Celebrities as role models

I agree with you, we shouldn't expect celebrities of any sort to be role models; whether they are actors, musicians, or sports people. They are human and they are just doing their jobs. We as a society put them up on the pedestals and then get upset when they don't meet our standards. Now that being said if they set themselves up to be a role model, as encouraging kids and teens to look up to them then they should continue to meet the standard they set for themselves. There have been celebs who do this. They try to do the speaking at schools, the look at me and follow my example, etc. Those who do that then yes we have a right to be upset with them when they crash and burn. I don't mean minor mistakes but when they turn out to be just the opposite of what they have portrayed. Thhese I can understand being upset with.

Well if they are gonna be on kids shows they are choosing to be a role model but you are right everyone makes mistakes. My kids watch these teenage shows like my son loves High School Musical and I dont mind but I dont let him see the news and gossip outside of the show as I feel my kids dont need to see all that. They love a character on a show not the celebrity.

This is a pet peeve of mine too. Why do people look for moral leadership in the least likely of places? I don't think a presidential candidate who has not done a back room deal or two is fit for the job and what kind of moral leadership do they expect to find in a rock singer or basketball star? Don't children have teachers, priests, ministers, rabbis and parents. These are the mentors who should be providing moral role models.

You are right, it is a bad idea for a celebrities to be the role model that children look up to. But it happens because of the society we live in. What would a parent be teaching their child if they ran around trying to keep them from seeing magazine covers, banning them for listening to music/going to movies or advising them to not listen when peers at school talk about celebrities. Celebrities choose to pose for these magazine covers, etc in order to remain a celebrity and perpetuate our media, music and entertainment driven society. They are celebrities because people purchase and support the things they do and that is where the responsiblity comes in. They want a paycheck and the attention they get from doing what they do. The least they can do is act as a responsible citizen and show some appreciation for and respect towards the people who keep them in their position. I don't expect anyone to be perfect. Making mistakes is a part of life. Whining about it and talking about the pressure of being a role model to children is immature and irresponsible. To whom much is given, much is expected. That IS something that as a parent I want to teach my child.

Tell me this, why would a celebrity choose that life if not to be a role model? Granted there's the money, but aside from that, what would motivate anyone to put their entire lives in the limelight? Because they want to be an icon, someone for others to idolize. It's not parents who allow these celebrities to become role models for their children, it's the media. They scrutanize every aspect of a celebrities life, putting them all out there for the rest of us to see. You can't turn on the TV without seeing them, or go to the grocery store where their faces are plastered all over the magazine rack. It's unavoidable. "This is how you should look, this is how you should dress, this is what you should drive" etc etc etc. What really ticks me off is someone like Britney Spears. When she started out, her fan base was young, impressionable girls. Then, once she gets a taste of her celebrity status she decides to start stripping off more clothes. Now, when you already know that the majority of your fans are under 18 years old, and they're going to want to dress exactly like you, why would you put yourself out there wearing practically nothing? I just don't see the logic in this.

Now a days media has highest exposure to kids. They watch, see, hear about celebrities. Most of the time is spent on think about celebs. So with that much exposure it is obvious that will see celbs in terms of their role models. You point is right celebs are humans but they have to take care because they are what they are because of their fans.

I think you're forgetting how much children look up to celebrities in the media because it's cool and because they're popular. Celebrities are marketed towards certain age groups and certain celebrities appeal to children more than adults. So, whenever they go and do something stupid, it's understandable why they say they're supposed to be role model's for children. Sure, parent's need to be great role models for their children, that's how it is supposed to be, but children don't look up to their parents as much as they used to anymore. They prefer celebrities.

I don't think a celebrity should be held up as a role model because it gives the wrong idea to the child. We are all human and are going to make mistakes. Children should be showed that celebrity or not they make mistakes just like some one who is not famish. We need to make sure that our children know that celebrity's are just people who are in the lime light and can make mistakes too.

Many celebs and athletes will say that they dont expect young people to look up to them. But when kids see the kind of money and life these same people have what are they to think? There are actors and singers or athletes who work with children and are good role models. But kids seem to to mesmerized by the glamor of things. They dont realize that their favorite celeb doesn't lead an ordinary life like their parents or teachers do. It is unrealistic and someday they will see that. We can only hope they see it soonoer than later.

I admire celebrities, but what i admire with them are the way they dressed, the make up they used and the way they sing or dance or act or if they are a celebrity at the same time student with high grades, oh that is really admirable, and children should look up to those examples. But yes, they are just human they committed mistakes and we can't escape mistakes. The job of a parent is to explain them the celebrities are human too, like their children, like them that do have wrong doings. I think those celebrities that done wrong will be still an example of people we should not follow. We should call it the cause and effect figures. Media have this huge influence over people and the job of the matured ones is to explain to children the difference between right and wrong so they will not be barely influenced.

You do make a very valid point here. It shows that celebs aren't invincible that they deal with the every day trials that everyone else does. Their dirty laundry is just aired in front of the world because of their status. I'm sure many of us wouldn't want our dirty laundry aired in front of the world to see!

You are right. Celebrities are just people but more in the spotlight than most but they goof up just the same as the rest of us.As far as role models I think that is where parents fit in. they should be the role models for their kids not some stranger' and kids should see that like all people parents also goof up every once in awhile.

I agree. Kids should have their parents as there role model, in my personal opinion. If they will take the celebrities as their role models then we are giving our kids a wrong perpective in life. Celebrities have a different lifestyle and for our kids to emulate these celebrities we are giving them a vague idea of the realities of life. It is our responsibility as parents to see to it that our kids grow up to be a normal, caring and responsible human beings. And that, they can see it in them, they can see it in us.