Idols

[Long-Haired Narcissist]

Who are y'all's heroes and idols? Who do you want to be like and/or trade a day in your life to live as?

Mine are Elvis, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee, Ron White, my friend Matt, and my friend Chris.

edit: I forgot to mention Ghandi, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Robert Frost.

[Kikuichimonji]

Gandhi, Charles Dickens, Ignatius of Loyola.

[Skyshot]

Philip Yancey, C.S. Lewis, sometimes Scott Adams, and maybe a few others as I think of them.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Samwise Didier and Les Claypool are all I can think of at the moment. Why?

They are constantly improving and not resting on their laurels sitting in the comforting light of their past accomplishments.

THAT is what I admire.

[TheSpacePope]

Master. Shake.

End of conversation.

You will be converted

[Nique]

... Can I say 'The Biblical Jesus and his boss' and not suffer the wrath of the ban-hammer?

As for more contemporary induviduals... Well, I can't say there's really anyone I 'idolize', but there are certainly people who I admire. Stan Lee has always struck me as a kind, optomistic kind of guy with an innocent-but-knowing sense of humour. He really doesn't even complain too much about how Marvel messed him over for years... Certainly not to the degree that the family's of the creator's of Superman have (although, rightly so).

[Mesden]

Ohhhh, OHHHHHH! I'm gonna call it first before the flocks of indominant worshippers flood the gates with their fanatical cheering and squealing!

FITHFIEND!

Because who only knows someone was gonna say it and it might as well be the only person who freaking doesn't.

Also: I like George Carlin.

[Fifthfiend]

You know I'm the awesomest, don't even lie.

ANY WAY

I believe the public discourse would be immeasurably poorer without the contributions of Seymour Hersh, and Ron Suskind.

I have yet to read Richard Pape's book, but I am told it is the labor of a Titan.

[POS Industries]

Ohhhh, OHHHHHH! I'm gonna call it first before the flocks of indominant worshippers flood the gates with their fanatical cheering and squealing!

FITHFIEND!

Because who only knows someone was gonna say it and it might as well be the only person who freaking doesn't.

Honey, that so proved that you're the worst fangirl here. Seriously. Absolute fucking worst. I wash my hands of you.

*ahem*

As for the ACTUAL TOPIC AT HAND (you fuckers), I'm going with a horrible amalgam of Jhonen Vasquez, Trent Reznor, and Thomas Jefferson.

His name is Thonent Jefferezquez, and he is a being forged of pure awesome.

[Fifthfiend]

Honey, that so proved that you're the worst fangirl here. Seriously. Absolute fucking worst. I wash my hands of you.


Oh like you're not right in line, jumping on the It's All ABout Fifthfiend bandwagon, over here.

His name is Thonent Jefferezquez, and he is a being forged of pure awesome.

Pure awesome, and owning slaves!

[POS Industries]

Oh like you're not right in line, jumping on the It's All ABout Fifthfiend bandwagon, over here.

Not quite. I'm over here in the "Why doesn't everyone shut up about that guy already, I have a headache" crowd.

A crowd of one, apparently.

Pure awesome, and owning slaves!

....and fucking them!

[Nique]

Not quite. I'm over here in the "Why doesn't everyone shut up about that guy already, I have a headache" crowd.

To me, this is like the little boy in school who likes the little girl, but since he has no rational idea of how to express his affection, he makes claims of imaginary conditions (i.e. cooties) and, even more made-up, extreme distain for the little girl in question.

Your 'please stop talking about fifthfiend' is secretly a rose+lovenote on his doorstep.

Also, I hate your avatar.

EDIT:
Ok since apparently I'm the one derailing this thread, I'll go ahead and say Joss Whedon has my admiration in that I find his skill and storytelling ability enviable.

[POS Industries]

Hey, did you know that Thonent Jefferezquez invented The Downward Spiralling Lazy Susan the Homicidal Maniac? It's that sort of amazing stuff you can learn when you STAY THE FUCK ON TOPIC, NIQUE.

And my avatar rocks.

[Mesden]

There is no such thing as a topic anymore.

Also: Reverse Psychology never goes anywhere, people. It's wholly impossible that someone actually may think "Well darn, Fifth'sagood guy and all, but people are taking it way too far."

Nah, those peopleare tooootally Fifthfiend rabid fanatics. =P

And...uh...Topically: I really liked Madison, you know? He was short AND awesome.

Edit: Well damn. My being swifted by POS makes my first statement make me look like a condescending ass. Not that I'm NOT a condescending ass, but it doesn't normally show so well.

[POS Industries]

I really liked Madison, you know? He was short AND awesome.

