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Originally Posted by downquark1
I merely thing the whole idea of these celebrity role models is stupid, David Beckham for example has a job that virtually no-one can relate to, resources beyond that of the average person, and yet is described as a good/bad role model based on the hair cuts, the fathering or the cheating. If he isn't a good role model, they should find someone who is.
If for whatever reason you or I were put in the public eye and children respected us would we want to be told how to live or lives for sake of role-modelling?
"Don't spend so much time on the computer" "Don't talk to wierdos on the internet" "I want my child to be studying, not helping strangers with computer problems"
Of course, it could be a matter of culture that kids only respect those who aren't good role models, so changing to suit them won't help as they will probably find someone else.
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It is simple psychological fact that growing children need role models. The people kids look up to are the ones who have jobs that they dream of having - footballer, pop star, etc - and who are portrayed as being glamorous by the media the kids subscribe to. I think it is quite right that it is stupid that some random 11-year-old should adore Beckham and want to copy him because I know that Becham's life and circumstances are so utterly different than those of the 11-year-old - but the 11 year old doesn't know that and you can't expect them to just ditch Beckham (or Britney) simply because their parents tell them to.
Personally I do think these people have a responsibility towards those that made them rich in the first place, whether by buying their albums or their merchandise, or turning up to watch them perform on stage or on a football pitch. I hope that if I were ever a role model I would find it easy enough to be careful of my public behaviour. It might be an intrusion on my personal freedom, but then don't I owe anything to the people who made me rich?