Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?
This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.
Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.
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Notes -
Broad question:
Who is worth rooting for?
I mean, what humans alive right now represent "the best of humanity" without some laundry list of skeletons in their closet.
Someone who has talent, charisma and, critically, an unimpeachable moral character. A 'wholesome' sheen is optional but not necessary.
To compare and contrast, the models (limiting it to celebrities) I have in my head when I think of this are guys like Mr. Rogers, Dolly Parton, Weird Al Yankovic, Steve Irwin, Robin Williams, and maybe Keanu Reeves.
And contrasting examples where they cultivated but didn't live up to the image: Billy Cosby, Ellen DeGeneres, Will Smith, Ashton Kutcher. (I'm not pretending their behaviors are equivalent, mind).
I've talked in the past about how so many 'role models' failed to live up to their hype. Here, though, I'm talking about something even more basic. Not necessarily someone you want to be like but someone who you want to see succeed because the virtue of their goals and their character is so 'pure' that its inherently inspiring.
Someone who makes you think "I want this guy to do well, I want him to win, I want him to overcome every single obstacle he ever encounters" because that person's success would restore your faith in humanity as a whole.
This question partially inspired by all the memes around PewDiePie literally winning at life and nobody can level an actual critique of his character. Yes, we all know about the bridge incident, that's almost the proof positive that he'd stored up such large reserves of goodwill that people implicitly understand he's a heckin' decent human being. Jontron also seems to have his his happy ending. Isaac Arthur is one for me, personally, but for my more narrow interests.
Is there anyone currently coming up through the ranks that seems to represent this semi-heroic archetype?
I think you're looking for role models in entirely the wrong industries. The only reason we scrutinise the character of entertainers like Ellen DeGeneres, PewDiePie or Will Smith is because their job is to be liked and their worth is almost entirely parasocial, and if they fail to appear "wholesome heckin' good human beings", they fail at their job.
But if someone actually significantly contributes to humanity, then them having an unimpeachable moral character is pretty unimportant. If Norman Borlaug cheated on his wife, it wouldn't detract from the fact that he saved over a billion lives from starvation, and if someone who looked to him as inspiration would still go into agricultural science. But if you want to emulate Ellen DeGeneres, well, what's there to be inspired by when the personality is the product? Musicians and actors at least have a separate output, but it's rare that they become celebrities purely on the basis on technical talent.
I personally think it's a societal failure that people look to YouTube streamers as people to emulate as opposed to scientists, engineers, doctors, etc. It feels cheap to call a guy who talks while playing video games in the comfort of his own home a hero, or even a semi-hero, when there's doctors risking life and limb to save lives in literal war zones. And if you want someone to emulate just because they have a good personality, look to people around you that you know personally, not celebrities of whom you know nothing about except their media image and some rumours.
This is partially why I would ask this question. I don't know of enough good examples of good people doing good things who we should all be rooting for, outside of the easily visible celebrity space.
It seems to be in no small part that people who have 'good character' simply aren't inclined to seek the spotlight.
It is indeed probably humanity's singular greatest weak spot as a species (yet simultaneously, not really our fault) that the factors that confer high status amongst fellow humans is not well-aligned with what creates the largest material gains for said humans. Capitalism is a Kludge that manages to partially solve for hits, in a certain light.
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