boybielicious
Cathlete
The only thing I feel bad about is when children are involved. That is a HUGE thing for me. 
Oh c'mon, somebody's GOTTA mention Tiger!
- Thread starter Govtgirl
- Start date
carres1973
Cathlete
That is a very good point Dee. Sometimes people do look outside their family for role models because those in their family aren't role model material. I certainly can't look up to my parents...unless I want to aspire to be a drunk who lives off the government!!
Carrie
Carrie
hiitdogs
Cathlete
I don't think your definition of a role model incorrect. To me though I could never consider anyone a role model who I don't know personally, that's all.
As we have seen with Tiger Woods it is one thing what people project to be and who they really are. As far as Cathe is concerned, I find her inspiring. I have no reason to doubt that she is a great Mom but I don't know that for a fact, I have not seen her over a period of time with her kids. To me a role model is someone who possess the qualities that I would like to have and those who have affected me in a way that makes me want to be a better person. I cannot judge that from what I see about a person on TV, the Internet, a DVD or read in the paper.
That being said, I don't think I would blame anyone I have chosen as a role model that they don't live up to my expectations. My expectations are really nothing they (the role model) can do anything about.
As we have seen with Tiger Woods it is one thing what people project to be and who they really are. As far as Cathe is concerned, I find her inspiring. I have no reason to doubt that she is a great Mom but I don't know that for a fact, I have not seen her over a period of time with her kids. To me a role model is someone who possess the qualities that I would like to have and those who have affected me in a way that makes me want to be a better person. I cannot judge that from what I see about a person on TV, the Internet, a DVD or read in the paper.
That being said, I don't think I would blame anyone I have chosen as a role model that they don't live up to my expectations. My expectations are really nothing they (the role model) can do anything about.
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carres1973
Cathlete
That is a good differentiation to make Carola - the difference between someone you find inspiring and someone you consider a role model. There are many people whose lives and stories I find inspiring but I don't look to them as role models. I actually don't have any role models. I figure I should forge my own path and try to set a good example for my kids!
Carrie
Carrie
fit44
Cathlete
Oh no, I didn't take it that way.
I respect and admire Cathe's abilities, but I do not know her well enough to be what I consider a role model. Celebrity role models seem more fantasy than reality to me. I hope this comes out right.
What I mean, we only see what the media wants us to see. From what I gather, Tiger has been this way for a long time.
My husband and I call celebrity lives- Holly-weird. It's just not what we consider normal living.
fit44
Cathlete
hiitdogs
Cathlete
ITA!!!
You always say what I wish I could say. I admire your writing skills.
Thanks Cynthia!!!!
hiitdogs
Cathlete
I already said that your definition of a role model is correct. I just differentiate that someone that I don't know personally would never be a role model to me. I may admire them or find them inspiring but to be a role model takes a little more than just what I get to see from the outside.
The question is what is a "good example"? How can I know that someone is a good example if all I know about the person is what I read about them or see on the Internet? Or like in Tiger Woods' case a carefully crafted image from a PR firm?
The question is what is a "good example"? How can I know that someone is a good example if all I know about the person is what I read about them or see on the Internet? Or like in Tiger Woods' case a carefully crafted image from a PR firm?
sparrow13
Cathlete
I think it's important to distinguish between admiring someone for who they are and admiring or respecting them for a skill they have. I admire my sister - and she's a role model to me - for who she is (smart, patient, no-nonsense, honest etc). I respect Cathe for her fitness knowledge and I have respect for her ability to push me physically. Is she a role model beyond the realm of fitness? Nope, because outside the fitness realm I have no idea who she is or what she does. For all I know she robs banks in her free time! With sports stars that distinction is often blurred to the point where people assume that greatness on the court or on the field translates into greatness as a human being, and that is often not the case.
With sports stars that distinction is often blurred to the point where people assume that greatness on the court or on the field translates into greatness as a human being, and that is often not the case.
hiitdogs
Cathlete
For all I know she robs banks in her free time!
