AdvantagesCelebrities get special treatment wherever they go. They celebrities are given the advantage of being the preferred customers everywhere they go.

They get preferential treatment over other customers at a restaurant, get special seats at theaters, get preferred entry at nightclubs, are given the first row seats at award functions or special tables at restaurants

Being famous generally means being richer. Fame generally brings lots of fortune.

Celebrities and other famous people are generally richer than the average people.

They can buy luxurious homes and cars, fancy gifts, expensive clothes and other things. They sometimes own entire islands.

Such materialistic pleasures of life convert from a dream to a reality when people become famous celebrities.

Disadvantages

Famous people can't do things that the average person can. They are usually mobbed and hounded for autographs and pictures.

Celebrities and other famous people cannot lead lives of normal people.

They may be forced to live in their own little secluded world, and will generally be unable to do things that the average Joe can.

They cannot indulge in the little pleasures of life, which can be very frustrating indeed.

Some of these simple pleasures of life include:

Playing ball at the neighborhood playgroundGoing shopping at the grocery storeGoing for an uninterrupted walk or a bicycle ride on the beachLying on the beach without being mobbed on a sunny daySitting on the park bench and reading a book without being asked "Can I take a picture of you?"Have a quiet dinner with family at the local restaurant.

Celebrities are recognized everywhere they go. Celebrities often experience a massive ego boost*1 when ordinary people recognize them.

This can be a great opportunity to boast to a friend and say: "Gee, I'm so famous. Everyone recognizes me."

They are recognized, spotted, and pictured what is a nice massage to the egos of some famous people.

Celebrities and famous people have fans: Fans are the people who adore their celebrity idols.

Fans can have celebrity crushes or even real life admiration for their idols. Fans mail and show other forms of appreciation that celebrities receive. This can be inspirational, motivational, and very humbling.

Many opportunities arise when people become famous. They have more opportunities that arise in their life.

These opportunities can be career related or not. For example, someone like Michael Jordan made a living not only from playing ball. He was also the face of Nike and promoted many other brands.

Being famous definitely opens many doors in life which would have remained shut had fame not been achieved.

Being famous or a celebrity can attract stalkers. They can stalked*2 by people who go out of control.

Famous people are often followed or harassed by phone, email, or mail by fans or followers who cross the line and become obsessed. Obsession can turn into threats and even physical harm.

A celebrity status can attract too many fake friends. From a celebrity's perspective, it may become very hard to separate a genuine person who wants to be friends from many of the million wannabe*3 friends who may want to befriend them for personal gain.

People constantly judge celebrities. Tabloids, magazines, newspapers, blogs, and other forms of media constantly judge celebrities on their personalities, habits, bodies, and a lot more.

From a layperson's point of view, it's like having a million people talk behind your back on a daily basis.

Celebrities have no privacy.The entire world is going to know about each particular actions of a celebrity. For example, they will talk if an actress wears a bikini and steps out on the beaches of Miami to sunbathe or if an actor heads out for a ride on his motorcycle on a sunny day. Paparazzi will take pictures of them to be splashed in the tabloids

Glossary*1. ego boost: something such as praise, success, etc, that makes one feel better about oneself or raises one's morale*2. Stalk: to follow or observe (a person) persistently, especially out of obsession or derangement.*3. Wannabe: 1. One who aspires to a role or position.2. One who imitates the behavior, customs, or dress of an admired person or group.

Taken and adapted from: http://princesswithapen.hubpages.com/hub/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-being-a-celebrity-Being-famous-can-be-a-tough-life

Student A:

You want to be a famous actress/ singer. You are very good at……….. and have been taking classes to………..

Talk about the advantages of being a celebrity.

Student B:

You don’t think that being a celebrity is good.

You are very pessimistic about it and only think of the disadvantages of being famous.

Role playing