What defines a Role Model?

[Shu]

The literal definition can be taken to heart when thinking of role models, but what do you think it means to be one? In today's day in age we always tend to overly identify with people before us, due to it's our only frame of reference. When we pick a mold, we hang with the folks that are equally as passionate about a certain thing.

Though in life we come across certain individuals who astound us, amaze us, or who fits the mold.

What and who for example would you call a role model and why?

[seddy-0]

one of my biggest role models in my life is the founder of tap out charles "mask" lewis. what makes him a role model, is how he talks. he is the most positive figure i have ever come across. when he spoke.. i felt like he was speaking to me. and everything was all about achieving your dreams and never giving up and about being who you are. its everything i talk about when i talk to kids at the bmx track.

here is a link to his tribute video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aH8m...ure=plpp_video

he died in 2009 in a car accident. but his message still lives on to this day.

[Phoenix Rising]

I find it hard to take someone seriously if they say their role model is someone like Snooki or Kim Kardashian, or really any Hollywood phony for that matter.

I have a few role models, such as:
FULL NAME | NATIONALITY | POLITICAL PARTY
Alexander Hamilton | American | Federalist Party
Barry Goldwater | American | Republican Party
Benjamin Franklin | American | Independent
George Washington | American | Independent
John Locke | British | N/A
Jonathan McDonald | American | Republican Party
Nigel Farage | British | UK Independence Party (Europe of Freedom and Democracy)
Ronald Reagan | American | Republican Party
Swede Momsen | American | N/A
Thomas Jefferson | American | Democratic-Republican Party
Thomas Paine | American | Independent
Tin Pei Ling | Singaporean | People's Action Party

[seddy-0]

if someone is looking up to a jersey shore cast member... they need to get their heads examined. those people are the worst kinds of people to look up to.. they promote being jerks and partying.. they show no blueprint of how to be a better person. you really can't condemn all of hollywood, there are some actors and actresses that do a lot of good things outside of the camera.

another person i look up to is bill cosby, yes the jello guy. if you have ever hear dhim speak.. he talks about not letting where you come from be an excuse as to where you go in life, but to want to achieve to be better because of where you come from.

[Shu]

I find it hard to identify with people in literature or movies, due to most stuff I read is Fictional anyway. I hate auto-biographies and biographies, I snooze. The only time I like a biography is when it's more of an interview-esc type.

Where artists are put on the spot rather. For that very reason I tend to over identify with musicians, due to I feel they have a lot of depth in their soul. The problem with that is, they could be completely fake, and I would never know it. I try to stay away from music which numbs my brain, and go for people who actually speak their mind. Hence why a lot of what I listen to is political rap/ rock/ heavy metal and a mixture of dubstep and other things.

A lot of the folks are in past tense who I look up to. They are dead. They were the speakers of a generation I never knew.

Let's see:

John Lennon
Bill Hicks
Christopher Hitchens

Alive:

Maynard J Keenan - Tool, Puscifer, A perfect circle
Mark from O.A.R.
Scooter Ward from Cold

I have a few more.. but that's just a couple.

[Nocturne]

I tend to not see people as role models. I dont think there is any one person that we should look up to, but to look at certain people for certain things they do and try to grow in our own way from seeing what they do. Everyone has their faults, no one is perfect, and trying to make someone out as such just isnt true to them or to yourself.

I actually tend to identify with video game characters or ideals. It's much easier with game characters because you only get a snap shot of what they are like and they are usually idealized.

Looking up to an ideal though gives you something to strive for. Something to try to become. Sure, I respect some people for how they choose to live their lives, everyone does. But I dont think it's smart to look up to a "role model", especially anyone in popular culture today in the US

[Valkyrur]

I suppose for me, a role model would be someone that exhibits some desirable characteristic that I think would be useful to have. That being so, I realize that everyone around me is a role model. Because they all have their strengths and weaknesses, I consider them role models for their strengths, and focus on appreciating that strength, and replicating it if necessary. Something along the lines of inspiration, really.

In another sense, I suppose it's right to say I consider a role model an inspiration as well.

