If you achieved celebrity status, would you use your high profile status to champion a cause?

I would try to break the machine from the inside.

I would do what I could to support those causes that have touched my life.

I would not go political outside of supporting participation.

@Sampson What machine?

I would quietly support the causes I already support. If someone asked me what causes I support, I would tell them, but I wouldn’t volunteer the information or get up on a soapbox about it. I hate when celebrities start to think they’re so magical and special and everyone wants to know what they think.

@The_Compassionate_Heretic Celebrity worship.

I think I would. And knowing me, it would probably be gay-related. ;)

I never trust celebrities who do this. I would still prefer to privately support whatever causes I choose.

Hmm. I wouldn’t make a spectacle of what causes I support, but would not hide or keep silent if asked about them.

Yeah…with @DominicX again. Gay rights, absolutely.

Honestly, I doubt I would.

I don’t know about “championing a cause.” I would support the causes which are important to me, which happen to be education and hunger, and if the media catches whiff of it, fine. If related organizations asked me to raise money for them, I’d probably do it. The important point here being that I wouldn’t be looking for the publicity, but I wouldn’t shy away from it if it came to me.

I would give to the American Cancer Society & the SPCA.

Yes, I would. I fully understand that people hate it when celebrities do this, but I would do it anyway. Being a celebrity isn’t much of a contribution to the world, but using that celebrity to champion a cause that would benefit the world… why on Earth wouldn’t I? I’d fight for equal rights for everyone (including gay marriage), encourage reason and compassion, and work to elect leaders who would do the same.

“Hit hipsters, not pets!”

I’d focus my fame on developing more substantive harnesses for purse dogs, and I’d model it at every public event.

I probably would now. But I didn’t when I could (I was not a celebrity per se, but I had more than enough media attention). I now regret not using it, and actually avoiding the media.

Sometimes I think celebrities get too in-your-face and they become annoying, and a detrement to the cause. I think I’d donate my time and money, but not be so public about it, unless there was some sort of immediate crisis.

I think “sanctimony” has become the default assumption of people’s attitude toward celebrity causes, but I also think many of them are sincere.

Sarah McLaughlin is all over the TV promoting charities against animal abuse but she doesn’t go all bat-shit PETA crazy over it.

I think the celebrity can easily go too far and lose support. When the cause is more about the promoter than the cause itself, then the perceived sincerity is lost.

I’d probably be too busy being blasted on whiskey or coke and paying for my illegitimate children in the bahamas to really care how quickly this world is going to hell in a hand basket to be perfectly honest…

I’d create, organize and lend my name to “One child per househould” type of breeding program. I’d then have very good reasons for becoming a recluse on my own island.

I’d set up a home for unwed mothers, ages 18–25. you know, help them get their start.

@eponymoushipster I’m having a terrible time deciding whether you are being serious or lascivious. ;-)

@augustlan <grin>

I would bring attention to my new cause: Celebrities Without Common Sense.
Or maybe bring attention to the pollution caused by Fluffy Toilet Paper

I think I would. Although I believe in helping out others quietly so that it is not for show, celebrity status does bring a lot of attention and money to causes. I would use my millions of dollars and my famous face to support world wide hunger relief.

I definitely would use any influence I might have to get people to donate time or money to the cause of their choice. Many people complain about issues but refuse to actually do anything about it, and I would like to put an end to that.

I’ll never be famous. don’t want to be

If I was though, I would definitely support St. Judes Children’s Hospital. I’d rather spend my money on these children than get my hair done or manicures.

I would support educational programs for inner city students in the U.S. and, if I had enough time and money left over, I would support similar programs in other countries.