Celebrities as role models

Celebrities are anything but role models in my opinon. Parents should try to be their children's role models by how they live their lives, by setting a good example. As for celebrities it's true they are only human & are bound to make mistakes, but if they want to be considered the same as the rest of us then they should live by the same laws. By that I mean if one of us one caught drinking & driving we would have to punished for breaking the law. They should as well. They break laws, get big over paid lawyers to get them out of trouble, & walk away with community serice which most of them don't even do. So if they are humans just like the rest of us then they should be treated the same way no matter how much money they have(do you hear that Lindsey, Paris, Britney, etc. etc.!!!)

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.

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.

I agree with you I don't think it's very healthy for kids to look up at stars as their role models. Their world is so different from our's it isn't even funny..Lori

But children do choose celebrities as role models, it is just the way it is. They see them on the tv and in the news and in magazines and they see their lives in full multicolour display. I hope that my children do not look up to celebrities as role models, if I have my way they will not, but the chances are they might.

While I agree with all that you say, the only thing that gets me cross is the fact that journalists seem to think it good to continuously portray all of their problems, and the fact that some of them use drugs seems to be highlighted all the time. I see in the UK nothing positive about the celebs here, it is always pictures of their latest drug binges or drink binges, there is never any positiveness about them.

Celebrities can be role models just like your average nine to five person can be a role model. However, not all celebrities put "role model" images of themselves out there for people to look at. A lot of celebrities just as everyday people like me struggle with different situations whether it be drugs or addiction.Nobody is perfect in this world. The people we do tend to look at as role models are celebrities because they are known by the world, they've made it in life, they're beautiful, and most of them have hearts.

What celeb can you really pick out now to be a role model as they all seem to deal in drugs and every thing els. the kids should probably pick a more normal perso that does none of these things as role models

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I'm with you--in that celebs have their our atmosphere that noraml people would never understand. But I'm also on the side of being a good enough person to be a role model to your own children, and allowing good people in the child's life that provide support outside of the family unit. Kids need love and boundries, and that's not a celeb, or athlete's job to give.

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.