Problems with choosing 'Role Models'

[lenon01]

For anyone still in High School (or any grade, really) or who remembers having to write those papers about who you've idolized, does anyone else find it hard or irritating? I've gotten maybe three in the last semester and they're getting extremely irritating, as I don't have anybody I idolize, but I don't really think I can write an entire essay on why I don't have a role model.


I mean, it would be almost too easy to choose a parent or one of those over-used 'George Washington/King Richard the Lionheart' or whatnot. The first time I actually did one of these essays this year I used Rasputin, Leonardo daVinci, and Rashid ad-din Sinan or something along those lines. It was interesting, but in all honesty, I really don't idolize any of them.

Does anyone else here have problems like this?

 

[Cognisant]

Do Hitler

I did Hannibal Lector once, my English teacher never looked at me the same again.

 

[Solitaire U.]

I'd express unbridled repulsion over these attempts to force-train me how to gush admiration for other humans and steadfastly refuse to comply on principle, followed by several pages of profoundly inspirational verbiage dedicated to the chivalrous natures of African Wild Dogs.

Or assuming I was too much of a pussy to do that, I'd just pick an influential purveyor of dark art like Maynard James Keenan and improvise something appropriate...ly lengthy and preferably existentialist-themed...

 

[lenon01]

Do Hitler

I did Hannibal Lector once, my English teacher never looked at me the same again.

I've seriously considered this, seeing as he did have quite the charismatic edge to him. However, I withheld because my school likes to send people to the school councilors. D8

 

[Solitaire U.]

I've seriously considered this, seeing as he did have quite the charismatic edge to him. However, I withheld because my school likes to send people to the school councilors. D8

Why would you pass up such a golden opportunity?

 

[lenon01]

I personally don't want to spend time explaining to the councilor who things that I'm insane and psychopathic that it was for fun, because that usually turns out badly.

And then my parents will get involved, and there's some jewish kids at my school, and it's generally too much interaction with too many people over something stupid I did.

Although I do admit, it would be totally delicious if I could get away with it. xD

 

[Solitaire U.]

I was actually referring to getting sent to the councilor, but yeah I definitely understand the whole Jewish classmate thing. Of course, I definitely could write an essay about why you don't have a role-model, but nowadays it would probably be the type of essay that get's your name put on a No-Fly list or something.

 

[warryer]

Really?.... really?? There's nobody in history who's actions impress you? I find that very hard to believe. I usually revere underdogs.

 

[lenon01]

Really?.... really?? There's nobody in history who's actions impress you? I find that very hard to believe. I usually revere underdogs.

Certainly, many people have actions that are quite impressive, although I don't ever find myself actually sitting there and thinking 'Hey, this guy is now my role model.'
If a role model was simply a person whose actions have impressed me, then I'd have an insane amount of role models.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

I've never had a role model. I'm pretty sure I once had to write a paper about one. I don't remember how that turned out.

 

[WittyUsername]

I have the same problem myself. Personally i dont consider this as a "problem" but i'll obviously have no answer when somebody asks me this question.

I think everybody should think for themselves and not make their decision based on some great person's actions. Each situation is different.

 

[myexplodingcat]

Be anti-PC and do Jesus. Then bash out evolutionist theories and disqualify them. I find that stuff really fun to do sometimes. If the assignment is given again by the same teacher, do Charles Darwin.

I am so going to do that next time.

 

[Mowgli]

Well, I dont have role model. i hate those questions.
But honestly, its an essay. just bullshit the whole thing.

Pick someone who's values and accomplishments you know really well, or someone who did something amazing.
Then pretend you agree with them.
Argue what THEY believe and the significance of what THEY have done, and constantly give examples or explanations of how this would improve your life.
It doesnt matter if you believe what you write.

the point of an essay in school is to express an idea and argue a point. If you can do that you pass. The requirement wasnt to answer the question truthfully.

 

[gruesomebrat]

It doesnt matter if you believe what you write.

the point of an essay in school is to express an idea and argue a point. If you can do that you pass. The requirement wasnt to answer the question truthfully.

This is exactly right. On the other hand, there are some ideas whose expression will get you into a little bit of trouble. For example, writing an essay on how Hitler's actions were the right thing to do, or how slavery in North America was appropriate, is generally not the best way to get high grades. Speaking from experience, having done both, expressing these ideas generally results in a fail. However, if you go over the teacher's head and talk to your VP when you get an F, it is possible to convince them to re-mark your paper.

Just explain that the ideas expressed in your paper may or may not be the opinion that you have. If the essay is meant to be an opinion piece or a "Who do you idolize?" piece, then as long as your writing is good, the ideas your writing contains don't matter. Essentially, if you're following the format that is given, and your spelling and grammar are good, then they cannot fail you based solely on the content. They asked for an opinion, you gave an opinion.

