Knowing someone in the public eye

[OffYouPopForNow]

Anyone else like this?

I have a connection who has a very public role in life - think like a very well known business person or politician.

So not known for something innocuous (not that that matters on social media) but whose day job is subject to public scrutiny and running commentary.

Do you follow what people say about them? I do now and then, but find myself wanting to jump in and say “you’ve got it wrong, he’s a lovely uncle” when folk think they are in the wrong about everything.

Or do you simply never, ever look?

PS not Boris or Harry! Nowhere near THAT well known.

I've often wondered about this. It must be weird.

Carrie, is that you?

I said not Boris, honest!

I rarely look. Very occasionally when it’s very close to home then I do look and occasionally comment, as I can’t help myself sometimes. Trial by media makes me so cross as reports are inevitably misrepresented. People comment on others personalities and morals when they know nothing about them and those commented on have no ability to respond.

OP does this person being in your life make you less judgemental about others in similar standing in society? Or not?

The people I knew who were very high profile are now either not so high profile or I'm not in much contact with them.

I learned over time that it was better for me to avoid reading much about them as it made me cross! With the ones who are still high profilr, I sometimes give in to temptation, especially if I see a headline thAt surprises me.

And I have a very quiet life now so am unlikely to get to know any more famous people

I am definitely more tolerant. If a headline or social post is screaming about something outrageous I tend for think “yes, that would be bad, but I bet that’s not exactly what happened”

My DH was in the public eye for a bit some years ago. Not for long and by association rather than something he'd done but there were articles that included him and his photograph on the news etc. When we first got together I read some of the comments made about him online in forums and on news sites etc. but not many. It just felt wrong that they were made by people who didn't know him and he never had the opportunity to respond or defend himself. I know the real him so I don't need to read what other people think. I'm glad he's no longer in that spotlight.

I knew someone who was in the public eye in a very niche way. The way she, her personality and her professional motivations were dissected by some after her untimely death still enrages me.