Is "not a good role model" a valid criticism of a person?
- Thread starter Zhukov
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Only if they're meant to be a role model. If their profession, or they themselves, deem them a role model, then they're obliged to stand up to that.
If the stars of Play School get caught doing heroin, then poor role model is a cutting criticism.
If a rockstar gets caught doing heroin, then poor role model is par for the course: They're not role models by vocation, so to call them on it is stupid.
Of course, if a rockstar proclaims himself a role model to children, then he's under the same obligations.
Poor Role Model is only a good criticism when they're meant, by vocation or personal choice, to be a good one. There's no point calling someone out for not being something they aren't trying to be. "You're bad at being straight" is a stupid criticism of a gay person. "You're bad at being fit" is a moronic criticism of a sports star. "You're bad at being an alien that invades the world and destroys it from the inside" is an insane criticism of anyone.
If the stars of Play School get caught doing heroin, then poor role model is a cutting criticism.
If a rockstar gets caught doing heroin, then poor role model is par for the course: They're not role models by vocation, so to call them on it is stupid.
Of course, if a rockstar proclaims himself a role model to children, then he's under the same obligations.
Poor Role Model is only a good criticism when they're meant, by vocation or personal choice, to be a good one. There's no point calling someone out for not being something they aren't trying to be. "You're bad at being straight" is a stupid criticism of a gay person. "You're bad at being fit" is a moronic criticism of a sports star. "You're bad at being an alien that invades the world and destroys it from the inside" is an insane criticism of anyone.
Unless the person proclaims to be a role model for kids and then screws up continuously or does something stupid like get addicted to drugs/alcohol... nah it's not a valid criticism.
Celebrities are just people with a special talent. Why some worship them and every choice they make is beyond me. I have a few celebrities that I fanboy over but in the end I realize they're only a person, just like me.
Celebrities are just people with a special talent. Why some worship them and every choice they make is beyond me. I have a few celebrities that I fanboy over but in the end I realize they're only a person, just like me.
I think it depends on what they're representing. If for say you are a pornstar it doesn't matter if you're a role model for kids, you're not meant to be, you're not in their industry and they aren't (or at least shouldn't) be watching you in the first place.
However if you are say a professional football player, that's a different kettle of fish. Not only is your game being watched by kids, it's being played by them. They are doing that, to emulate you. You can still be a great player, by all means, but I don't think a poor example for others should be aspired to and in fact is probably ruining the game long term for others when the newly inspired generation comes in and want to be a professional douche star.
However if you are say a professional football player, that's a different kettle of fish. Not only is your game being watched by kids, it's being played by them. They are doing that, to emulate you. You can still be a great player, by all means, but I don't think a poor example for others should be aspired to and in fact is probably ruining the game long term for others when the newly inspired generation comes in and want to be a professional douche star.
Fictional characters? No, such a critique limits characters. The exception to this I suppose is media aimed at children but parents should be testing this stuff out, and media aimed at children must maintain a constant... je ne sais quoi.
In the case of people.... Its an observation anyone is allowed to make, people are allowed to observe and make judgements. You are in turn allowed to make judgements about them and assign value to their judgements based on your judgement of them.
Basically if someone accuses you of being a bad role model and that gives you pause you then you should probably reconsider what you are doing, because on some level being a role model is important to you.
If its someone else, say a famous figure; why do you care what other people think? No doubt the guy doing the thing or playing the role is either aware of the implications of what he/she is doing and is doing it anyway or simply doesn't care. In either case being a good role model isn't important to them.
It is valid criticism of a person but like everything someone says you have to weigh up the source of the criticism and whether that particular aspect is relevant to you. People have children and need to know what kind of media they should gloss over for their children to absorb.
In the case of people.... Its an observation anyone is allowed to make, people are allowed to observe and make judgements. You are in turn allowed to make judgements about them and assign value to their judgements based on your judgement of them.
Basically if someone accuses you of being a bad role model and that gives you pause you then you should probably reconsider what you are doing, because on some level being a role model is important to you.
If its someone else, say a famous figure; why do you care what other people think? No doubt the guy doing the thing or playing the role is either aware of the implications of what he/she is doing and is doing it anyway or simply doesn't care. In either case being a good role model isn't important to them.
It is valid criticism of a person but like everything someone says you have to weigh up the source of the criticism and whether that particular aspect is relevant to you. People have children and need to know what kind of media they should gloss over for their children to absorb.
I'd say that being a poor role model is only really a valid criticism of someone who is in a position of leadership. It could be a priest, a general, a teacher, etc. Politicians are probably the most vulnerable to this as they are their people's representatives. If they act like idiots, guess what, now the people they represent look like idiots.
As for fictional characters... no. It's fiction and the author has the right to tell the kind of story he/she wants to. If a protagonist is a poor role model then teach your kids what he/she is doing in the story is wrong.
