Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Privates Exposed

by Pam

private (ˈpraɪvɪt)   — adj
1. not widely or publicly known
2. confidential; secret
3. not for general or public use

As a fan or admirer of a celebrity, we can get caught up in the not knowing where our obsession is or what he’s doing at any moment.  We wait for any information or picture that can tell us the ongoing story of his life.  The more private, the better. It makes us feel like we’re a part of that life; the inner circle. Being in that position, sharing what we know and have, makes us look and feel more important than just a mere fan. Is it really about loving our celebrity, or about our own importance? 

A while ago, I used a private picture of Alex O’Loughlin in one of my Louie and Al scenarios.  Within hours, we received an email from a person who seemed to know where the original picture was from. From the wording, I am convinced it was a friend or family member of Alex. This person referred to the privacy of the moment, and asked why I would want to put it on the internet. My response was a humiliated apology, and I vowed never to do it again.  Not only because someone is watching, it wasn’t right to have shared Alex’s private moment, even using a cute squirrel as an excuse. There has to be others who have been scolded, as well.
  
I’m sure a lot of Alex fans dig for new information and unique photos. It comes with the territory.  Some people have no filter and post private photos on the internet. Then they are reposted and reposted again.  A lot of times it creates this scenario:
   “Did you see the new picture of Alex?!? It looks like somebody’s backyard. Anybody know whose yard that is? I wonder if it’s Alex’s backyard. Are those tomatoes? Whose leg is that in the bottom right corner? It looks like a smaller foot. Does anybody know what size shoe Saxon wears? Maybe it’s Saxon.”
The posting of a seemingly innocent picture has created a monster. Now the digging goes even deeper. These are the fans who need to know everything.  Where’s the self control? Where’s the integrity Alex holds so dear in his own friends? 

Here’s the deal, and it’s doesn’t take a university degree to understand this. Alex is just like the rest of us. He laughs, he cries, he’s mean, he’s sweet, he’s cranky, he’s silly.He makes mistakes. He’s a man’s man who loves sports, women, beer and cursing. He’s says the right thing at the right time and the wrong thing at the wrong time.  He’s Australian, not American, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Philipino, Brazilian, Greek, Japanese or Chinese.  Australians have their ways about them.  This brings me to my point.

Australians are tight knit, private and loyal to one another. Friendships are strong and lasting. I propose, as Alex fans, we take our cue from them. As a fandom, let’s be tight knit, maintain Alex’s privacy and be loyal to him. We can make our “relationship” with him strong and lasting if we forego sharing what Alex holds dearest. If you care for him or “love” him, stop openly sharing the private moment pictures or videos. Take a stand by not reposting/retweeting any private media, or even commenting. Don’t thank someone for invading the object of your affection’s privacy. That’s just hypocritical.  There are plenty of photos, legitimate photos, videos and interviews of Alex through the years on the internet. There will be plenty more in which he willingly shares intimate details of his life and family as he has in the past. But, if fans keep openly sharing Alex’s private moments, we could drive him to withdrawing from his fans even more than he already has.  If he gets frustrated enough with us, we may not see him again after Hawaii Five 0.  

Remember, someone is watching…and probably reporting back.


We welcome all comments, as long as they are respectful and non-accusatory. All comments are moderated.

23 comments:

  1. Couldn't have said it any better, so thank you for saying what so desperately needed to be said.

    Because people see him out in public, they don't feel their actions (taking his picture, following him through the grocery store, trailing him down the beach) constitute an invasion of privacy. Then to see the "conversation" it generates online is ridiculous. These so-called fans don't respect him, but rather treat him like an object. The obsessiveness it generates is rather scary, honestly.

    I'm sure Alex has plenty of normal fans - those of us who are fans of his work. But we know where to draw the line in the sand. Most people don't.

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  2. I ‘m not interested what number of shoes Saxon wears, or anything of Alex son. But seeing a pic like that on the beach (I think it's one of the pic you are referring), I don’t like it because makes me feel part of his life, but because it shows him as a simple man who shows himself in public without problems and if someone steals a pic in a public place I think he can’t be offended by this, he is still a public figure. There are pics taken at his home and disseminated on the Internet (I don't think those were put by fans), for those I can agree with you, and there are plenty of photos, legitimate photos on the internet, for which demand a lot of dollars for the publication, also this is hypocritical. For everything we need just moderation.
    “He’s says the right thing at the right time and the wrong thing at the wrong time.” and I must be free to say that I don’t think like him and not for this being a fan who doesn’t love him enough.
    If someone is watching…..... I hope to report back.

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    1. "There are pics taken at his home and disseminated on the Internet (I don't think those were put by fans)"
      What pictures from his home? Do you have them?
      Post a link??

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    2. Thank God! I was't sure you were gonna catch what I was throwing!

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  3. Do you really think that everytime a camera clicks he isn't aware that the photo is more than likely to end up online? Give him a little credit, he's not a child, he's an intelligent adult. It's not a sex tape, get over it.

