fit44
Cathlete
Who knows, maybe Tiger grew up with a cheating father.
Oh c'mon, somebody's GOTTA mention Tiger!
- Thread starter Govtgirl
- Start date
Who knows, maybe Tiger grew up with a cheating father.
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.
One of my co-workers and I were talking about this...it's a good ad. ITA.
fit44
Cathlete
This is a horrible statement. Seriously. Parents are suppose to raise their children. Not the television!!! OMG, I raised two boys to be upstanding men not the television or any celebrity on the TV!
I'm sorry you don't "get" it, I really am but will you please accept that other people have different opinions. Why is it so important for everyone to agree with your theories on role models?
Govtgirl
Cathlete
Yeah, you're right, that didn't occur to me.
I guess because I had the most absolute most wonderful Daddy in the whole wide world.
pink_fortitude
Banned
I absolutely love that video!!! I feel the same way that Charles said, and I AM HAPPY HE SAID IT!!! What a great message for parents.
Unfortunately there are HORRIBLE parents out there, so I totally get what Little Lady is saying. Kids instinctively look to someone to try to imitate and please, and if you have bad parents then you are either going to imitate them or look elsewhere. In our family we talk about people in the media, people that they have liked and looked up to and we have discussed how they are human, they make mistakes so DC should be the best they can be and not look to others - just as others here stated. I know many parents who don't have those conversations. Just because we as adults know better than to look up to someone as a role model doesn't mean that kids do. They aren't mature enough to understand the things we do and they believe the glamour and artificial aura surrounding "stars" and they don't have mature parents guiding them. Is that Tiger Woods fault? Absolutely not! But from what I understand Tiger actually wanted to be a role model, so that puts him under different scrutiny. I think that if you aren't up to being a good role model you should keep your mouth shut on the subject.
Melissa
Unfortunately there are HORRIBLE parents out there, so I totally get what Little Lady is saying. Kids instinctively look to someone to try to imitate and please, and if you have bad parents then you are either going to imitate them or look elsewhere. In our family we talk about people in the media, people that they have liked and looked up to and we have discussed how they are human, they make mistakes so DC should be the best they can be and not look to others - just as others here stated. I know many parents who don't have those conversations. Just because we as adults know better than to look up to someone as a role model doesn't mean that kids do. They aren't mature enough to understand the things we do and they believe the glamour and artificial aura surrounding "stars" and they don't have mature parents guiding them. Is that Tiger Woods fault? Absolutely not! But from what I understand Tiger actually wanted to be a role model, so that puts him under different scrutiny. I think that if you aren't up to being a good role model you should keep your mouth shut on the subject.
Melissa
ldy_solana
Cathlete
i was staying out of this one but i agree with you. we are suppose to be the role models for our kids. i think if more parents took the time to be parents,like tossing the ball with their son/daughter, as opposed to idolizing sports stars and watching the game, a lot of kids would be better off. not saying we can't look up to others as role models but if a kid has more respect for a sports figure then their parent then that is a problem! i can't say now that i am grown that i have had any "true role models" in the celeb world but i will always say my grandpop taught me hard working and earning the things i have. madonna,new kids, and all those others i idolized didn't teach me that. sure they preached it but the core value came from day in and day out of living with pops and hearing his stories of growing up and his experiences.
so my points its okay to have outside role models but i think if more parents and community took overall lead as role models there wouldn't be so many outraged over the micheal vicks,tiger woods, and britneys of the world.
i also agree you are not going to change any minds here so quit trying. there have been many heated threads that can end in a agree to disagree theory. i learned that when i first joined and still learning it as i read these threads.
kassia
hiitdogs
Cathlete
I absolutely love that video!!! I feel the same way that Charles said, and I AM HAPPY HE SAID IT!!! What a great message for parents.
