Should celebrities act as role models?

[Kirk]

So I thought this might be an interesting discussion after the revelation of Cory Monteith dying from what is being assumed to be a drug-related incident.

Should celebrities act as role models? If someone is famous, should they go out of their way to act in a appropriate manner in an effort to set an example for the younger generation?


Personally, I think they should, and the reason for that is quite simple. Young people are impressionable and are often not knowledgeable or educated enough to distinguish the rights and wrongs of what their favorite celebrity may be doing. Although they may be taught, for example, that drugs are wrong and life-threatening, young people generally won't care if they see someone of influence taking them. Celebrities need to understand that people look up to them and thus they should behave appropriately.

Of course, if we just take a look at the other side of things, many celebrities have worked hard to get to where they are in life and it would be wrong for me to tell them how they should continue living their lives.

What do you think?

 

[hannah]

I don't think they should really. They can go from success and happiness to depressed and **** within a matter of months. Younger fans may get confused as to how they're so happy and successful, then the next day, they commit suicide or turn to substance abuse. A lot of the best celebrities have gone down the wrong path eventually so that makes young fans think it's okay to turn to drugs and alcohol, or to even commit suicide when times get rough. Even if a celebrity went out of their way to be an appropriate role model, a lot won't be able to keep it up for long and it may even add too much pressure to their already stressful lives. Not only that, there's hundreds of celebrities around; one celebrity could only influence a certain number of people, whereas others who follow another celebrity won't be positively influenced.
I think the best celebrity role models are the ones who aren't even trying to be role models. For example, I find Beyonce pretty inspirational because she's beautiful, talented, successful, the fame and money hasn't got to her head, is holding down a marriage unlike other celebs and is now starting a family. I doubt she feels like she's a role model but to me, she encourages me to be successful.
It's all about who fans follow and perceive to be influential. Some people will follow Lil Wayne and convince themselves he's a role model to them when most of us would know that he's not going to be the best role model for anyone. So I don't think the celebrities should change, the fans should. They need to be educated about who's someone to look up too and who isn't. They should also be taught to live their own lives, not copy or re-enact a celebrity's life because I see that happening a lot. People let celebrities influence them way too much nowadays and I feel it's best to leave them be, enjoy them in whatever art they perform in and live your own life.

 

[lauren]

I have mixed feelings.

On one hand they should because you're right in saying young people look up to them and need someone appropriate to follow. I mean if you take Corey Monteith who just died, which is a huge tragedy and shock as he was so young and loved, even though he DIED young people might still get it into their heads they should try drugs as long as they're "careful" because he was doing it. Kids get it into their heads that they can take drugs "carefully" and "in moderation" and that's somehow okay. Okay so maybe you won't die, but I disagree with drug taking anyway so I'm kinda biased BUT ANYWAY what I mean is that too many kids do take note of what their favourite celebs are doing and if it's something silly then all it's doing is sending harmful messages to fans.
Justin Bieber took drugs and his fans supposedly cut themselves, I can't tell who's more stupid; Bieber or the fans but that just shows how impressionable these kids are.

On the other than hand though, why should they behave in a way to lead youngsters? They're not teachers or parents to the fan base so honestly I'm tempted to say that if you do something dangerous or hurtful because your favourite celebrity did it then you're an idiot. Kids? Yeah okay they're impressionable, but then that's where parents need to step in and say, that's a stupid thing to do don't do it.

IDK I just think that you should have the common sense not to copy celebs who do stupid things but sadly not everyone has that.

 

[Riven]

i dont think they should. I mean they are people like us, except they are famous either for heritage or because they made themselves famous.
Either way, they make mistakes as we do, maybe more since they are famous.

 

[Pandemonium]

Celebrities are humans like us indeed; but they could maybe be a bit more self-conscious about their actions. But of course, I reckon most don't care and I don't really blame them. I just wish parents in general would manage to keep their children well-behaved while being role models themselves.
Because media will forever be biased and manipulative.

 

[Rebecca Chambers]

If they make the choice to be in the public eye, they should take steps to ensure they are viewed in a manner that is becoming of them. They are role models, regardless of whether they want to be or not. People, impressionable people, will want to be just like them. If a celebrity does drugs, I guarantee some of their fans will want to do so under the excuse that "__________ did it so it's okay!" You know how on shows like Jackass they say "don't try this at home"? Now, how many retarded morons get hospitalised every year because they saw something on Jackass and wanted to emulate it? It's the same principle.

