First impressions would lead you to question that I have anything in common with Cheryl Cole (nee, and now again Tweedy). Cheryl is young, I am in what polite society refers to these days as middle youth; she is gorgeous, I’ve seen better days; she is rich, I’m not, I could go on, but I won’t. No dear reader, the common link that binds me to Cheryl is the media and free speech of our civilised, democratic society. Allow me to elaborate.
A few weeks ago I took a call from The Independent newspaper, they wanted to write a business profile about me for their Small Business section. My first thought was one of disbelief, why on earth would they want to write about little ole me? As the idea began to sink in I felt immensely flattered. I go about my daily life, doing what I hope is a good job and never think for a moment that anyone would consider me worthy of national comment. Having got over the initial surprise, I began to think about the actual interview. What would the writer want to know, would I stumble over my words and look foolish, would I find enough to say? I needn’t have worried. The interview was like having a chat with a good friend and they asked interesting questions, which prompted me to look at my achievements through their eyes. Interview concluded I waited excitedly for the publishing date.
People that know me well know that I hate any fuss. I’m much happier when clients or friends and family are in the limelight, content in the knowledge that I have played a supportive role. For that same reason, I take more pleasure in buying presents than I do receiving. It’s the attention I hate and I know other people that feel the same way. But when the interview first appeared, I have to confess to more than a smidge of delight, which rather took me by surprise. Aside from the fact that the published interview was short on interesting content (which astonished me), there I was for the entire world to see and read about (I say world as it was also published on the Internet). However, my excitement and feelings of joy soon turned sour when I read the first comment posted on the newspapers website. It’s quite amazing how someone you’ve never met before thinks they have a real insight into you and your life. This complete stranger observed that I am clearly “a well-to-do housewife pretending to be a businesswoman”, although they also felt I resembled a left-wing politician on my website, confused or what?. I posted a polite response only to receive a reply, which started off by explaining it wasn’t a personal attack, and then went on to attack me even more! I joked aloud that I knew how celebrities must feel to be so often vilified by reporters out to make a buck from the latest sensational article, but it wasn’t actually a very amusing experience.
Seeking fame is a dangerous thing and yet, according to research published on the CNN Health website, getting a lot of attention gives some people a rush of adrenaline. It seems that overt attention gives some people an increased sense of belonging more to a specific group or society. A worrying article published in 2008 in The Times entitled, ‘Forget Education, pupils just want to be famous’ reported that children were turning away from schoolwork because they see education as unhelpful to their ambition to become rich and famous as reality TV stars. Their role models then, included David and Victoria Beckham and WAGs – wives and girlfriends of highly paid footballers. The article deduced that the “cult of celebrity was responsible for perverting children’s aspirations and expectations, compounding the subsequent sense of failure, alienation and low self-esteem when celebrity status is not achieved.” Two years on and I doubt much has changed. 1960’s icon, Andy Warhol, once famously remarked that, “In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” What he didn’t clarify, was his reasoning behind the statement or consideration for what that moment of fame might attract.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to a sneaky desire to wear the latest catwalk clothing, to dine out at famous restaurants (who would of course always find a table for me) and to have people ready to hang on my every word, but at what price? Sorry Cheryl, you’re a braver woman than I am and having experienced just a tiny insight into your daily routine it’s just not for me.
