Xman in the Mask

Who are you? Where are you from? What's your favorite food? What are your hobbies and interests? How's your love life? What are your deepest darkest secrets? What about the good, the bad...and the very, very ugly?



When a person decides to live their life in the public eye, they have to realize people will want to know personal details about them. Anyone who decides to become an actor, politician, or professional athlete runs the risk of having people probing ( Uninvited ) into their private life.



There seems to be a preconceived notion that anyone who is a celebrity or public figure isn't entitled to their privacy. If you are starved for attention, or love the spotlight, no problem. However, not everyone enjoys undue attention ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.



In fact, once in a while you might see a celebrity turn on a Pavarotti who is trying to take their picture. Video cameras can get smashed and occasionally someone may get their foot ran over. Why? Because everyone needs breathing room once in a while. Even if you love the limelight, sooner or later you're bound to feel just a little suffocated.



When someone barges into your life and hijacks your privacy, you feel violated. Imagine sitting on the toilet...then someone decides to shove a pen under the stall because they want an autograph. What if someone wanted to snap your picture right then and there? I'm sure that most normal people would agree, this kind of behavior is unacceptable.



Sometimes when we see someone famous, we forget they're human too, then we do and say very inappropriate things. Sometimes we treat famous people as though they are public property. It's almost like we think they owe us something.



Perhaps we paid to see a movie they stared in. Maybe we voted for them, or bought tickets to their ball game. Since we spent our money on them... they should stop and talk to us as long as we want. After all, if it wasn't for the fans, or the voters, they wouldn't even have a job.



They should be more than happy to sign an autograph and talk to us for an hour. Of course, I make those kinds of statements to demonstrate how absurd it is to smother someone like that and expect that person to be OK with it.



It's alright to tell someone how much you admire them...but you need to learn to how to be respectful to the object of your affection. Before you express yourself, try to put yourself in that persons place. Be considerate. If you're crowding the person, back off a bit. You're trying to tell this person how awesome they are, not annoy them or chase them away.



Play it by ear and always be polite, but try not to hold them up if they seem to be in a hurry. If they are open, and generous with their time, cool...you lucked out. The thing is...these brief encounters should be pleasant for both parties involved.



Most really famous people have no choice but to accept life as it is dealt to them. Their face is just too well known. Sometimes they have body guards to keep people at bay. Sometimes they wear a disguise. Some of them just let the chips fall where they may. It's the price ( or the curse ) of fame. The smart ones somehow know how to get on with their life and not worry about it.



Which is cool...until someone with a video camera decides to start following you around fishing for any little tidbit that would look good on the six o'clock news...or the tabloids for that matter. Once these vultures start harassing you, you could be the subject of rag magazines, evening news, and tasteless jokes for weeks...or even months.



I'm sure that if easily recognisable people had a choice, they would choose to NOT be recognised once in a while. Perhaps if they could turn fame on and off like a faucet...their life would be a little more tolerable. Choice is always preferable to lack of choice.



I write from experience, because I've had people encroach on my time while trying to have dinner with a loved one. I've been out shopping, and had people insist that I perform my act right then and there in the super market. ( Talk about awkward ). Once I actually had to quit a job just to get away from a stalker.



All these things happened several years ago, and it's part of the reason I wear a mask in public. I am not militant about my secret identity. Nor do I freak out because some people already know who I am. However, it does give me some measure of control over my private life.



Having the ability to come and go as I please is such a privilege. I bet there are a few famous faces out there who would give anything to be a "Regular Joe" for just one night. Be nice to them when you meet them, OK?