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They are just going to live off us like vampires and contribute nothing to society.  This is the moral judgement we pass.

I grew up in culture that exemplified that moral judgement, and believed it myself for half my life.  And yet, I've come to wonder:  what does Paris Hilton contribute to society, other than a few punch lines for the evening talk shows?  What has Richard Melon Scaife contributed, other than catapulting the self-fulfilling propaganda that justifies his wealth and privilege?  Who are the vampires, and who are the victims?

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.

by budr on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 at 08:45:01 AM EST
[ Parent ]
You could argue that Paris Hilton is not a drain on society. People actually pay her to be a public bubble-head; she's an idiot so's you don't have to be.

In today's celebrity obsessed culture people think she is interesting and her behaviour is newws. It keeps people in jobs in magazines and on telly cos other less-famous airheads want to read about such people.

It just shows that it's easy to get rich if you're already rich.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 at 11:21:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]
She certainly gives the chattering class something inconsequential to talk about, and no doubt keeps some of them employed, but I doubt that she is actually living off the proceeds of her airheadedness.  I think it more likely she lives off inherited wealth as unearned as the media attention she gets, and donates the gossip fodder for free.  I suppose that's a public service of sorts.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.
by budr on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 at 11:51:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]
I read somewhere that she earnt a personal fortune of $70 million on the back of being a celebrity. Makes Jade Goody's £8 million seem platry, but JG probably has worse financial advice.

keep to the Fen Causeway
by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 at 12:07:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Sigh.  It just shows that it's easy to get rich if you're already rich.

Somewhere in cyberspace, the ghost of de Chardin is smiling.
by budr on Wed Apr 2nd, 2008 at 12:24:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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