Paris Hilton's "famous" genes

The New York Times recently made a startling revelation that "30 percent of adults report regularly daydreaming about being famous", just as Paris Hilton undoubtably does.

The words "genetic" or "inborn" never appeared in the article, of course, as if the past 30 years of scientific evidence didn't occur.  Instead, the need for fame is attributed to rational motives (like the "need to make meaning out of our lives" or "to feel like we are more than just material animals" or, worse, "due to a sense of abandonment").  Even Freud, that crutch of novelists, actors, writers and musicians who are oblivious to his discredited status, is mentioned.

So why are the other 70% of us not motivated to seek fame?  Why don't we feel the same visceral excitement at the thought of other people looking at us, and talking about us?  Why don't we respond to the same rational arguments that "we need to make meaning of our lives through fame"?

Because, once again, motivation cannot be trained.  It's innate.  Different people have different gene variants. and thus different personality traits. I'm waiting for scientists to identify the specific genetic variant that explains the behavior, so the rest of us have something else to talk about.  (Of course, most of us probably have the alternative celebrity idolizing gene, instead!)

Comments

[Topher]

The idea that motivation is innate is, and will, alter the way we view humanity. I can hear Ayn Rand-ians screaming now.