 

[Riven]

but [MENTION=88]Pandemonium[/MENTION], if you do everything based on being famous (ah, i can't do this, ah i can't do that), then you'd lose your own essence. Ofc you can prevent drugs and alcohol but you can't control paparazzi.

imagine. you just go to a party in university. no harm in that. You drink beer, paparazzi take a pic of you drinking. Next thing you know, you were already drunk and you're irresponsable and stuff like that. The media always do stuff like that. You cannot control it unless you never left home and the curtains were always down.

 

[Pandemonium]

^ Yes, you can't control paparazzi.

 

[Starry]

This is quite a complicated matter ngl

Justin Bieber took drugs and his fans supposedly cut themselves, I can't tell who's more stupid; Bieber or the fans but that just shows how impressionable these kids are.

I knew someone would mention Justin Bieber and I'm actually quite glad you did.
First of all, only a few "fans" were stupid enough to cut themselves over it, but it all blew out of proportion which is why people think pretty much everyone did, and why everyone now thinks people should stop looking up to him.
And at the end of the day he is like 19? It's not like he takes them regularly anyway, he was probably just trying it out or something which ngl is kind of understandable considering he's a teenager having to live with a camera in his face everyday. It's not like he goes around and boasts about it so yeaaaah
There's other qualities about him that people will find inspirational (the facts he works hard and got to where he is today and idk) and obviously people will look up to him just because of his music.

And for every good thing a celebrity thing does, there's like 10 made up stories about them to make them look bad. You rarely hear about charity work or other similar stuff celebrities (specifically the most famous ones that have big followings) do, but you hear stories about who they've slept with and how they got drunk blah blah blah, which are rarely true but it's there because it makes more of an interesting thing to read and draws more attention to them.

So basically someone could be a really great role model, but just because of the media it portrays them so they are not.

Because media will forever be biased and manipulative.

^^^

So I think a role model should just be a personal thing, and it really annoys me when people are like "_____ is such a bad role model omgz" because you really have no idea why they're that person's role model.

To answer the question i think they should but if they do end up taking drugs or whatever, just to try and keep it to themselves and like not talk about it if everyone ends up finding out anyway

 

[Slightly]

If Justin Bieber jumped off a bridge and his hardcore followers followed him to their deaths, I honestly wouldn't lose any sleep. I think that sums up what I think.

 

[Tommy]

I'ma be one of them typical people and say that it's all the parents' faults If you don't want your child to take bad influence then don't let them watch bad people...

 

[Rebecca Chambers]

I'ma be one of them typical people and say that it's all the parents' faults If you don't want your child to take bad influence then don't let them watch bad people...

So you're for a total media blackout for children? Because whenever the news is on, I guarantee there's a story, good or bad, about a celebrity. Even if it's not entertainment/celeb news, they'll pop up on it somewhere. Then you take into account the factor of children being rebellious or what have you. Indeed, parents are a core issue in many a child's faults, but to place the blame solely upon them is an awfully simple-minded thing to do. Role models exist everywhere in society. Be they your parents, your friends, celebrities, or even that businessman you see sometimes who spends his weekends working in a soup kitchen for those less fortunate than he. And just as they can be good role models, they can also be bad. If you have a friend a few years older than you, and he convinces you to start smoking, is that your parents' failing?

I say no.

 

[Pandemonium]

I'ma be one of them typical people and say that it's all the parents' faults If you don't want your child to take bad influence then don't let them watch bad people...

It's not a matter of not letting children "watch bad people". It's about letting them know that there are bad people out there, and teaching them how "being good" is better for everyone's sake. Not only for others but mainly for the child.

 

[Slightly]

So you're for a total media blackout for children? Because whenever the news is on, I guarantee there's a story, good or bad, about a celebrity. Even if it's not entertainment/celeb news, they'll pop up on it somewhere. Then you take into account the factor of children being rebellious or what have you. Indeed, parents are a core issue in many a child's faults, but to place the blame solely upon them is an awfully simple-minded thing to do.

