#11. Entertainment

I just had this thought today, perhaps some of us exist purely for the entertainment of others. I'll explain. Religious people will say God put each of us here for a reason. Even non-religious people acknowledge to some degree that there has to be some point or meaning to living, even if that point or meaning is unknown. I think that "meaning" for some is that they are born to parent, lead a movement for some kind of change, to save lives, to love someone else, or to create some work or project that inspire or assist others. All very benevolent options, and I'm sure some people are truly born for those noble purposes. Others, I'm not so sure. Perhaps some were born to hurt another person or people so much that it causes that person to make some changes in their direction. In that vain, rethinking the above list of purposes eliminating the "good" that one assumes would mean that some people are just born to do those things badly. I mean, if poor parenting causes a child to grow up and commit horrendous crimes that hurt many people and one of those victims goes on to write a book that inspires others to do good, then does the bad parent exist purely to inspire others, albeit indirectly?
Anyway, the reason I ponder this is that some people will only ever be known for the things they did that entertained others. Not movie or music stars, not artists or dancers, no I mean people that do inexplicable things that purely entertain us. The runaway bride, for example. Sure, she's been alive for twenty-something years and has probably done some interesting or noble things. The bottom line is that everyone outside of her immediate family will only ever remember the 4 or however many days when she was the lead story on CNN, when the report of her death seemed ineveitable and her family issued tearful pleas for her safe return home. Then, suddenly, she was home and she became a joke. She ran away from her massive, expensive, over-the-top wedding just hours before it was to be held. Now she is going to get a movie and book deal. If that's not entertainment, I don't know what is. Her life exists for the public to be entertained. It does not matter if she now cures cancer, she is the runaway bride. Her comical appearance aside, she is pure humor to most. Sure, mental illness plays a role here but none of us have to be realistic about that, we are not caring for her! Similarly, Michael Jackson. Molestation probability aside, he entertains us. We gawk, we laugh, we watch for his next move. His life is entertainment for us, and I do not mean his music!
If a benevolent creater had anything to do with human existence, or heck, even if Mother Nature is the only force greater than ourselves, you have to admit that some being/spirit sure provided us with amusing humans. Anyone can be elevated to the level of existence for entertainment (if you think of it as "elevation"), at any time. We humans do not enjoy being bored. We look for the oddballs or the stupid people or the ones who do something new. We cherish them, talk about them, occasionally imitate them. And for those who believe that they have a higher purpose, bully for them! If that's what keeps you going, then keep on believing that you are going to someday accomplish unprecedented greatness. Until then, I'm going to read about a mother who wants some books banned because she thinks they might make her kid gay. Ahhh, the meaning of life!