MISS MANNERS by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Why do people, especially celebrities, feel the need to post their intimate details for all to read?
One female celeb posted about her partner’s performance in bed and how good he was at it. Another posted about how bad her ex was. Does the public need to know this information?
Those who post continuously don’t understand that social media is the downfall of many relationships.
GENTLE READER: Why, indeed, does everyone — celebrated or just hoping to be — feel the need to post everything about their lives?
We claim to care about our privacy. We hate it when we expect people to admire us, and instead they attack us. Yet we keep feeding each other material.
Celebrities did not always do this. They had press agents to spread favorable stories and, when necessary, quash unfavorable ones. The assumption was that they led blameless domestic lives, unless they made public scenes or landed in court. The idea was to boost their careers by making them seem relatable and likable.
Surprisingly, this approach often worked: Not everyone had a camera with which to catch them behaving badly, and the press was less aggressive. But now, bland narratives no longer titillate the public. Failings are often forgiven, but virtue is suspicious — not to mention boring.
Noncelebrities follow famous people’s lead, in the hope of becoming celebrities themselves. Or because they hold the now-common belief that the unpublicized life is not worth living.
Now, Miss Manners has a question for you: Why are you reading this stuff?
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
