I've never understood the paradox allegedly created by celebrityhood. People strive to become stars and remain in the forefront of the public consciousness, yet scream bloody blue murder when the public notices them outside the celebrity setting. Look! It's Lindsay Wagner washing her car! Look! It's Colin Farrell having a pint! Look! It's Barbra Streisand's house from a seagull's point of view!
Now Ms. Nose wants to sue the owner of the website californiacoastline.org for doing just that, in the name of researching coastline erosion and environmental impact studies. Loyal Citizen Victor tells it much better than I could (it's the entry for Tuesday, June 10, 2003- no permalink), but one bit got me thinking:
"But so what? Ms. Streisand is not suing the publishers of the numerous, "Maps of the Stars," for sale darn near everywhere in California, or available for free on the Internet. Aerial photographs are available on Mapquest; simply punch in an address and click on the AERIAL PHOTO tab on the resulting map (for example, here is a satellite photo of the White House) (Call me a wimp, but I'm not plugging in Ms. Streisand's address--I haven't sold any companies for over $400 million lately). If Ms. Streisand is seriously concerned about her privacy, she has a lot more to worry about than Mr. Adelman's photographs."
If such photography is an invasion of privacy, and thereby grounds for a lawsuit, why can't I sue Safeway for having a security camera on me while I fondle melons? Why can I take legal action against the traffic camera that catches me picking my nose at a red light? Why can't I get litigious on my second cousin Dougie for taking that horrid picture of me stuffing my face with a double helping of stuffing, extra gravy, at last year's Thanksgiving dinner?
I guess I could. But doesn't such a reaction call far more attention to the very act I want to conceal? It just seems self-defeating.
It was lowfat gravy, by the way. And I'd taken a big walk earlier, really fast. I was sweating. Must have worked up an appetite, that's all I can say.
(previously posted on Blogspot)
Posted by LeeAnn at June 10, 2003 09:47 AM