ROTFLMAO!!!
hiitdogs
Cathlete
A role model is a person worth of imitation. I guess if I aspired to be a world class golfer Tiger Woods would be my role model as a golfer. Not his private life, I know nothing about it. If I were to aspire to build a fitness empire and be a first-class instructor Cathe would be a role model to me. On a personal level I know nothing about her first hand, so she won't be my role model.
If Tiger Woods was the role model for your husband being a world class golfer - nothing has changed, despite of his personal shortcomings he remains a 1st rate golfer (maybe this will change but right now he is). If Tiger Woods was a role model for your husband because of his personal life, well, then I guess it proves my point. We don't know anything about a celebrity's personal life, other than what they and their PR firm project and thus declaring someone a role model on a personal level without knowing them can only result in disappointment.
sparrow13
Cathlete
What I'm saying is that if an aspiring golfer considers Tiger Woods a golfing role model, that makes sense to me. It even makes sense if someone says "I admire his commitment to cancer causes" or whatever. Beyond that, how can he be a role model to me (or anyone) when we don't know the real person at all?
fit44
Cathlete
hiitdogs
Cathlete
He has not become famous as the husband of the year, he became famous for his dedication to hard work and being an excellent golfer. If people chose to see him as a role model for anything else than what they know for a fact and first-hand I don't think Tiger Woods can be blamed for their expectations.
What do you think he should project? That he is a philandering jerk? Like every cheating husband he tried to keep that secret.
I think that is the problem with sports greats and celebrities today, just because they excel in their area, are gifted and work hard, we assume everything in their life is idle sunshine and they are perfect in all areas of their lives. Sometimes I think if it is the constant pressure of meeting the expectations of their fans that contributes to their demise.
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hiitdogs
Cathlete
Yes, I do feel sorry for people in the public eye! They are under constant public scrutiny and live under a microscope. I think this has to be hard and to me money and fame does not make up for it.
I don't give a hoot what some Florida State University football coach named Bobby Bowden thinks. Just because he claims that every celebrity or politician has to be a role model doesn't make it true in my view.
All I can say:
I don't give a hoot what some Florida State University football coach named Bobby Bowden thinks. Just because he claims that every celebrity or politician has to be a role model doesn't make it true in my view.
All I can say:
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mspina
Cathlete
If you don't know Cathe personally, you honestly don't KNOW any of the above (hard worker, great mom, loving person). I am not at all implying that she's not all of those things, in fact, I think they are true. But .... it's just speculation on both our parts. We honestly and truly don't KNOW, because we do not really know her. Just as your husband didn't really know Tiger. It's a bit silly/naive to think of someone as a role model who you honestly don't know, outside of a managed PR setting (which is what you get when you look to athletes, celebs, etc.).
In a way, this sort of reminds me of the utter disbelief about OJ - "he can't be guilty, he's so nice!" Yeah, on TV he was a great guy. Other than that, we have no clue what these people are like.
mspina
Cathlete
You just nailed the core of the issue right there: ....who he portrays himself to be. Unless you know them, you have absolutely NO idea if this portrayal is anything close to reality.
No need for the over-reaction over this! Others are just saying that it might not make sense to hold utter strangers up as personal role models (outside of a narrow, well defined role, like fitness queen, or golfer), as you simply don't know what these people are like in real life.
Govtgirl
Cathlete
It's just disappointing, overall. To be honest, I'm not torn up about it, I never expected anything from him,......I feel bad for his wife, but at least now she knows. It'd be worse to be snickered at for years by all the other women and people keepig it quiet.
And the kids are so young....by the time they are aware of stuff, history will have revised itself. I feel bad for them, but this is all Tiger's faults, 100%. He has nobody to blame but himself.
As far as role models....I wonder what his father would think of him? I'd die 1,000 deaths rather than face any disappointment in my father's eyes.
And the kids are so young....by the time they are aware of stuff, history will have revised itself. I feel bad for them, but this is all Tiger's faults, 100%. He has nobody to blame but himself.
As far as role models....I wonder what his father would think of him? I'd die 1,000 deaths rather than face any disappointment in my father's eyes.
jacqued
Cathlete
All this talk about athletes and celebrities being role models made me think of a commercial Charles Barkley did for Nike several years ago. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzdAZ3TjCA
I have to agree with him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMzdAZ3TjCA
I have to agree with him.