As for fictional characters... no. It's fiction and the author has the right to tell the kind of story he/she wants to. If a protagonist is a poor role model then teach your kids what he/she is doing in the story is wrong.
"Bad role" is the only kinda model I can be, so that's what I am, and if anyone wants to take issue with that, light me up a joint, and go ahead and point out how your kids shouldn't follow my example, not like I give a shit, I'll be too high to notice.
But then again, I'm not a caregiver for children, I have no kids, and probably never will, I am not a teacher, I am NOTHING. I sell people shit at a gas station, other than that, my interactions with the general public are practically nonexistent, and that's just fine with me.
But then again, I'm not a caregiver for children, I have no kids, and probably never will, I am not a teacher, I am NOTHING. I sell people shit at a gas station, other than that, my interactions with the general public are practically nonexistent, and that's just fine with me.
I am the wrong person to ask to me the whole celebrity thing is way out of hand and down right creepy. I mean these are just people and people every where essentially stalk them and it is considered ok. The whole thing is so fucked up it makes me want to puke. I mean I get when people are interested in others based on their professional career but it is extremely creepy to be discussing their personal lives like it is anyone's business to know.
If a celebrity or whoever willingly let's themself be put forward as a role model, then yes.
If not the whole issue usually stems from some dipshits wanting society to parent their kids because they don't have the first fucking clue how to.
If not the whole issue usually stems from some dipshits wanting society to parent their kids because they don't have the first fucking clue how to.
some yes and some no actors no they should be able to portray good role models cause that's what they do but they don't actually have to be them. politicians on the other hand do, not because i think its important that they are but because so many campaign that they are good role models. if one of your fundamental arguments of why you should be elected is that you are a paragon of virtue then you damn sure better be.
This is how I look at it:
The most important role models for children are the ones the children interact with on a daily or close to daily basis. Parents, elder siblings, teachers, coaches, etc. etc.
However, a lot of kids consume media with particular stars on daily or weekly basis too. A rather dated example being Miley Cyrus on the Hannah Montana show or Vanessa Hudgens back when High School Musical was a thing. Trust me, I was working as a YMCA Counselor (so yes, I myself was in role model territory) and those kids watched that show religiously. So when Miley was caught sparking it up, whether it was weed or Salvia or whatever she claimed, and Vanessa was caught sending naked pics of herself, they were not being good role models.
The appropriate response for parents here would be an opportunity to teach their children that all people make mistakes, that mistakes don't have to define you, that celebrities are people too, and for parents to discuss the morality of the issue with their kids and why they wouldn't want their children behaving the same way. Parents need to use these slip-ups as teachable moments, but many instead choose to panic over it and curse the poor celebrity, who has more than enough on their own plate at the moment.
The problem with making someone into a role model is that we are putting them up on a pedestal and holding them to a higher standard of behavior. In the case of parents, elder siblings/other relatives, teachers and coaches etc. etc., I think that is a fair enough burden to expect. When it comes to celebrities, especially young adult celebrities, the extra pressure probably only adds to the likelihood that they will fall in the eyes of their fans. We see it time and time again with Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and to lesser extents Haley Joel Osment, Taylor Swift, Miley and Vanessa*.
So, I'm not sure how to fix the situation, but its up to parents to deal with problems when they arise.
*I can think of so many more, too, but for the sake of sanity I leave it at that.
The most important role models for children are the ones the children interact with on a daily or close to daily basis. Parents, elder siblings, teachers, coaches, etc. etc.
However, a lot of kids consume media with particular stars on daily or weekly basis too. A rather dated example being Miley Cyrus on the Hannah Montana show or Vanessa Hudgens back when High School Musical was a thing. Trust me, I was working as a YMCA Counselor (so yes, I myself was in role model territory) and those kids watched that show religiously. So when Miley was caught sparking it up, whether it was weed or Salvia or whatever she claimed, and Vanessa was caught sending naked pics of herself, they were not being good role models.
The appropriate response for parents here would be an opportunity to teach their children that all people make mistakes, that mistakes don't have to define you, that celebrities are people too, and for parents to discuss the morality of the issue with their kids and why they wouldn't want their children behaving the same way. Parents need to use these slip-ups as teachable moments, but many instead choose to panic over it and curse the poor celebrity, who has more than enough on their own plate at the moment.
The problem with making someone into a role model is that we are putting them up on a pedestal and holding them to a higher standard of behavior. In the case of parents, elder siblings/other relatives, teachers and coaches etc. etc., I think that is a fair enough burden to expect. When it comes to celebrities, especially young adult celebrities, the extra pressure probably only adds to the likelihood that they will fall in the eyes of their fans. We see it time and time again with Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and to lesser extents Haley Joel Osment, Taylor Swift, Miley and Vanessa*.
So, I'm not sure how to fix the situation, but its up to parents to deal with problems when they arise.
*I can think of so many more, too, but for the sake of sanity I leave it at that.