After thinking a lot about it, I have decided the way I am going to approach the situation mentioned (well, sort of) in the previous post is:
1) I am NOT going to ask to have a picture taken with him/them (and I don't intend to do it even if it is brought up.)
2) I am NOT going to ask for an autograph
3) I am probably going to be traveling on a train for several hours (dragging my sister behind me) to go meet someone who I respect, and I am going to approach him with respect, by not taking advantage of the situation. I am simply going to say hello, perhaps shake his hand, and tell him I appreciate his talent, his work ethic, his voice, and his commitment to the people who pay money to come see him.
I don't think because someone is a public figure, he/she should be treated like an animal in the zoo. I think too often, when we really like a performer, we begin to think they belong to us. After all, we pay him/her/them to entertain us, and therefore, we feel we should have access to them. I don't think that is how it should be. I believe we do pay them for just that, to entertain us. Not to have their pictures take with us; not to answer endless questions (which nearly always are questions that has been asked and answered time after time); and not to be set upon by anyone who sees them on the street.
If truly given this opportunity, I am going to look at it as a special adventure in my life, a chance to do something that I have never done before, but not a ticket to impose myself on someone, just because of who they are. To be given the opportunity to just sit and watch, whatever the situation is, and to soak in the ambiance of a different culture, will be one of the highlights of my life.
I hope it happens.
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