWIE) and followed by “Made In Chelsea” or “Geordie Shore“?
This clearly is shown in this article by the Daily Mail where they distracted away from such a great event as The Young Scot Awards to compare about the outfit from someone from TOWIE was wearing against Carol Smilie – why? What?
Let us look back and you will see a Fashion Design student turned model and television celebrity Carol Smilie has actually done many things since bursting on to our television screens back in 1989 and yes she was a game show hostess. Yet, within three years had progressed into mainstream television and through the last 24 years become a versatile person in television, writing, business and thus also becoming a Trustee – a role model? Yes in my opinion, because in those days, you could make an impact and a difference. Can the same be said of today’s media personalities? Over the last – let’s say – four years, name someone who progressed on to the television and media scene and progressed into mainstream inspiring people? See, you can’t………
Yet over this period you will easily name so many “so-called” celebrities and inspiring people who have come from the world of reality television and television shows who are household names not only due to this but the constant attention paid to them by Tabloid newspapers and in my opinion, the latest tabloid on the block, The Daily Mail yet why and what impact is this having on our culture?
It used to be a case that you were inspired to the become something in your life due to someone who was a local hero or business success, a major personality via television (like a presenter), business or major incident or maybe a sporting star. Are these people around? Yes they are. Look back at 2012 and whilst we were lucky to have hosted London Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games and did these events have inspiring people? Well ok, there was a few celebrities thrown in (& some guests of corporate sponsors too) but the public nominated over 8,000 local heroes to carry the Olympic Torch to over 1,000 locations around the United Kingdom and many people took in the four festival events bringing the four torches to Stoke Mandeville for the Paralympic Torch Relay into London.
These were people who were invited that were considered to be inspirers, so if people can see and recognise local heroes why don’t they use them as inspiration instead of these “so-called” celebrities? Is it that these people are seen as a quick route to fame, success and money? No not at all – sorry it is! Yes, it is because of right place/right time and you grab fame – all five minutes of it! So, no not at all is valid as where are they now? This five minutes comes and goes and when they are finished, it is over excepted behaving badly or trying to keep themselves in the Tabloids!
So please organisers, stop making events, headline grabbing or ways to make money via sponsorship or tickets sales by using these so-called celebrities or (as the Tabloids call them) Z Listers to attract people to the event and not distract away from what the core values of the event are.
If we are to make Britain Positive or Great again, we need to inspire and enable the children of today by showing them and introducing them to these inspiring local or real life heroes – not these people!
So, please think and inspire not only your children but family and friends to really make a lasting difference…..
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