Why are athletes and celebrities paid more than teachers and social workers?

Question

It seem so unfair that those who are really making a difference in our community are not being compensated for the work they do!!!! What do you think?

Answer 1

entertainment dont u love tv or sports  or stuf like that wel if teachers and social workers were paid that much the tv and atheletes wouldnt risk injury for only a little money

Answer 2

Because we have our priorities all wrong. Because we hero worship the wrong professions.

Answer 3

Truthfully I've known some really awful teachers and social workers. I think it would be unfair to pay them more than somebody who's talent gives pleasure to thousands of people around the world. :-)

Answer 4

This is one of those proverbial questions that generally evokes some passionate replies because , on the surface, there seems to be something egregiously wrong with athletes and celebrities making more than teachers , social workers, and others whose ambition and function is to improve (generally speaking) the lives of others.

For an example, consider some of the replies you've received already.  If you are from the burden-bearing professions (teachers, social-workers, etc), or are family and/or friends of those, there's a tendency to be quite supportive of their talents and responsibilities while lamenting the relatively poor compensation they receive for their expertise and commitment to the human condition.

At the same time (as witnessed by other replies), there are those who believe there's an "entertainment value" in athletes and celebrities that justifies the ridiculously exhorbitant salaries and perks they receive.  What's difficult for these proponents to articulate is that "entertainment value."  It seems somehow to remain elusive and gets passed along, with a wink and a nod, by those proponents who seem to be condescendingly intimating that if you (universal) don't know what entertainment value is, then certainly you must be less-than-alive; less-evolved; less cosmopolitan; less-than-them.

Of course, in my view, that's ludicrous and quite laughable.  And then I try and extend the conversation a bit by mentioning that the Romans maintained there was "entertainment value" in putting Christians and wild beasts in an enclosed area to ... well, I guess to entertain a certain coterie of the community.  As such, is it possible that today there are some who would pay to indulge themselves -for entertainment- if the lions and Christians were back in vogue?

To be able to throw a small, white, leather ball over a triangle 90 feet away with some degree of accuracy is not only meaningless (my opinion), it's also mind-numbingly boring (low-to-zero on that entertainment value scale); ditto for golfing, bowling, etc.

To be able to move an oddly-shaped, and much larger, brown leather ball from one goalpost to another while beating the c**p out of each other -and sharing some rather unique takes on profaniety, familial relationships, -and the English language is also mind-numbingly boring to say nothing of the complete disregard for the relentless pounding their head (houses the brain -I think...) and bodies endure.  Add to that, an adventure that includes ice, sharp blades, and an object that can travel over 100mph, and it seems to be there's a generalized warped sense of entertainment that permeates a large part of American culture specifically -and western culture generally.

And, to truly add insult to injury, those so-called entertainers actually get paid beyond a minimum wage (that's about where the true value is) while teachers, social workers, first-responders, police, -even the military who, ostensibly, are there to protect "all of us", are shown the nation's (and economy's) thanks by being offered something just short of a liveable wage.

And now, get ready for the supply-siders to weigh in!

Answer 5

I agree.

Answer 6

Because we are idiots!  We entrust our most treasured items - our children - to people that we barely pay a livable income.  Police and firefighters don't fare any better, and they put their lives on the line for us every single day.

Answer 7

I agree, my mom is a teacher, and she works her *** off. And celeberties are living the free life, while getting paid millions of dollars a year. They just get lucky and are good at what they do. But I totally agree that teachers are a need in a community and need to be paid much more then they are now.