Unfortunately there are HORRIBLE parents out there, so I totally get what Little Lady is saying. Kids instinctively look to someone to try to imitate and please, and if you have bad parents then you are either going to imitate them or look elsewhere. In our family we talk about people in the media, people that they have liked and looked up to and we have discussed how they are human, they make mistakes so DC should be the best they can be and not look to others - just as others here stated. I know many parents who don't have those conversations. Just because we as adults know better than to look up to someone as a role model doesn't mean that kids do. They aren't mature enough to understand the things we do and they believe the glamour and artificial aura surrounding "stars" and they don't have mature parents guiding them. Is that Tiger Woods fault? Absolutely not! But from what I understand Tiger actually wanted to be a role model, so that puts him under different scrutiny. I think that if you aren't up to being a good role model you should keep your mouth shut on the subject.
Melissa
I think I understand what you are saying but I am not sure that I would agree with kids instinctively looking up to sports greats or celebrities. I find that a lot of times it is the parents who make xyz basketball player or abc baseball player the kids' role model. I know not everyone is that way but I have met many parents at my kids' sports events who are almost obsessed about making their kids the next Tiger Woods (not so much anymore now), Pete Sampras or Michael Jordan, pushing them on their kids as role models and telling them that's how they need to be.
That being said, aside from being a cheetah not much has changed in regards to his accomplishments in his sports, his enormous work ethic and his charitable work. I would still consider him a role model in that respect. His private life .... ummh that's a different story. I would say though that the majority of people in public life or even private citizens project a picture of themselves that does not really always fit the reality. Most of us don't want to show our weaknesses, flaws or mistakes, and sometimes we don't even want to admit it to ourselves. I am not saying it is right, I am just saying it is a reality.
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carres1973
Cathlete
Cynthia, the point that I was trying to make and Little Lady was also making in a post is that not all of us had parents that raised us properly. As I said in my post, if I looked to my parents, I would be a drunk, living off the government. It isn't fair to assume that all of us were raised by wonderful, caring parents who taught us right from wrong. Sadly, not all of us had that! Granted, I didn't look to any Holly-weird celebrity as a "role model." I am just muddling through how to be a parent on my own. It is safer that way!
Carrie
carres1973
Cathlete
I also think some kids look up to/idolize/whatever celebrities and sports stars because of the lifestyle they lead. They see the wonderful looking women with just the average looking sports star. They see the huge homes, fancy cars, etc. They then turn and see mom and dad (hopefully, two parents) struggling at a 9-5 (or even two jobs) with none of that. Who wouldn't want to go for what they see as the "easy" life?
Carrie
fit44
Cathlete
I can appreciate what you are saying. It doesn't make any sense to me to hold celebrities responsible for raising our children or for setting a "good" example.
Sometimes bad parents are a good example of what not to be.
For me,a role model is someone that you know personally. When you fixate on characters you see on television, you are going to be let down! It's not real.
I asked my oldest son (26 years old) what he thought of the latest Tiger scandal. He said he wasn't surprised. I don't know why anyone would be.
In my experience, children with lousy parents instinctively look to their friends for a role model or someone to imitate.
kassia, I am like you. I never looked to a celebrity for a role model because I wasn't planted in front of the television as a kid! I was outside playing, participating with my local youth group, or spending time with my brother's and sisters. I can say that I wanted to be like my oldest sister! Meaning, I wanted to be grown up like her.
fit44
Cathlete
I can appreciate that, but why would you paste Tiger's quote in your signature line?
fit44
Cathlete
I do not care what Tiger wrote. I do not respect him beyond what he can do on the golf course. Like I said, he is entertainment to me. Truth be told, I use the golf to help me nap on Sundays! LOL.
hiitdogs
Cathlete
I am not sure who this is directed towards but I never said that role models have to be perfect in every way. In fact, I said that Tiger Woods always has been a great role model as a golfer, hard worker and for his charitable work and that in that respect nothing has changed.
All I suggested was that on the personal front people probably would be better advised to chose a role model that they have personal interaction with (and it doesn't have to be parents, in fact, my parents are no role models at all. If anything they are a glowing example of people who should not have kids at all) and not rely on the (possible) smoke and mirror created by a PR company. I don't understand why people pick persons they haven't even met as a role model in aspect of their personal life or character traits, because they don't know those celebrities from adam.
