# I wonder what it's like for a celebrity to NOT be noticed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 5, 2016, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211 "2016-01-05T08:34:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/81 "2016-01-07T16:56:29Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > I simply abhor anonymity and avoid it like the plague… Not THE Tibby? Supreme ruler of the sovereign nation of Pico-Pie and First Vegan Vampire Ever? I would like to apply for the position of Left-Hand Underling in your entourage. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/82 "2016-01-07T17:26:57Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Yeah, but my point was that Messi is someone who is extremely ordinary looking and if dressed down, would not attract attention anywhere. Unlike Beckham. I’ve at least heard of Beckham. Though I certainly wouldn’t recognize him. Adidas still sells shoes? Haven’t heard of them in years. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/83 "2016-01-07T18:18:31Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Yeah, but my point was that Messi is someone who is extremely ordinary looking and if dressed down, would not attract attention anywhere. Unlike Beckham. True. As you said, he looks like a high school algebra teacher. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/84 "2016-01-07T18:19:13Z")
Up here in my part of the country, it’s likely we really _do_ know who that famous person is over there, we just don’t give a shit. It’s one of the things that I like about midcoast and downeast Maine; we’re not all that impressed by status. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/85 "2016-01-07T18:25:31Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > True. As you said, he looks like a high school algebra teacher. He would be a pretty good looking high school Algebra teacher, the one that the girls have a crush on. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/86 "2016-01-07T18:28:32Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Or is it because badminton courts are much smaller than tennis courts and space is at a premium in Asia? Quite possibly. Asians usually dominate table tennis, too. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/87 "2016-01-07T19:12:51Z")
I was at a University of Texas football game a few years ago. UT was playing Tech and there was an annoying Tech fan behind me. Every time I’d stand up, she’d stand on my seat. I’m not at ALL tall. She was taller than me and could easily see over me. But she’d stand on my seat and when I’d sit down, she’d get all butt hurt that I sat on her toes. Easily remedied, right? Anyway, I was talking with my friend Sandy sitting next to me when annoying girl interrupts and says “Tap him on the shoulder.” Pointing to the guy in front of me. I did and he turn around with a “what do you want scowl” on his face. I shrugged and pointed to Annoying Girl with a “don’t blame me, dude” look right back. She got all coy and asked his name. Now, I’m a baseball fan, but I was at a football game in Texas. I didn’t know Nomar Garciaparra and Mia Hamm had moved to Austin. Annoying Girl wants a picture made with him. He says yes, she shoves Sandy and me out of the way and poses. He takes the picture and he and his friends leave the seats never to return. The best part was the look on Sandy’s face when the girl shoved her out of the way. As Ricky Williams’ mother, she’s kind of used to people being pretty polite to her at sporting events. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/88 "2016-01-07T19:37:47Z")
Has anyone addressed yet that , the “but what if you’re wrong” factor? Because it Pisses People Off. I was leaving a meeting held on a college campus today. I was talking to a coleague when a pretty girl came into view who looked an Awful Lot like Miley Cyrus or was copying her look. She walked w/i a foot of us and I only said a polite “hello” (she said hi back). That was it. Because if I say, “OMG, its Miley Cyrus…!” A: Thanks a Lot, Asshole. Talk louder so CT can hear you. I just came here to do things like a Normal person. Its Dicks Like You that make that Impossible. Thanks!" _walks off_ “Excuse me, but you look like Miley Cyrus.” A1: “Yeah and you look like some over the hill Jerk. F-k off, ok?” _walks off_ A2" “So…?” _walks off_ “Are you Miley Cyrus?” A1: Yes. _walks off_ A2: No. _walks off_ None of the above hypotheticals are fun conversations to me and I’m pretty sure almost none would make The Real Miley Cyrus’ day any better. So why do anything that will only get you a boot to the teeth or make that celeb (whoever it is) have a shitty day? Its not like they are going out of their way to make Your day a Shitty Day, right…? ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/89 "2016-01-07T19:40:57Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > And I once met a very nice NASCAR driver at a bar. He flirted away. I had never heard of him. Told me his car was right outside. In my innocence, I asked if he would pop the hood - I didn’t know that the engine configurations were national secrets! We walked out with a friend of mine (playing bodyguard - I’m innocent, not dumb!) He opened the trailer and popped the hood, and I missed the chance of a lifetime to get rich with a couple of surreptitious pictures of his motor, I guess - my bodyguard friend told me the next day that a NASCAR competitor would have paid good money. The driver and I each left alone that night, but he actually seemed to enjoy the fact that I had no idea who he was. He won the Winston Cup later that year. Wait - did he drive his actual trailer with his NASCAR _racecar_ to the bar? With no security? It seems weird that drivers could / would do that. “OK, see you tomorrow guys - I’m taking this multi-million dollar car to Buffalo Wild Wings!” And then he popped the hood to show his secret engine to some girl? I would think his sponsors would drop him pretty quickly if they knew he was doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/90 "2016-01-07T20:46:34Z")
> [@dizzee\_dee](#): > > Why is it surprising? I have no idea who he is. I don’t follow sports in general, and certainly not those outside the US. So if I saw him in a commercial, I would just think he was some dude in a commercial. I haven’t even heard of sports. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/91 "2016-01-07T20:48:25Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Wrong about what, that he is the face of Adidas in the U.S? Well, honestly, I wouldn’t know - I haven’t ever seen an Adidas ad. So I very well could be wrong. More a Puma fan, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/92 "2016-01-07T21:24:47Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Works both ways, though. I wouldn’t expect you to recognize [this guy](http://www.stlcardinalbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/jackie-robinson.jpg), even though he was one of the greatest and most significant people in his field (and, indeed, in wider American culture) and almost all Americans know his name. Is that that Baby Ruth guy you baseball people are all gaga over? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/93 "2016-01-07T22:04:28Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Has anyone addressed yet that , the “but what if you’re wrong” factor? Because it Pisses People Off. > ] I have a relative who looks similar to Garth Brooks and he has been asked about it several times. Sometimes he says yes and signs autographs. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/94 "2016-01-07T22:16:04Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Is that that Baby Ruth guy you baseball people are all gaga over? Yup. Invented the Cadbury Creme Egg. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/95 "2016-01-07T23:43:53Z")
Paul McCartney seemed to enjoy it (this was 22 years ago): > **[WATCH: Paul McCartney Busks In London (And No One Seems To Notice)](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paul-mccartney-busking-london-1984-give-my-regards-to-broad-street_n_1615119)** > > WATCH: Paul McCartney Busks In London (And No One Seems To Notice) I have never been a celebrity but I had my “15 minutes” a few years ago. I got to deal with a bunch of phone calls from reporters, a cameraman showing up unannounced at my front door at about 6-7am wanting an interview, etc. It got really old really fast. If that was my day to day existence I think I’d very much enjoy going out and not being recognized. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/96 "2016-01-08T00:05:13Z")
> [@VanillaGorilla](#): > > Aha! So you _are_ Tibby! YES! …or, maybe not. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/97 "2016-01-08T00:32:30Z")
> [@Tibby or Not Tibby](#): > > YES! > > …or, maybe not. So, you’re Schrödinger’s Tibby? A tabby Tibby? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/98 "2016-01-08T01:41:28Z")
As for Lionel Messi, I only know who he is because he’s hugely popular in soccer (“football”)-mad Thailand, and his face features in a lot of commercials and other ads. Turkish Airlines he promotes a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/99 "2016-01-08T02:08:26Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > As for Lionel Messi, I only know who he is because he’s hugely popular in soccer (“football”)-mad Thailand, and his face features in a lot of commercials and other ads. Turkish Airlines he promotes a lot. “I’ve only heard of this guy because he’s internationally famous!” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211/100 "2016-01-08T02:19:46Z")
Well, I certainly don’t watch football, American or otherwise. And I doubt he’s appearing in many ads in the US, so there’s not much reason why most Americans would know him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-wonder-what-its-like-for-a-celebrity-to-not-be-noticed/742211.md?page=6)