Anyone else here NEVER want to be a public figure?
I ask cuz I was chatting with someone today about a creative project I'm working on, and said if I ever were to publish it I'd want to do so under a pseudo-name because if it did really well I wouldn't want to become famous, the idea of being famous at all makes me anxious.
They felt this was weird of them. Personally I think this can't be an uncommon sentiment, I mean plenty of authors out there despise public life, so I think it's a pretty common feeling.
I would have 0 problems being a public figure. In fact im thinking about doing something that would make me at least noted in some circles and areas. Now I doubt im ever gonna be famous but im not opposed to it. I can be trusted with power and should be allowed to wield it without consequences.
I mean, if I ever get my books published or my video games designed, I already have like five alter-egos to utilize in an elaborate plot to confound and stymie my potential enemies
I just need someone to pretend to be Flakes Bongler while I dress up as Flakes Bongler's private luchador bodyguard, Señor Peligro
Lol if I never do become a mega successful author I think I may do the Magnum PI thing where I pretend "author me" if off jet setting and being a playboy while I pretend to be the groundskeeper in my isolated mansion and just kinda show up to all the events about me and drink wine in the corner.
If I ever make it as an author I will indulge my publisher in book signing events under controlled conditions but never ever doing a tv interview or the like fuck that
I've been interviewed on TV and radio a few times and have been recognized in public a few times because of it and it absolutely hated it. I couldn't imagine being an actual public figure.
I mean, I won't say I don't want to be a public figure but I would say "feck off" to any fan who notices me and tries to ask for a bit of unwanted attention, if not tries to do some weird shit like stalking ... if they're chill, I'm fine with them...
After all, there are only so much famous people you would know in your life...
Honestly though, I would rather be in a figurehead position rather than in a role of credibility and authority if that's the case...
I feel like I've grown shier every year. Possibly a result of the pandemic. Back in high school I didn't mind the idea of lots of people knowing me, and I would seek out attention. I've mellowed out since then. I don't mind it too much, though, I just wouldn't seek out to be in a position where lots of people know me.
Without doxxing myself, I went to college for a career that would dramatically increase my chances of being a public figure. One of the main reasons ended up not doing that for a living is that when I got near the end of college and saw just what kind of life the people who do this job live, I realized I absolutely never want that. It sounded so constricting.
Glad I got the degree anyway it was super fun, but...yeah. The liklihood of me being a public figure in literally any capacity stopped me from doing the career I wanted to do. So I totally understand, I also would never want to be famous at all.
This may sound weird but I think it's also something that hold me back from organizing, most RadLeft groups in the US are so fucking small, being involved in them almost kinda comes with a degree of public facing. I wish the US had a communist party big enough I could just be some quiet pencil pusher in the lower ranks, like let me manage membership files for the Harrisburg PA branch or something where nobody will know my name!
I don't disagree. I certainly do some organizing but mostly for well established things, and this is a good reason why. I don't have the kind of social battery to pick up something like this and be THE FACE for it. I have people in my life who do that instead and when they're in a spot with a thing that hands are needed that's when I engage, but...yeah. It's tough.
I want to be publicly involved with politics and unions, but I also want to do cringe things like cosplay and go to conventions and I'm too insecure to try to do both.
I only get involved with leadership roles in stuff because while it is annoying to be a public face, it's even more annoying to watch from the sidelines and see someone flounder around. I usually go for VP positions for this exact reason. I can take care of the in-group organization while someone else can direct the broad strokes.
I was in the BSA and the best thing they ever taught me was basic project organization, leadership, and problem solving. I would prefer to be the guy who does what he's told but rarely am I ever in a big enough organization for it to be efficient to do so.
See I wouldn't find the money, but influence? Fuck I don't want to be responsible for influencing other people, I barely enjoy being responsible for myself!
ive always had delusions of grandeur. plus i think i could have a positive impact. i would start a book/ film club that was a 50/50 mix of art and theory.
It's not for everyone. I've been exposed to it because I have a relative who's grown increasingly famous in the area and relatives are always going to be targeted because they think you'll help them get closer to their favorite celebrity.
The pressure of people having strong opinions on you, finding articles written about you that will set a narrative about who you are as a person, having people finding you everywhere to get a photo. It's no wonder so many big celebs end up doing substance abuse. Many people really aren't built for it. Some people do what they love and the fame comes as part of the success.
Others crave fame and the idea of being beloved by millions. A lot of them end up becoming influencers doing stupid pranks or hopping on every trend with the hope that they get noticed.
The fame would be an unfortunate byproduct for me 110%. I've already decided on a pseudonym of an asshole character from an early novel. The way people get swarmed by the paparazzi should be criminal. If it happened despite my best efforts I'd use it to espouse how communism will win and I'd wear shirts with theory on them.
I've had thoughts before about how it could be miserable, but it's not enough to make me worry enough to use a pseudo-name. I feel like I have a better chance of winning the lottery than becoming recognizable because of something I've made or written.
edit: This reminded me that I should repost the best creative work I've ever made, since it seems like no one saw it last time: my "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt" screenplay (lemmy.ml link because I still don't know how to properly cross-post) This is pretty much the peak of my creative abilities.
No interest in fame. Not even anonymously. If I desire anything, it's Silence. Death. Non-Being. I burn my own manuscripts. The idea that my ideas might propagate or diffuse into culture in any way horrifies me. I try not to even think.
Part of me would like to be a casual streamer with ~50 concurrent viewers and like 10 chatters. But even that would be anonymous. I can't think of an upside to being famous.
imo you never know how you'll respond to a given situation without trying yourself. In this case you wouldn't go from normal notability to international celebrity - what if a little local notoriety felt good? What if the next step could be managed to? What opportunities would be gained from fame?