    Personally, I'm a lot more concerned about the state of our country then someone posting pictures of a celebrity at a backyard party. I guess we all have different priorities.

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    1. Carol here: No, I don't believe Alex knows every time his photo is taken. Have you seen the telescopic lenses on pap cameras?

      A colleague at work recently told me a man at the mall followed her around and took pictures of her from a distance. She's not a celebrity but still could not stop him because he "wasn't hurting anyone." The issue of privacy is debated every day in the media and in the courts. The answer is not so simple.But examples such as Princess Diana should indicate how serious it can get.

      Pam and I are saying that WE will not publish family moments. We told you the reasons. Now you make your own decision.

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    2. Wow, this guy was actually hurting someone. He was hurting her by stalking her with his camera. I would view something like this as harassment, maybe even sexual harassment. And such a situation is extremely scary.

      German law differentiates between public and private photos, even with celebrities. If someone put my pictures up on the internet without my consent I could sue. I have the rights to my own image. Exceptions are public events or when I'm acting in a public fashion, for example as a trainer or speaker.

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    3. It's a great law in Germany. The US needs something like that. We are a country of excess and need to be reigned in, especially when it comes to one's privacy. Thanks for your comment.

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  4. I remember being surprised that you used that photo, since you usually avoid the paparazzi-type pictures. Kudos for owning up to your mistake. I did something similar once and still cringe when I think of it. I think it's something that many of us struggle with; where exactly to draw the line. I have to be honest, I certainly enjoy looking at any new images of Alex, but at the same time, I want him to have a normal life and some privacy. Yes, I realize that's hypocritical, but what can I say, I'm human. My personal decision was, if the picture is taken on set, or he's agreed to pose for it, that's acceptable to post and pass on. If the picture is taken on his personal time without his knowledge and consent, it's a no-go. Thanks again for addressing this issue. I've been attacked for taking the same stance (along with the old, "he's a celebrity, this comes with the territory" argument,) but ultimately I have to be comfortable with the decisions I make.

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    1. Thanks, Terry. It wasn't a pap picture I was referring to that I used. It was a real personal photo, taken by a friend of Alex in a private situation. I will never do that again. I have used pap photos in my Louie and Al scenarios. In my opinion, he knew he was being photographed, and I used the less invasive one. And, I put a squirrel in it. I have noticed that you use your discretion when posting photographs. You have stuck to your guns and I admire you for that.

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  5. So you no longer posting candid pictures taken by fans on your site? What about your Facebook page? There's still a bunch on there. Before you take such a totalitarian stand and squawk on and on for days you may want to make sure you’re not being hypocritical.

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    1. We're not that kind of site. We don't post pictures, unless they're in the Louie and Al scenarios. Yes, I have used some pap photos in the past, but as they all have squirrels in them, they will remain up.

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    2. So if i take a personal photo and add a chipmunk to it then its okay to repost? I just want to make sure I am getting this right.

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    3. Now you're just arguing for argument's sake. There have been a few pap pics I have used, altering them to suit my needs. If you can stop vilifying me for a minute and see the point I am trying to make, that would be very adult of you.

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    4. I am not trying to vilify you, I am simply trying to figure out the holes in your logic. Whats good for the goose isn't good for the gander? It's okay for you to do it and post it, BUT here you are rallying against it. If you are going to make a public statement about how these pictures are private and should not be used, and how they intrude on his privacy then you should follow your own rules. Personally I think it would be very adult of you to own up to your own hypocrisy

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    5. If you read the post, I admitted to my mistake. Whatever pics have been posted that are private were done so in the past. I keep them up because they are part of a important section of this blog. The very personal picture I am referring to in my post was removed (and I was not asked to) as soon as I was "caught." The hypocrisy lies with those who profess there devotion to Alex and turn around and show the opposite. That's that and you and I are done.

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  6. I'm sorry, I love Alex and understand a persons right to privacy but seriously when a person makes a conscious choice to peruse a career as an actor in tv shows and movies they are not ignorant to the fact that a large part of their privacy will be sacrificed for fame, it goes with the territory.....just say'in

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    1. You're absolutely right. But, I'm asking if YOU want to be categorized as one of those fans who "love" Alex, yet still repost a private pic you've seen on the internet. What would you're motive be? I'm just askin'

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  7. HEY EVERYBODY! I have the answer/solution to this issue. And it will take care of Alex, Pattinson,Padalecki/Ackles,GaGa and Bieber, etc.

    Let's make it a law that,since celebrities know "it goes with the territory" that all celebrities must wear a head cam 17 hours a day and their homes be set up like "Big Brother." That way, it will be legal to photograph and video their every waking (and sleeping) moment and we get what we want!

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  8. Your snarkiness is also noted ; )

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  9. The bottom line for me is that Alex himself has said he's not happy about his loss of privacy. He does press conferences, photoshoots,interviews and other PR events to support his career. Why is that not enough?

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