Being one, however, seems to be another matter. Honestly, while the idea is greatly appealing, I think it's not so much a personal choice. I tend to think "being a role model" to be similar to "being a leader". Like in the latter case, I believe that role models are made, not born. In that sense, I feel it's what people see in you that makes you a role model.

[Catnip]

I think a role model is someone who inspires you, motivates you, and sets standards for the person you want to be. They're more like a guide that drives you. Unfortunately though, more and more people are simply ditching who they are so they can become someone else...who is already taken, so it will never work. This goes for most people too.

Take Disney for example. Miley Cyrus does something wrong and guess what? She gets shit. Because people actually expect these kids on TV to parent America. The definition for what a role model is, in my opinion, is completely lost and forgotten.

[ViKtoricus]

The literal definition can be taken to heart when thinking of role models, but what do you think it means to be one? In today's day in age we always tend to overly identify with people before us, due to it's our only frame of reference. When we pick a mold, we hang with the folks that are equally as passionate about a certain thing.

Though in life we come across certain individuals who astound us, amaze us, or who fits the mold.

What and who for example would you call a role model and why?

I have Napoleon Bonaparte's image as my User Account's avatar for my laptop. That way, people will know a little bit about me whenever they use my laptop.



A role model is the one that you feel is your own reincarnation. They never "drag" you to worship them, rather, you pull yourself towards them.

[Callisto]

I believe a role model is a person that sticks to their guns if they whole-heartedly believe what they say/think/do is genuinely for good. I believe a good role model thinks before doing something, in fear that if they do something bad they will influence a lot of people to subconsciously do the same, which is what any good and honest role model wouldn't want for people who "follow" them. A good role model is someone that thinks about the millions of little kids that are flocking to their movies, shows, or music, and then decides against a move that would mislead the young. A good role model knows that they're too mature for young listeners/watchers and avoids (as best they can) that generation. A good role model is selfless.

In today's society we have a lot of pop stars who like to go on sesame street and reach out to the children audience, when really they shouldn't be doing that because they're much too adult for the ears and minds of children. These types of "influential" people like to act like because they "like" kids or whatever, that that means they should be the young generations role model, and that's just not true. They might be great people, but that doesn't mean you deserve a stage in the young minds of so many children and teens.

I mean, just look at the shows in today's society, GLEE for example has a HUGE young generation fanbase and they deal with topics that just aren't suited for kids but that's all you see watching their show. For example, they wanted to use "Sex on Fire" in an episode and the guys in Kings of Leon were completely against the idea just because of who Glee was supposed to be for--which was children and young teenagers. KoL even asked the writers at Glee if they even knew what the hell Sex on Fire was even about, that's how shocked they were when they were asked if their song could be played on the show. I've always appreciated that there are (few) stars out there that are suited for mature audiences that won't deliberately reach out to the young generation just for cash, but it very rarely happens.

I wish I could pin point a good role model for both mature and young audiences but they're so rare it's hard to think of any names. I guess one good role model for women and young girls would be Taylor Swift. She's a pretty graceful and smart girl--I've never really heard of her doing anything stupid either. I haven't heard of her having a drunk night out or getting high, or having a DUI, no scandalous video tapes or whatever. She just sings songs, writes music, and entertains millions of people on both sides of the pond while living her life. Some people say it's unreal that someone should act like a perfect person, but they're thinking on the singular side of things. They're thinking with the mindset that they're only influencing themselves and only impacting their own life. But that changes when you get on the grand stage in front of the eyes, ears, and minds of millions of people. When you're a famous movie/music/tv star you have to think about the consequences for not only yourself, but also for all the people that are watching. It's a robotic way to view Hollywood, but it's just the right way to go. It's the same with parenting, you don't just live for yourself anymore, you're living for your kids too. What you say and do impacts your kids lives and that's just like what it's like with celebs... only, the celebs don't care for their kids

To be honest, I don't believe in role models, because we're all human and that means we make mistakes--and sometimes they're BIG mistakes. The only real role model in my life is Jesus Christ. I know that probably sounds "typical" or "generic", but it's the truth. Jesus lived and spoke of peaceful ways, he loved and cared for all, and in the end he gave his life for others. Even if you don't believe he really existed, what he was and taught is still the makings of a peaceful and ideal role model. So, to me, Jesus is the best of role models.