By BILL YEE
Every so often as a break from teaching history in my classroom, I would ask my students a fun discussion question. “Fame or fortune or both?”
A popular career goal of some who are part of Generation Alpha (those born between 2010-2024) is to become Internet influencers. Being an influencer can bring both fame and fortune. Forget about being a doctor, lawyer or engineer.
One of my son’s classmates makes a pretty good living posting on the Internet photos of herself applying make-up.
There are, however, pitfalls to both fame and fortune. For example, with fame there is a lot of pressure when you are in the public eye. You give up your privacy. Imagine going out to eat or attending a public event (like a concert or sporting event) and having people come up to you constantly asking for a selfie or autograph!
You have to be careful with your behavior in public. An argument with a spouse or child goes viral instantly. Not giving an autograph or posing for a selfie because you may be busy is unforgivable.
You also have to be careful what you say publicly or what you post on the Internet. In a nation that is polarized culturally and politically, if you offend a significant part of the population, you will unfortunately be cancelled.
Your family would also be affected by fame. Being the spouse of someone famous has its pitfalls. Think of the pressure of being the son or daughter of famous or iconic parents. Your fame may affect the way your kids turn out.
Another factor of fame is having enduring friendships. Are your friends really your friends or just friends because of your fame?
Because of social media, the behavior of the famous is under the lens of a microscope 24/7!
How many of you have bought lottery tickets when the jackpot is in the hundreds of millions of dollars? The question is if you did indeed win the jackpot, what would you do? How would it change your life?
Would you move out of your old neighborhood and buy a new house? Buying that mansion in a rich neighborhood would mean a definite change in your lifestyle and the people you associate with.
Would you quit your job? If so, what would you do to occupy your time? You can only vacation and play golf for so long. Would you need to be productive in some way or want to make a difference in society?
There is also the pressure to help your friends and relatives. How many distant relatives would come out of the woodwork asking for financial help?
How would generational wealth affect the behavior of your kids? Would they still be ambitious in their life and career goals if they knew they didn’t have to work?
Recent history shows us that both fame and fortune can be a burden for many of our cultural icons. Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Prince, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis, to name a few, had difficulties dealing with fame and fortune. If these celebrities had not been celebrities, would they have lived longer lives and perhaps happier lives?
Remember all the child TV and movie stars who had a hard time adjusting to post-career fame? How many suffered through drug abuse, depression, and even a premature death?
Despite the pressures of fame and fortune, would you try to use both to have an impact on society? Warren Buffett and MacKenzie Scott (Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife) are examples of having their wealth support different causes.
At the end of our class discussion, quite a few of my students would still pick fame and fortune.
So having fame and fortune is a mixed bag. I would probably choose my current life. But I would still buy that lottery ticket when the jackpot is big and dream a little.
Bill Yee is a retired Alhambra High School history teacher. He can be reached at paperson52@gmail.com. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of The Rafu Shimpo.