 

[Stoic Beverage]

I'm constantly made to write these. It's really just annoying.
I have respect for certain people in the past, but I don't try to model myself after them. The only role model I follow is a constantly updated persona in my mind, which is exactly me, just slightly more perfect.

I wrote about that once, and the teacher said it was off-topic and had me rewrite the paper.
Usually, I select Alexandre Dumas. I like his books, and I fancy the life he lead.

 

[Trebuchet]

Yes, it is extremely irritating. The Role-Model thing is just a lame attempt to make a BS essay "relevant" to you, either because they think it will be more interesting to you that way, or because they want you to think about your value system. INTPs don't need any of that. But you do have to write an essay, and I agree that offending Jewish classmates or having the school counselor think you are disturbed wouldn't be a win.

You'd think they could come up with something a little more original.

Pick someone you find entertaining to write about. Pretend the assignment was "write about someone interesting, and not too villainous."

Possibilities I would find at least tolerable to write about, and will probably not be picked by anyone else:

Sir Isaac Newton, Warden and Master of the Royal Mint, who saved England's monetary system.

Luis Soriano is a Columbian who brings his biblioburros - library donkeys - to remote rural areas, where people would otherwise never have a chance to get books. He lends books and comes back on his route to pick them up and drop off new ones. I think that's cool, anyway.

Randall Munroe, the creator of xkcd. He used his book profits to build a school in Laos (see xkcd store) and also is very funny, which is a good thing.

Ira Flatow, the totally awesome host of Science Friday. In his bio, he says "Copy and paste as much of my bio as you need."

 

[Da Blob]

For anyone still in High School (or any grade, really) or who remembers having to write those papers about who you've idolized, does anyone else find it hard or irritating? I've gotten maybe three in the last semester and they're getting extremely irritating, as I don't have anybody I idolize, but I don't really think I can write an entire essay on why I don't have a role model.


I mean, it would be almost too easy to choose a parent or one of those over-used 'George Washington/King Richard the Lionheart' or whatnot. The first time I actually did one of these essays this year I used Rasputin, Leonardo daVinci, and Rashid ad-din Sinan or something along those lines. It was interesting, but in all honesty, I really don't idolize any of them.

Does anyone else here have problems like this?

Each of us have both a personal and social identity. Our social identity is a composite of various persona and roles that we 'act out and perform' as Deltas in this Brave New World.
A good role model is an individual who has met or exceeded the expectations that define any particular social role. I sincerely doubt that there have been more a handful of humans in all of history that succeeded in performing excellently all of the social roles that they played during their lives, so the idea of a single "role Model" is a modern myth.
Those who are seen as great parents, for example, fulfilling the idealized roles of such are seldom seen as great in any other social roles. In contrast those "Great Men" who fulfilled roles of historic proportions, often failed at meeting the expectations required to be considered a great parent...
To address the problem of a paper, identify a single social role, such as a scapegoat and find an individual who performed that role to applause and appreciation.

 

[Chimera]

Do Hitler

I did that last year. It earned me a lovely chat with the school counselor.
I was just admiring his execution of rhetoric and his control over public speaking...
​

 

[Lobstrich]

If I had to write on who my role model is right now. I'd write about my teacher.
Everything he does, his opinions, his way of approaching stuff the way he is. He's very admirable.

Yeah it sounds like I'm in love with him, I'm not though, hehe.

 

[Moocow]

We don't really even choose our real role models. I think it's more of a matter of realizing who your role models are and then having the humility to admit it.

 

[Firehazard159]

For anyone still in High School (or any grade, really) or who remembers having to write those papers about who you've idolized, does anyone else find it hard or irritating? I've gotten maybe three in the last semester and they're getting extremely irritating, as I don't have anybody I idolize, but I don't really think I can write an entire essay on why I don't have a role model.


I mean, it would be almost too easy to choose a parent or one of those over-used 'George Washington/King Richard the Lionheart' or whatnot. The first time I actually did one of these essays this year I used Rasputin, Leonardo daVinci, and Rashid ad-din Sinan or something along those lines. It was interesting, but in all honesty, I really don't idolize any of them.

Does anyone else here have problems like this?

I was never able to choose real life people with any accuracy - I still can't, but I do have a book character that is my role model, I suppose.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably just pick that character and pretend he's my uncle or something, and transfer all the fantasy situations into real world stuff.

Edit: Except, I realize, I'm too honest to actually do it. I'd feel compelled to follow the assignment, regardless. But I'd have the idea to cheat XD

 

[Solitaire U.]

We don't really even choose our real role models. I think it's more of a matter of realizing who your role models are and then having the humility to admit it.

Alright, I admit it...my first role model was Mad Max, not as the cop he played in the first film, but as the leather-clad wreck of a man he was in the second film...Road Warrior.