There seems to be this recent mentality that parents can simply blame society for their failings in raising and educating their own children. If media is as dangerous as you imply, this only suggests parents should work harder in supervising the education of their children, so that they can be informed and knowledgeable when they reach their teen years. It's rather simple minded and convenient to shove the blame onto a celebrity and expect that their children will somehow benefit from this new method of parenting.

Role models exist everywhere in society. Be they your parents, your friends, celebrities, or even that businessman you see sometimes who spends his weekends working in a soup kitchen for those less fortunate than he. And just as they can be good role models, they can also be bad. If you have a friend a few years older than you, and he convinces you to start smoking, is that your parents' failing?

I would think it's becoming increasingly difficult to sell the idea of a cancerous stick that will likely lead to your premature death. The older friend bears some responsibility in this instance for actively encouraging such an unhealthy habit, but if a child is so easily convinced that smoking is such a good idea, their parents have obviously not done enough to educate their children on its dangers. Ultimately, it is a failing of the parents who haven't taught their children adequately. Of course, there is a marked difference between this instance and the instance of a celebrity taking drugs and their fans following closely.

 

[Regulus]

Why don't we stop viewing celebrities as role models?

 

[lauren]

I think that's hard because great role models often become celebrities (if they're not our family members)

 

[Phossix]

I believe if a person has the mentality of having a celebrity as a role model, that it is their problem - not the celebrity. Sure, some celebrities are pretty stupid and purposely try to inspire the younger generation to behave like them. I remember hearing about a couple from Geordie Shore that tried to promote binge drinking because they're "young and should have a good time".

But seriously, if you think puking everywhere and kissing and shagging anything that resembles a six pack /cheese grater or mounting one of Willy Wonka's Oompa Loompas is how to have fun, then your perspective is jaded.

You should blame nobody but yourself.

 

[pafjlh]

I certainly don't think any celebrity should be a role model. Its one thing to admire their talent, but its another to want to be them. They are after all human beings just like the rest of us. I read in another thread how someone felt like Corey Montieth who died from a tragic mixture of drugs and alcohol was sending a message to kids who saw him as a role model that its cool to do drugs. I don't recall Montieth ever sending this message, in fact, he was quite verbal about his struggles with addiction as if to tell others that this wasn't a good idea. Too bad that struggle got the better of him in the end. The thing is I think we place too much onto celebrities expecting them to live up to some image that we concocted for them, forgetting that these are people just like the rest of us. We have our faults and they have their faults as well.

 

[isabbbela]

I think they should. As public figures, they know things they do get mimicked and copied all the time. Imagine doing awful stuff knowing many teens and impressionable people will do the same. I like that those that are not role models are the complete opposite to that, so they are role models of what not to do. But think they should publicly at least try not to screw up. If you want to do bad stuff, please do it in private so we don't have to hear about it everywhere.

 

[eimojohn258]

I have mixed feelings.

On one hand they should because you're right in saying young people look up to them and need someone appropriate to follow. I mean if you take Corey Monteith who just died, which is a huge tragedy and shock as he was so young and loved, even though he DIED young people might still get it into their heads they should try drugs as long as they're "careful" because he was doing it. Kids get it into their heads that they can take drugs "carefully" and "in moderation" and that's somehow okay. Okay so maybe you won't die, but I disagree with drug taking anyway so I'm kinda biased BUT ANYWAY what I mean is that too many kids do take note of what their favourite celebs are doing and if it's something silly then all it's doing is sending harmful messages to fans.
Justin Bieber took drugs and his fans supposedly cut themselves, I can't tell who's more stupid; Bieber or the fans but that just shows how impressionable these kids are.

On the other than hand though, why should they behave in a way to lead youngsters? They're not teachers or parents to the fan base so honestly I'm tempted to say that if you do something dangerous or hurtful because your favourite celebrity did it then you're an idiot. Kids? Yeah okay they're impressionable, but then that's where parents need to step in and say, that's a stupid thing to do don't do it.

IDK I just think that you should have the common sense not to copy celebs who do stupid things but sadly not everyone has that.

I agree with you and same I think like you and some of celebrity are model for us but some are not because of their bad attitude or for the other bad things and we should follow only their good things then everyone there in the world role model for us because in every person has good things which we should follow and ignore their bad things.