My role model when it comes to business I don't know well on a private/personal basis. If something about her private life were to come out that I didn't expect or agree with, it may surprise me or even disappoint me but it doesn't change that she still would remain a role model as to how she conducts her business dealings.
sparrow13
Cathlete
Kids are going to have idols and crushes and be attracted to the glamourous life they see portrayed by Hollyweird and the sports industry. That happens. I feel bad for the kids whose parents (or other relevant adults) by into that crap too.
I think if you have a kid who wants to be an actor and looks to say, Meryl Streep as her *acting* role model, that's great. I have fitness role models. But if the "role modeling" spills over into "because she's a great actor Meryl must also be a fantastic mom and an exemplary wife and has no moral failings" well that to me is where the problem comes in. It's up to us as adults to teach our kids that greatness on the court or screen does not necessarily equal greatness as a human being. We need to teach them that the public personas of celebrities and sports stars are PACKAGED GOODS. Celebrtities have handlers, agents, managers, media specialist and PR firms all working many many hours to make sure that we see only what they want us to see. That's their job. It's up to us to be savvy enough to know - and to teach our kids - that unless we are with the Woods family behind closed doors what we see, without exception, is that carefully manufactured media image. Just because Tiger Woods loans his persona to Save the Children doesn't mean that he's good to his own children. Certainly that's what he wants us to believe. Doesn't make it true.
I think if you have a kid who wants to be an actor and looks to say, Meryl Streep as her *acting* role model, that's great. I have fitness role models. But if the "role modeling" spills over into "because she's a great actor Meryl must also be a fantastic mom and an exemplary wife and has no moral failings" well that to me is where the problem comes in. It's up to us as adults to teach our kids that greatness on the court or screen does not necessarily equal greatness as a human being. We need to teach them that the public personas of celebrities and sports stars are PACKAGED GOODS. Celebrtities have handlers, agents, managers, media specialist and PR firms all working many many hours to make sure that we see only what they want us to see. That's their job. It's up to us to be savvy enough to know - and to teach our kids - that unless we are with the Woods family behind closed doors what we see, without exception, is that carefully manufactured media image. Just because Tiger Woods loans his persona to Save the Children doesn't mean that he's good to his own children. Certainly that's what he wants us to believe. Doesn't make it true.
Little Lady
Cathlete
I understand your point.
fit44
Cathlete
Dee,
Disagreeing with someone is not the same as being mean. It is sometimes frustrating, but if you step back and learn to appreciate different views- It's all good. If I've said something mean or harsh, I apologize. I don't want to hurt you. Sincerely.
I am inspired by Cathe but I can't say she is my role model. She is my instructor. I have a variety of instructors who inspire me.
I don't look to anyone as my fitness role model. It all comes from within. So I guess I could say I'm my own role model! Or as Coach Sean would say, "My own story of inspiration!" I have always been driven to take care of my body. I like the way I feel when I exercise. It's possible my ballet teacher was my first role model and everything grew from there.
Disagreeing with someone is not the same as being mean. It is sometimes frustrating, but if you step back and learn to appreciate different views- It's all good.
If I've said something mean or harsh, I apologize. I don't want to hurt you. Sincerely. I am inspired by Cathe but I can't say she is my role model. She is my instructor. I have a variety of instructors who inspire me.
I don't look to anyone as my fitness role model. It all comes from within. So I guess I could say I'm my own role model! Or as Coach Sean would say, "My own story of inspiration!" I have always been driven to take care of my body. I like the way I feel when I exercise. It's possible my ballet teacher was my first role model and everything grew from there.
Little Lady
Cathlete
Good for you that you can look within. I can too.
sparrow13
Cathlete
I spent time with Coach Sean this morning! I love when he says "let's see what you've got, barracuda."
Little Lady
Cathlete
Is he from Insanity? I found out I'm getting it for Christmas. So excited. Everyone on here has made it sound incredible. I hope it leaves me dripping with sweat.