Heroes/Role Models

[Fightgarr]

I did do a brief search about this and I didn't find one that had done this yet. However, I wouldn't be surprised if about 10 had and I just missed them.

What I want to kow is your role model or hero and a bit about why:

Dmitri Martin: I am an amateur stand-up comic, and have been doing my thing for 3 years now, and needless to say that I consider him one of my favorite comics of all time. The real reason he's on this list is something I came upon when searching on youtube. I found a video series about him called If I, and if YOU ever want to increase your respect for the man about tenfold, watch it. He's one of the most brilliant, hilarious and tragic people.

Nicholas Di Genova: This is an obscure one. Nicholas Di Genova is a Toronto-based artist currently (or at least last I checked) working in Brooklyn. He's easily one of my favorite artists, his works can be found online at http://www.mediumphobic.com. The degree to his arts influence on my own art making (again, I'm a drawing and painting BFA student) is huge and I am so enthralled with his work that I have honored him with a tattoo of one of his works on my right arm.

Hayao Miyazaki: I need not say that I respect his films because to say that is implied through me putting his name on the list. The reason why he is on this list is because of his beautiful artwork, and his worldview that corresponds, in an uncanny manor, to my own almost exactly. While I don't have an obsession on aviation, his films have literally moved me to tears.

Anyway, if you feel the need, throw some names out there:

 

[spang53]

Anthony Keidis: He's hero because of all the crap that he went through to get where he was. His biography Scar Tissue just made me shake my head in amazement, he's real proof that you can do anything you set your mind to. He just took a while to do it

I've probably got others but I can't think right now, either that or they're not that important because I can't remember them. (I recommend Scar Tissue by the way, its an epic book)

 

[Baby Tea]

Oh dear.

Well, at the risk of sounding like an after school special: I'm going to say it's a tie between my Pake (Grandpa) and my Dad.

My Dad because he's been such a strong, great father figure who has put up with a lot of crap from every angle and always emerged with integrity, dignity, and kindness. Raised 4 kids who didn't always make it easy, always put family first, loves his wife of 35 years, and always thinks of others. A better role model I have not found.

And my Grandpa (Pake is Dutch...well, actually it's a Friesland thing) because of the fighting and work he did for the Dutch underground in WW2. He hid Jews, fought the Germans, and did what he could for his fellow countrymen (As he was also a police officer). And through all of that, he was a humble man. Probably wouldn't want me thinking of him in any high regard. But he is a real inspiration.

There you go, I'm a sap.

...

I'm going to go knit.

 

[Adam Jenson]

Gustav Streseman- German liberal politician and statesman who served as Chancellor and Foreign Minister during the Weimar Republic. He was co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926.

Generally considered one of the most important leaders of Germany and a staunch supporter of democracy in the fragile Weimar Republic. Further, he is noted as one of the first to envisage European economic integration. Arguably, his most notable achievement was reconciliation between Germany and France. I admit though he is more of a role model since also supported anti-Polish policies and engineered a trade war between Germany and Poland.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Abe Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt. All these men are heroes

 

[Fightgarr]

Oh dear.

There you go, I'm a sap.

...

I'm going to go knit.

I don't see how that's sappy, I would definitely say that my brother and father have had large influences on my life.

 

[Baby Tea]

Oh dear.

There you go, I'm a sap.

...

I'm going to go knit.

I don't see how that's sappy, I would definitely say that my brother and father have had large influences on my life.

Oh Fightgarr...may your warbley theme song serve as a constant reminder, that you probably have a really sketchy past.

 

[Fightgarr]

Oh Fightgarr...may your warbley theme song serve as a constant reminder, that you probably have a really sketchy past.

You just made me legitimately laugh for the first time in a while.

 

[Baby Tea]

Oh Fightgarr...may your warbley theme song serve as a constant reminder, that you probably have a really sketchy past.

You just made me legitimately laugh for the first time in a while.

Glad I could help! Tip your waitress!

 

[Bowstring]

Django Reinhardt - Influential guitarist. At 18 years old he was in a fire that paralysed his right hand and left hands, as well as leaving him with 1st and 2nd degree burns all over his body. The doctors said he'd never pick up the guitar again.

A few weeks later, he did. He could no longer use his third and fourth fingers on his left hand, yet he went on to pioneer a whole new genre of jazz, and be hailed as a genius.

Whenever I've felt like giving up, I remember that guy.

 

[Death Magnetic]

My Mum because she raised three kids basically by herself whilst being constantly abused and bullied by my dad and suffering from illness. She's a full time Mum that whilst working and looking after us kids she earned in a diploma in university. She's left my dad now though thankfully. She's also one of the smartest people I know.

My Grampy because he's accomplished so much yet he's one of the most friendliest and kindest people I know. He has a story for every occasion and they're all incredibly interesting. He is also so young at heart.

