Do we glorify athletes too much in society?

I think if it comes to vips, no matter if they are actors, athletes, singers or the queen ... I do believe we glorify them way too much. These are just ordinary people, in most cases payes way too much for what they do. I don't think they are really be seen as hero's in my country (the Netherlands) or are examples for children at all. If it comes to that parents are more seen as an example and also most dutch people are not the kind of type to adore other people they are way too equilibrium, thoughtful, real for that. It's hard to convince a (real) dutchmen about the "greatness" of someone else. They don't need a hero. Perhaps we are raised differently. We do not need a hero to feel better. I think it's a wrong thing to see an athlete, sportsman or vip as a role model for your child. It's way better to focus on your own (your child's own) talents, possibilities. To teach them there is no need to compare with others since this won't make you feel better and it won't make you a better person. The most important thing in life is to know oneself and to be happy, satisfied with yourself, to love yourself.

Along with celebrities, yes we do. There is no need to think certain people are better people than others just because you see them on TV and such. We should really be glorifying those who go out of their way to help others.

Not just athletes also, Minstrels Celebs Actors and Actresses etc. all the best, urban

I guess the reason why people glorify athletes too much is because they are doing what people can’t do –professional sports and they have succeeded in their own playing field. Also, we all know that starting a career in sports isn’t the usual way of making a living and add to that the trials that athletes face just to become successful. In my country, we have a world-recognized athlete and almost everybody here is expected to feel something remotely close thing to him. I respect the athlete but I can’t be expected to identify with him with something that we didn’t have in common. We share the same nationalities – it begins and ends there. I guess some athletes get the attention to their heads. It can’t be helped if you have an adoring and faithful people following you but it doesn’t except anyone – athlete, actors or not- from doing bad things and possibly a negative influence on society.

Good to hear about this. In our place we give importance to the sports persons, but very few kids who are interested in sports will take them as their role model and follow them.

Yes it is supposed to do, because they're a lot of lifting the country's good name in world sports scene. It is therefore fitting for an athlete to get a reply accordingly. In my country is also like that, athletes get a prominent place because they are fighting on behalf of the nation and the State. Surely it is good, because if not, sorry for those who have fought for the country but not appreciated by the State.

i live in the u.s. and i agree that we put way to much glorification on athletes. i must admit, i am a coby bryant fan. lol. i think if you are an aspiring athlete than it's good to have them to look up to. other than that, i don't know why people look up to athletes as much as they do.

Its good to admire them and appreciate their skills and talents in the sports. But it's still up to us if we follow them. Athletes are not perfect human being, they also have limitations and they make mistakes. We should also consider their feelings, its not good to judge them on their simply bad attitude, we must always consider the whole picture.

Well, I am in the US and I believe that we glorify pro athletes way too much but it does not stop with pro athletes. We also glorify musicians, actors and actresses way too much. Just because people are talented in one area does not necessarily make them righteous or decent or good role models. Sometimes, it is just the opposite.