Salzella Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 so i was thinking, after watching Terry Pratchett's Alzheimer's documentary, about his own experiences with the early-onset version of it, and i thought: isn't he amazing? I mean, first he writes the best seroes of comedy/fantasy books ever, becomes ludicrously popular, etc. then, however, gets a one-in-a-million disease that affects, basically, his whole livelihood, but instead of moping about or whatever, he faces it with a mixture of toughness, humour, and activity. Lovely man. so. role models. GIVE ME THEM. plus reasons aswell would be nice PS mine, apart from His Lordship mentioned in the opening paragraph, Elbow Singer Guy Garvey is definitely my other main role model. Apart from singing in the joint best band in the world, he is involved with several charities, produces for other bands, contributes to anyone who wants him, scouts talent for a record label, has his own radio show, and is a top bloke anyway. so ya <3 gogogo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcesious Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I don't have a role model. Making a role model for yourself seems to me to be a way of making a standard for yourself that doesn't truly reflect who you are. I prefer to define myself, however, it is smart to follow the example of others at times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabretooth Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Arcesious above speaks words true: it is not always wise to have role models. To hold a being as your supreme idol is a folly, because in emulating his greatness you will also emulate his vices. So instead, take something from all, and build them into yourself. Such is the path to greatness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mur'phon Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Anna Politkovskaya, and our hated heroes: She fought for a better Russia, and brought hope to people who had none. She fought for the elderly trapped in Grozny, and got them out, for the mothers of soldiers killed by their officers, and brought some of them to court, she fought for freedom of speech to those who don't have it, and showed their stories to the public. In return she was hated, ridiculed, and killed. And so the elderly are back in Grozny, murderers back on the street, and those brave souls who continued her fight like Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova, share her fate, 6 feet under. Here's to all those people who choose short, painfull lives, in a country that let no good deed go unpunished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salzella Posted February 5, 2009 Author Share Posted February 5, 2009 Sabretooth and Arcesious, as far as I'm aware, the point of a role model is to take the positive, and I hardly think anyone defines role model as 'someone you want to be, foibles and all'. someone you want to be like, someone who inspires you perhaps. I find it hard to believe neither of you has anyone you look up to as an inspiration. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mur'phon Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Depend on what you mean by an inspiration, my "role models" are more like reminders of what will happen if I folow my concience. They serve more to dispel any ilusions about fame and glory, than to push me to achieve either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrrtoken Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 This, Show spoiler (hidden content - requires Javascript to show) and this, Show spoiler (hidden content - requires Javascript to show) ...and yes, even this: Show spoiler (hidden content - requires Javascript to show) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miltiades Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Voltaire and Nietzsche. More for their views, what they stood for, and what they did for the future, than for how they lived. Closer in time, I don't think there's anyone I really look up to. There's people I like and can appreciate, but nothing more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Avlectus Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 @ thread...I have lots of people I look up to. I could spend time on all of them but I'd rather not, right now. I mention Miyamoto Musashi below because I'm into swordsmanship of a few different kinds. Musashi was Japan's greatest duelist and he invented his own 2-sword fighting style: 1 long sword, one shoto in the off hand. Why I like him...it could just be that his philosophy and strategy of being a warrior seems applicable, even today, in many things and pursuits (not just combat). In fact, pursit is a lot of what the book of five rings is about. Yet even that doesn't do it justice. I don't know, you'd just have to read it and re-read it. Since we all comprehend differently I'm not sure I can explain it or interpret it specifically so that you all could understand its main gist. Also, he Musashi, was independent; from what I see that is a very adverse path he chose considering eastern societies are traditionally conformist. Also kept his 'way' and he did it *alone* on a path of solitude--remained there his whole life. True he had to have mentors to teach him things along the way, but I'm talking generally about adulthood and specifically as a martialist. Most seem to need some presence of a luminary or visionary; Some elder. Or they stray off from the path of the 'way'. He did not need such in his life. That is not for everyone--to be without a master on the martial way/into martial arts/sciences. I'd say that also most adults in general, though self sufficient, have some kind of need to appeal to an elder person in some way. Even a love/hate relationship. A path of a loner--having lived it for the most part in childhood, I can attest, it can be lonely, and scary as hell. Still there is a certain centrality and tranquility to it that you just don't get anywhere else. I don't have a role model. Making a role model for yourself seems to me to be a way of making a standard for yourself that doesn't truly reflect who you are. I prefer to define myself, however, it is smart to follow the example of others at times. And if you choose them at arbitrary instead? --you choose them because they reflect who you are and not the other way around? (Then again, that isn't really holding a role model in the strictest sense, but still, even omitting this you can still have role models.) I think you speak more to foolish idolization. Making impossible standards (for anyone) is generally foolish--no arguments there. I would contend, however, that making a standard of some kind of perfection is a very wise thing. To paraphrase Miyamoto Musahsi: "Perfection is not that which is obtained, rather that for which you constantly and vehemently strive." I think that is because we cannot live up to any ideal, label or standard 100% all the time. Arcesious above speaks words true: it is not always wise to have role models. To hold a being as your supreme idol is a folly, because in emulating his greatness you will also emulate his vices. So instead, take something from all, and build them into yourself. Such is the path to greatness. And greater greatness at that. You know the difference between championing and idolizing. Which I commend. <SNIP> ...and yes, even this: Show spoiler (hidden content - requires Javascript to show) I think we all can relate to THAT one at some point or another. Depend on what you mean by an inspiration' date=' my "role models" are more like reminders of what will happen if I folow my concience. They serve more to dispel any ilusions about fame and glory, than to push me to achieve either.