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Celebrity Autographs: Do they REALLY owe us anything?

A question that is constantly raised and constantly debated, is when all the discussion ends and the dust settles, at the end of the day does any celebrity really ever owe an autograph to those that request it?

We all know the argument, and we all know the value of signed items. We all see the demand and we all see the scams. We all know about Ebay, and so does the celebrity. We all see the increasing number of autograph style conventions, and we all see the amount of forgeries that pollute our collecting industry. We all know that if they only would sign real autographs through the mail, we no longer would need to bother them on the streets. We all know if they sold real autographs on their websites, these TMZ style chaser would have little market to resale the signatures they chase these stars down to obtain. We all know that celebs guard their privacy, and rightfully they should. We all know that collecting autographs is as old as a silent movie and a 78 rpm, and it only increases with each passing year. We all know that these celebs live in palaces and are worth millions upon millions thanks to their fans and the industry that have decided to work in. When all the discussion is finally over and all sides have been evenly presented, the question still remains: Does Any Celebrity Owe Us An Autograph?

Your thoughts............................

Tags: Ebay, TMZ, autographs, celebrity, conventions, mail, person

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Comment by Steven Ryan on April 10, 2010 at 10:10am: Well nobody really owes anything to anybody. It's a state of mind, yours. What I mean is if some one does you a favor or shows you a kindness, you in YOUR mind decide if you "owe them one" and if you don't pay it back no cop is comming after you. It's your Honor and your own code "on the line " so to speak.

Now you see a movie, or buy music, or follow a sports team, and you write them a letter or find them in person, telling how their acting, music or talent inspired you to do whatever. Do they owe you an autograph? No, they do not. Again it falls to their own code, their own ideas on oweing and paying it back. Some are great signers, will sign anything and some will not sign anything anywhere. It is all up to the indvidual celebrity to make the choice. You can better your chances buy being polite and not pushy and RESPECTFULL, but bottom line they do not owe us anything. That is why every autograph I have I see as a GIFT. They did not have to, but they wanted to sign it. Just my 2 cents.

Comment by edgar karim on April 11, 2010 at 8:00am: I believed they do owe us . If it wasnt for the fans they would not be celebrities. I have become sort of a guru when it comes to collecting autographs. I have met over 500 celebrities and I gotten the upper hand over others collectors just because I read this magazines and shared information with other collectors!

Comment by Robert Babb on April 11, 2010 at 12:55pm: I feel they have a right not to sign but on the other hand we can boycott by not buying their cds if an artist or not see their movies or shows for example.

Comment by Ken Slater on April 11, 2010 at 4:58pm: Owe me an autograph? I would think not. As a 20 plus year collector I have always had the philosophy that when I request an autograph I am asking for a favor from the celebrity. Even when I am supplying the item, I am still asking for them to give up a part of their day for me. They have absolutely no obligation to do that. Fans do not make the celebrity a celebrity. The celebrities talent makes them a celebrity and it is the talent that creates the need for the collector to collect. Just another thought.

Comment by Jeff Browne on June 30, 2011 at 7:05pm: Well let's look at the question of "do they owe us anything?" looking at people and not just celebrities, I don't think people owe anyone anything. Of course that is an extremely pessimistic view of life, but it's the truth.

On the other hand if you were a celebrity, how would you feel about people constantly asking you for autographs and photo opportunities? Of course it could get annoying and you feel that people are prying in your life, but in my opinion; I would love it. Doesn't it make you feel great that people a) want your autograph and b) want to take a picture with you.

So the answer to the original question for me is, no they don't owe us anything at all. But they should feel special and of importance that we do want it from them!