True. Actually, I have this thing about U.S. Presidents. Single most awesome president ever? Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He looked like the penguin, got elected to twice--if not four times--as many terms in office as any other President in history, beat Hitler, died while having sex with his mistress, and all of it from the confines of his wheelchair.

He didn't make the list of people I idolize solely because it's just impossible to model your life after him. He already did it all, and better than you ever will.

[Mesden]

True. Actually, I have this thing about U.S. Presidents. Single most awesome president ever? Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He looked like the penguin, got elected to twice--if not four times--as many terms in office as any other President in history, beat Hitler, died while having sex with his mistress, and all of it from the confines of his wheelchair.

He didn't make the list of people I idolize solely because it's just impossible to model your life after him. He already did it all, and better than you ever will.

No matter how much I DO love FDR, or hell, either roosevelt, FDR was about as close to a real Dictator in America as one could be.

But, there were definitely some awesome presidents around.

[POS Industries]

FDR was about as close to a real Dictator in America as one could be.

Technically, he was less a dictator and more of a President-for-Life. FDR had the people's approval because he was genuinely suited for the job. Dictators typically have to hold on to power by force against the people's overall wishes.

But back on topic....

You know what President I did idolize for a while? Chester A. Arthur. I won't tell you what he did that made him cool if you don't already know. Go read a book. That's your homework for today.

[Nique]

Taft was the first president to through a baseball at a major league game!

Also, the only thing he did in office was replace the bathtub becuase he was insanely fat amd couldn't fit in it (but also was a good dancer!)

[POS Industries]

True, but bear in mind that Taft never, ever wanted to be President. His wife and Teddy Roosevelt kinda forced him. Then his wife forced him to run against Teddy four years later.

And that's how Woodrow Wilson became President and helped beat the Kaiser. Taft was cool for being the only President to not only serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, but to do so after being President.

And you know what? Joss Whedon is also awesome. He deserves some idolizing, too, if you ask me. Thanks for pointing that one out, Nique!

[Fifthfiend]

There is no such thing as a topic anymore.

*bamf!*

AND SO IT IS DONE.

[Long-Haired Narcissist]

Since we're talking about presidents, I always adored Bill Clinton. And not just because he got all of those BJs, but because he did his job right.

[Living Bobbeh]

Christian Jacobs (MC Bat Commander from the band "The Aquabats") seems like a decent chap. He seems to be happy almost all the time, and he's the front-man of the most awesome bands in the world (maybe)
Also Jasper Carrot (British comedian) always makes me laugh, without being rude, which most comedians are nowadays, and that's all they base their act on. So I respect him for that.

[Solid Snake]

I idolize my father. I keep it a secret, though, and I sure as hell don't tell him how much I genuinely like the way he lives his life. You know, that would defeat the purpose of being who I was created to be; his annoying-as-all-fuck, irresponsible, immature son who can't do anything remotely right. The nature of our relationship necessitates a false sense of mutual contempt and occasional outright hostility. As it is with all parents and children.

But really, he's stayed married and faithful to his wife (at least to the best of my knowledge, knockin' on wood) for more than twenty years now. And during those twenty years my mom has been in an accident, been disabled, become rather overweight, lost that weight, suffered through more than one period of intense depression, and recently had to start a job she despises. Meanwhile he's had to raise three kids -- including two girls who always side with mom over dad in every feasible argument, sheerly due to their bonds of estrogen. And he works a shitty job he hates. And to be honest he's probably handsome enough to have definitely gotten a divorce and married some younger, prettier chick if he wanted to. And somehow he hasn't become a physically abusive alcoholic or drug addict like he very well could have.

You know what? That's pretty much my definition of true heroism, right there; putting up with all that shit and still, despite all the odds, managing to live a relatively clean, moral life in which he faithfully attends to (most of) his duties as a father and a husband.

I really wouldn't mind taking after my father when I grow up. But I'm never telling him that. Ever.

[The Kneumatic Pnight]

If this is going to start getting all serious or some shit, I'm going to throw this one out there:

Norman Borlaug.

I mean, I could give a shitload of reasons, but... you know... I won't.

And if not... umm... James K. Polk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTiCU_fqCg)?

[Complexity]

I've never really been one to idolize anyone, but people I just have supreme respect for:
Muhammad Ali, Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr, Sugar Ray Leonard, Ruben Hurricane Carter, Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Earl Boykins, Shaq, Tracy McGrady, Donovan McNabb, Randy Moss, Jerry Rice, Ray Lewis, Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Tony Jaa (ehh yea..why not) and a slew of other people in sports...
outside of sports, Saul Williams, Black Ice, The Roots, Outkast, Cee-Lo Green, Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, a plethora of other artists and poets and such... yea

and Black Mage. definitely Black Mage