Role model does not equal good role model.

And a model doesn’t mean someone who looks good. A good-looking model looks good. A hand model may not. A model is a model.

A role model is one who models a role (neither good nor bad). It’s the descriptive word in front of role model that we should focus more on.

I want to be a good role model. He’s such a bad role model…etc.

And, I do agree that things seem to be skewed in the amount of influence celebrities have as opposed to say a music and media coordinator like me.

But such is life. It’s always been that way. We didn’t invent celebrities in the 21st century, there have always been the rich and famous.

I think what makes them seem larger than life these days is the perceived closeness that 21st century technology gives us to them. Kids these days don’t know what it’s like to live without reality tv and “living” reality tv shows along with their celebrity idols.

Just so you know, I agree that it is sad the level of influence some of these thugs and bimbos have. But that’s where we come in. We’re ultimately responsible for our own families. When you have kids…raise them up right and you won’t have to worry.

Role models shouldn’t be defined by whether or not others are following them.
They should be defined by whether or not they are worth following.

In terms of disproportion, my emphasis is on how many kids would rather look up to a pop singer than a teacher.
…how many boys would rather be Ryan Seacrest than Tom Brokaw.
…how many young girls want to be Beyonce Knowles rather than Mother Theresa.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think things are a little off.

Let a news reporter do some of the stupid things celebrities do and I’m sure they’ll be looking for a job the next morning.

Let a columnist write something stupid or do something stupid that offends a large group of people and I’m sure they’ll be filling out crossword puzzles in the same magazine or newspaper they used to work for.

Let a teacher do something stupid, especially when a child is involved, and they’re gone.

Consequences are consequences, and because of the DIFFERENT levels of perceived (maybe that’s key) influence there are going to be different levels of perceived consequences.

I don’t disagree that it seems like celebrities and athletes are on an otherworldy level when it comes to their “influence.”

But I go back to my original point. EVERYONE is a role model. Why? Because someone at some point is looking at your life.

Role model doesn’t mean “I’m a great person with wonderful character traits and non-existent flaws.” Role model means “I’m in front of someone and because of that fact I can be emulated.” Be it good, be it bad, be it ugly.

Everyone is a role model. Those who think they can shun the “role” of role model are only fooling themselves.

I would also say that the onus of responsibility in this situation needs to be equally shared by the role models and the emulators.

One of the reasons, I believe, that it appears to be such a skewed situation is because the emulators have just as little character as the people they are emulating. Put a lousy role model and a lousy joe emulating and idolizing them and you’ve got a society full of lousiness.

IMHO, the second you step on to ANY stage of influence you need to hold yourself to a standard worthy of that realm of influence. It’s downright absurd how sheltered a lot of these celebrities are from the realities of life and how warped their perspectives are because of fame and fortune.

They think they can get away with just about anything.

Are they human? Yes. Do they need to be allowed to be human and make mistakes? Yes.

Should they face the SAME consequences that normal joes like me face if I screw up? Yes.

The difference is when they screw up they do it on a stage of so much more influence and the ramifications of that are what makes them “role models” by default. They have no choice in the matter.

If I step onto a stage of influence, I AM A ROLE MODEL. Good, bad, or ugly. Role model doesn’t just mean someone who exemplifies good character qualities.

Dictionary.com says a role model is a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people.

That INCLUDES bad behavior. So YES, they are role models whether we or they want them to be or not.