[/quote'] Would you care to expand on, and elaborate on this? I think you have a great moral that you wish to tell. --As well as hardships. Do you mean that you think things will not end well if you continue to follow your conscience? Your writing voice seems to have an air of conflict about it. Perhaps you wish to imply that doing the right thing may not always be easy, glamorous, or rewarding? --Perhaps even punishing? Life is often fraught with this kind of difficulty on levels from minor to excruciating. Please-if you would? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jawathehutt Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Michael Phelps and Jason Lezak, proof that swimmers rock at partying. I also look up to ahmad shah massoud ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Shah_Massoud) First he fought the Russians out of Afghanistan, then fought to keep the taliban out of power until his assassanation on sept. 9 2001. Had we listened to him when he talked in front of the UN, we could have possibly avoided 9/11 all together. But hey, why listen to someone from a third world country asking for help, all ignoring them has ever done is cause Vietnam and the war in Iraq Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
True_Avery Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Never really had any physical role models. I didn't idolize dead people because, well, they are dead and what they were has been misconstrued. Idolizing real people seems to be playing a fool's game, even more so for fake people. It is like putting a carrot on a stick in front of a horse and watching it try to get it. But, I did want to be a power ranger, sailor scout, or Pokemon trainer when I was younger! Hey, if you are going to idolize someone... might as well make it extravagant! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynk Former Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 You know his name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 When I would play Power Rangers with my neighbors we'd have races around the house to see who would get to be White, or whoever was the current "cool", Ranger. Ah good times. I have never really thought of him as a role model because he is more my friend but I would say my uncle is mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pho3nix Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I've never had a role model, and I rarely look up to someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynk Former Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I never really had a role model at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mur'phon Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Great Morals? Hardly, I'm a nihilist. It is just that I dislike that "role models" tend to be people who die famous. Look outside the known heroes, and you will find countless heroes who fought their entire (short) lives in hellish conditions. They (usually) don't get fame, fortune, or even the support of their people, yet they cary on until their lives are cut short. That's the kind of people I want others to emulate. Sure, it'll be a lot of dead bodies in the short term, but as long as it is western bodies, it'll push the politicans to actually do something. /Rant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adavardes Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I never really had role models so much as I saw brilliant men and women, and derived a lot of my inspiration from wanting to out-shine them, and be better. They were less idols and more goals to be surmounted and surpassed. One such person is Aldous Huxley, who was a brilliant dystopian author who wrote Brave New World, The Island, etc. Then there's Ralph Waldo Emerson, who of course inspired me to look at a larger picture than just what is obvious. Aristotle as well, for his three elements of rhetoric. Martin Luther King is another huge person that inspired me, because his words are probably the most well-known, and also the most mis-interpreted in history. That's just to name a few, not including composers that have inspired me in my musical life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonathan7 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Voltaire and Nietzsche. More for their views, what they stood for, and what they did for the future, than for how they lived. Voltaire, did live a 'good' life, he stood up to those orcastrating the terror at the hight of it's atrocities; that takes guts. Nietzsche is my favourite philosopher. Jesus is my all time role model I admire both Kaka and Messi for their footballing skills and the way they conduct themselves off the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astor Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 There are people I admire, such as Wellington, Marlborough, Frederick II and Napoleon (although all of these are mainly due to my love of 18th Century History), but I wouldn't say I have any role models, per se. Lance Armstrong would probably be the closest - his struggles kept me going when I went through my own, so yeah, Lance Armstrong it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blix Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Yeah the Sailor Scouts were always role models for me I think my Dad is pretty good role model, as far as keeping a steady job for more than ten years, being responsible with money, and not falling into bad habits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Det. Bart Lasiter Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 avery can i be the tuxedo mask to your meatball head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rogue Nine Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 This dude And this dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnderWiggin Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Well, my grandfather has always sort of been mine. Otherwise, not many others. My pastor, to an extent. _EW_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samnmax221 Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 Attention, this is obviously trolling. Not to be taken seriously. But seriously, its a real shame that Terry Pratchett had to get Alzheimer's, he's one of my favorite authors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcesious Posted February 5, 2009 Share Posted February 5, 2009 I would consider looking up to a famous philospher, but I think that an important thing to realize is that brilliant philosphers were fallible people too, and not everything they said is true for everyone. In other words, I beleive that a lot of the philosphies out there aren't universally true for every individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.