Does being a "big giver" make someone a better person?

This is not the first time Simon Cowell has been generous with his money and time for those less fortunate than him. His reflection of "the mean judge" is not truly the man. He does his job on the show and most times the truth hurts, especially if someone is delusional enough to think that they are the next American Idol and,well, those of us watching are wondering what the heck they are thinking!! PEACE

I guess I live in a cave so-to-speak as I didn't even know about Oprah's 'Big Give' program or that Simon Cowell had given that amount of money to a family whose son has cancer. Does it change my view of Simon? Perhaps a little, yes. I feel a lot of his actions on American Idol are done because that is the persona that has been created by and for him, and he must live up to it! However, to give a large sum of money to someone in need does not necessisarily make one a good person. To me, it depends upon the spirit in which the money was given. What if he only gave it to improve HIS image? What if he gave it because he needed to give a lot to various charities in order to lower his taxable income and get into a better tax bracket? I guess I am saying that IF he gave the money for the RIGHT reasons, then yes, it makes me think more of him...as I would think more of ANYONE who gives for the right reasons!

I saw that show the other day on Oprah and thought that was a wonderful thing he did. I dont watch American Idol and I dont really think Simon Cowell is a nasty person. He is just an actor.LOL I think more actors should do something like that.

I think it's the right thing to do when very wealthy people help people who are less fortunate than them. I've never disliked the man, I don't know enough about him to form an opinion. I think a lot of his persona on TV is exaggerated, because it makes for better TV. It's great when people give their money.

I think that was really nice of him to do that. It's great to see alot more celebrities getting out there and giving big to those in need. I don't think it makes him a better person, just a generous one. I think he is who he is on AI and tells it like it is. That's why a lot of people like him because of it. He is honest and I don't think it's an act.

The Simon Cowell that we see on AI is a character it is not who he actually is. The negative judge that is the role that he plays, and is the role that he was hired to play. I know that he really is a big giver and never hesatates to give money to charities. It is easy for someone of his status to give $162,000 because to us normal people it would be like giving $10. He really is a great guy, and I dont think that he should ne judged soley by his actions on AI.

hi ctrymuziklvr at first i also judged simon as a miserly person but then i figured out that the person i saw in the American Idol is a completely different person well, if it's something with professionalism, i think it's ok to be critical i often heard him joining some charity and humanism campaign so it's kinda help me judge differently about this person thanks ctrymuziklvr .. ^^

I think that the way Simon Cowell acts on American Idols is a act. I don't think that he is really like this at all. I know that when a actor plays a certain roll for a while that people start to look at him as though he is really like that in real life. I think he is a nice person and portrays someone who is a hard person. The giving of so much money is easy for him because he has that kind of money to give. That doesn't make him a better person but just a person who can afford to do what he did. If a person who doesn't have a lot of money gives money I think that the amount of money they give is just as good as though they had given what Simon gave. Most people don't have that kind of money to donate. What they do donate means a lot also. Because they don't really have it to give but they gave anyway out of the goodness of their heart.

I am sure this probably is not a popular opinion, but I have never disliked Simon for his role on American Idol. While, I agree that he is often harsh with the contestentents, I feel that he is honest, which I think is a good thing. He doesn't sugar coat stuff and he does not play mind games with the contestants, he simply calls it how he sees it! If the person was good, he tells them, if they were bad, he tells them. A lot of times, Simon's brutally honest assestment of their performance helps them to improve and do better. Since I never really had a bad opinion of Simon to begin with, his act of charity on Opra does not change what I think. However, the only real opinion that I have, or have ever had, about Simon, is that he is honest. As a general rule, I do not form very deep opinions of a person, unless I know them personally or have at least met or talked with them a few times. I do not think that it is possible to accurately judge anyone's character just by watching them on tv and things like that.

Simon Cowell became famous for his appearances on British Pop Idol shows. He has become a figure of fun but I think he knows people laugh at him and he takes it well. He is also famous for being extremely rich from his record company and it is known that his business benefits financially from shows like Idol because they get the recording contract for the winners. He can very easily afford to give large donations and good for him that he does want to help those people. I hope he continues to be 2in the giving mood".

Well, while I believe his opinions on the show are real (and usually correct imo) I do think he says things in a way that will get a bigger reaction. Exaggerated, I think someone said. But I love it anyway. He is a very generous person and you can see his real personality when watching him in situations like that...like when he went to Africa for Idol last year (and got along great with Ryan I might add.) ;) I don't think he is a "bigger" giver than any regular person who gives- he only gave a small portion of his income. Yes, a small portion of his income is far greater than what a small portion of mine would be...but it is all relative. If someone gives 10% of their $40k income they only have given $4000. If someone who makes $100k per year gives only 8%, they give $8000- twice as much. But, when you really look at it which one is the "bigger giver"? That said, I probably do think a little more of him...not because he gave so much but simply because he gave.

I don't think that the giving should not be judged based on how much you actually give but if you are giving it true to your heart. It is a good thing that people who earn a lot, can give big amounts as well. In the case of Simon Cowell, I cannot really say that he is a better man because of this. What I agree is we should not judge him based on what he portrays on TV. Whatever his motives are for donating , it doesn't matter as long as there is someone being helped.