Should celebrities get involved with political campaigns?

[Inseriousity.]

Scottish independence referendum tomorrow and I've noticed that a few scottish celebrities have deliberately sat on the fence to avoid any controversy and not really given a say. However, a lot of others have: David Bowie via Kate Moss at an awards ceremony (Brits, I think), JK Rowling, Sean Connery.

Some say celebrities should get involved because they can reach out to a wider audience that politicians struggle to engage and that they're entitled to an opinion. Others say that they're allowed an opinion but their opinion isn't given any attention so why should theirs when they're not an expert on the issues?

I wanted to keep this question more general (I believe celebrities also get heavily involved with US Presidential elections too as I remember Katy Perry endorsing Obama and ofc the empty chair incident with Clint Eastwood) so what do you think?

Are celebrities getting involved a good or bad thing? Would they have any influence on how you voted?

[buttons]

I don't see why not they are people too and their opinion should be heard, especially if it affects them and their country (as it will affect Britain) but doesn't mean they're going to be listened to unless they make valid points. Would not influence me unless their points were correct/valid

[Kardan]

They should get involved, and I wouldn't change my mind based on if my favourite celebrities held the same opinions as me.

[-:Undertaker:-]

No, they shouldn't and it annoys me pretty much from whatever side they come from. Even worse, most celebrities are wealthy and out of touch and naturally gravitate towards left wing causes - look at the drivel from Russell Brand, Sean Penn and Benedict Cumberbatch - and quite frankly I am sick of hearing about their pet causes. Half of them are complete hypocrites.. just look at Leonardo Di Caprio who lectures the general public on the ills of global warming climate change and then flies to his next beach party. Or the idiots in Hollywood who call for tighter gun controls, whilst at the same time glorifying guns in their movies.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1leiKgRHQro

[TheDoctor.]

I'd like to hear what Peter Capaldi says obviously the role that he is in is quite a big deal. If he says No to the vote people will complain and if he says yes he will get people also complaining. But if an Actor/actress is Scottish they have the right to say how they feel.

[scottish]

No, they shouldn't and it annoys me pretty much from whatever side they come from. Even worse, most celebrities are wealthy and out of touch and naturally gravitate towards left wing causes - look at the drivel from Russell Brand, Sean Penn and Benedict Cumberbatch - and quite frankly I am sick of hearing about their pet causes. Half of them are complete hypocrites.. just look at Leonardo Di Caprio who lectures the general public on the ills of global warming climate change and then flies to his next beach party. Or the idiots in Hollywood who call for tighter gun controls, whilst at the same time glorifying guns in their movies.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1leiKgRHQro

Surely you should never be able to stop one from sharing their opinion, whether they're millionaires or not.

I thought you were for complete free speech? not allowing celebs to give their opinion on matters (which they might be passionate about) would be counter productive to that?

[-:Undertaker:-]

Surely you should never be able to stop one from sharing their opinion, whether they're millionaires or not.

I thought you were for complete free speech? not allowing celebs to give their opinion on matters (which they might be passionate about) would be counter productive to that?

Where did I say I would ban them?

Why do people keep confusing my personal opinions on matters with me wanting a law created for it?

[scottish]

Because you constantly go on about how you're so against limiting freedom of speech (to the extent that you should be able to post you're going to bomb an airport without any consequences iirc) but then post saying Celebs shouldn't be able to get involved in political campaigns.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Because you constantly go on about how you're so against limiting freedom of speech (to the extent that you should be able to post you're going to bomb an airport without any consequences iirc)

I don't think you should take drugs, have one night-stands or engage in gay sex either, but I wouldn't stop you.


but then post saying Celebs shouldn't be able to get involved in political campaigns.

I never said they shouldn't be able to, I said I don't think they should. Totally different.

[Inseriousity.]

No, they shouldn't and it annoys me pretty much from whatever side they come from. Even worse, most celebrities are wealthy and out of touch and naturally gravitate towards left wing causes - look at the drivel from Russell Brand, Sean Penn and Benedict Cumberbatch - and quite frankly I am sick of hearing about their pet causes. Half of them are complete hypocrites.. just look at Leonardo Di Caprio who lectures the general public on the ills of global warming climate change and then flies to his next beach party. Or the idiots in Hollywood who call for tighter gun controls, whilst at the same time glorifying guns in their movies.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1leiKgRHQro


This is the main reason I saw against it. I've been following JK Rowling on this (well cos its JK Rowling, duh) and she's talked a lot about how it's the poor that'll suffer the most from a Yes vote and it wouldn't hurt her. She's using her experience when she was in poverty to inform her opinions now, even though she is no longer in that situation. I suppose the question is are you more forgiving of it if their past experience means they wouldn't be out of touch.

edit: totally unrelated but you don't believe in gay sex? are you going to stay celibate?

[-:Undertaker:-]

This is the main reason I saw against it. I've been following JK Rowling on this (well cos its JK Rowling, duh) and she's talked a lot about how it's the poor that'll suffer the most from a Yes vote and it wouldn't hurt her. She's using her experience when she was in poverty to inform her opinions now, even though she is no longer in that situation. I suppose the question is are you more forgiving of it if their past experience means they wouldn't be out of touch.

Actually to be fair on JK Rowling, I can sort of see where she is coming from... even though i'm probably the opposite of her in many of my opinion. It's also worth noting that whenever she does get involved in politics, she refers back to her experiences (which were genuine) and she does get involved in a way that is actually relatable because she isn't a typical celebrity. The type I hate are the Islington or Notting Hill types who got where they are because of mummy and daddy, and who write endless left wing drivel in the Guardian/Independent which is supposed to make you believe as though they've had it hard. Most of them just suffer from personal guilt.


edit: totally unrelated but you don't believe in gay sex? are you going to stay celibate?

Yes and yes, been the same for what is coming up to six years now (22 this autumn).

[Aiden]

i think they should if they're interesting. i only follow people that i agree with anyway, so if one of my fav celebs wanted something i didnt agree with id just stop following their career lol

[The Don]

Sure. Celebrities have an audience they can highlight issues to, groups of people who otherwise wouldn't care about particular topics. If celebrities can get the younger generations involved with important issues then surely that's beneficial to society.

[benzoberzerk]

Since when are "celebrities" an unanimous group of people? "They" are humans with the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else. The problem here isn't that famous people are sharing their views, the problem is that not enough people are familiar with critical thinking. It's quite insane that people let themselves be influenced to such an extent that they would buy practically anything someone else is saying, but unfortunately we live in a society where idol-worshiping is the norm. THAT is the actual problem.

[Joe]

Since when are "celebrities" an unanimous group of people? "They" are humans with the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else. The problem here isn't that famous people are sharing their views, the problem is that not enough people are familiar with critical thinking. It's quite insane that people let themselves be influenced to such an extent that they would buy practically anything someone else is saying, but unfortunately we live in a society where idol-worshiping is the norm. THAT is the actual problem.

Totally, literally took the words straight from my mouth. Celebrities have every right to get involved in politics, exactly the same as every single one of us in this forum have, it's just whether or not they're in politics because they know they'll get a public following or because they have the views and ambitions to change things for the better.