My Granny because she's been through so much hardship, especially during the war. She came through a nervous breakdown and is one of the strongest people I know. As with my Grampy, she is young at heart.

And finally my youngest sister because she's the most talented and artistic yet modest person I know of. She's incredibly laid back and will always voice her opinion. I also highly respect her boyfriend. He came from the opposite end of England and had to put up with so much shit from my dad and older sister yet he continued to stay with my youngest sister.

-Ricky

 

[Geamo]

Brother and Mother, for reasons obvious.

In media, I find John Cleese, Robert Downey Jr, Al Gore, Hugh Laurie and numerous others to be inspirational.

 

[mhitman]

This guy is my hero ===> http://adonihs.deviantart.com/

 

[Danny Ocean]

Oh Fightgarr...may your warbley theme song serve as a constant reminder, that you probably have a really sketchy past.

You just made me legitimately laugh for the first time in a while.

Glad I could help! Tip your waitress!

NO! No! Don't feed the waitresses! There be monsters that way!

Seriously though, I'd have to say my mum. She's raised 2 autistic kids and me. She is somehow friends with everyone in the entire world, I don't know how, but everyone takes a shining to her. She had a husband who was just crap in every way possible, but still managed to make more money than him.

She's met dozens of semi- famous people (Back before they were famous, apparently.). She's sat at a table with Lenny Henry. Was friends with Rolph Harris (apparently he used to babysit me!), and met Bill Gates as the computer industry was just taking off. There are loads more, she just randomly says, "I had lunch with that guy," to half the people on TV.

She founded a charity for disabled and autistic children, which she basically had to run herself due to the incompetence or laziness of others. She was the head chairwoman of a school, the CEO of a computer company that took Microsoft for a few million back when they weren't as big as they are now. She's lived everywhere! Despite all these riches and achievements, she is still very down to Earth and practical.


I can't find any better a role model than her. Just come and meet her, you'll see why.

 

[Lebeau's Bounty]

Hugh Jackman. Whenever I see an interview he looks like he was one of the kindest, most caring people. More importantly he looks like he as a really positive outlook on life, family, work and how he works with people.

I remember reading an interview with Taylor Kitsch saying how welcome he felt by Hugh on the set of Wolverine.

He's a guy who does great work and is an absolute gentleman about it.

- B

 

[jim_doki]

Dave Grohl: the man became an international superstar TWICE with TWO EXELLENT BANDS, overcame the personal tradgedy of a close freind's suicide, has made 9 studio albums and is currently raising a daughter. And he's still "The nicest man in rock and roll". Doing half the stuff he has in a single lifetime is exellent

Brian May: Despite being a vital part of one of the greatest bands in history and, again, overcoming a great international yet personal tragedy, he still writes, plays, sings and studies astronomy. good on him.

Dad Doki: This man has risen from the son of a barber to having a real chance at changing the world. I salute my Dad

Maternal Grandfather Doki: My grandad beat World War 2, and Cancer.

 

[theklng]

i've never really had a person i've looked up to as an inspiration. i've always been my own inspiration, so if that's what you would call an idolization then that's that. i haven't had need to compare myself to others, i just knew i had to get going from what i had until it got better. i've had my share of difficult times, and although admittedly sometimes helped by a strange luck, things have always worked out.

so, yes, myself. or arguably my mind, whether it's a part of me or not (i'm not going into that further).

 

[WingedFortress]

Hunter S. Thompson - There are plenty of reasons behind this. His work in Journalism inspired me into a future career, his political insight never ceases to amaze me, and his personality is just so damn interesting that you can hang on ever word he speaks, writes or fires out of a gun.

Batman - He's Batman.

And plenty more, but who wants to see a huge list like that?

 

[PedroSteckecilo]

*sigh* I feel bad but none of my family members really inspired me, they all bore the everloving crap out of me. There, I said it. It's because none of them were underdogs or dreamers, they never had to fight for or against anything, they're just normal people who did a great job raising me but for some reason, I really don't want to be like them.

I want to believe in more than the status quo myself, despite my inability to be successful at achieving my dreams.

Still...

Terry Brooks - A successful fantasy author at age 17 who basically restarted interest in the genre with his Shanarra series. I wanted to be him for so many years.

Lester B. Pearson - Canadian Prime Minister, basically INVENTED the concept of Peace Keeping and won the Nobel Peace Prize. Probably the greatest politician Canada has ever had, and he only served one term as PM.

Michael Servetus - A freethinking theologian and scientist who was killed for preaching against Protestant and Catholic Dogma.

Hayao Miyazaki - His work shows that there's still room for cooperation, idealism, pacifism and environmetalism in the world without becoming a hateful, horrible person.