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Steve Irwin for sure. I always loved watching his show and learning about the different kinds of animals. He always taught kids to respect nature and be curious.
Weird Al is a massive source of inspiration for me. The guy has been doing nothing but making whacky music through decades of music trends coming and going and never missed the mark.
From a really young age, I appreciated that not everyone has to take everything so seriously.
From all accounts he’s also just a really decent, normal kind of human being. Hell even tragedy that hit him is mundane and relatable (his parents died from carbon monoxide poisoning). You never hear about his kids being a menace in the news or social media, and it all seems very wholesome and positive.
It doesn’t hurt that he’s a genius when it comes to music. His ability to create accurate to source parodies based solely off of listening to music is rare and extraordinary, and his ability to write stuff to go into his parodies is pretty legendary. He’s got a talent for rhyme. IIRC he wrote the Star Wars ep. 1 parody before the movie was even released, based solely on what he figured out from the trailers. And then with all of that talent he didn’t go trying to be a big shot, you just played the goofy instrument he loved it was a decent person.
So yeah, good pull.
Good: Mr. Rodgers But more influencal (unfortunately): Tyler Durdin
Rogers. Fred McFeely Rogers. If you’re over the age of 30 that’s the answer, and if not then it’s still a good answer.
Captain Jean Luc Picard and Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko
All 5 of the Mythbusters. Adam and Jamie in particular really embodied two aspects of my own neurodivergence, respectively showing me that it’s okay to have ADHD and Autistic traits, and what it looks like to be successful while also having those conditions.
(Yes, I know Jamie has never been publicly open about having ASD, but c’mon, it’s obvious. Even Adam, who worked closely with him for decades has said publicly that he’s fairly confident Jamie is on the spectrum)
Levar Burton on Reading Rainbow. That show was our Friday afternoon treat in grade school.
Okay I know this one sounds weird but hear me out. G1 Optimus Prime. As an example of why, a buddy of mine was only allowed to watch transformers back in the day because his grandmother (who was raising him) saw the character as a good role model, in so much is it cartoon character can be for a small child. Specifically, the character is honest, loyal, protects those unable to protect themselves, helps his friends… You can see where I’m going with this.
I know it may sound silly, but a lot of the time when you’re a kid, hell even sometimes is an adult, fictional characters can feel more real and be more meaningful than real people are.
Of course you should never forget that they are fictional characters, and then in real life almost nothing is ever clear or simple. Honestly that’s the point of a lot of fiction, especially when it includes some kind of moral component. That’s been true since the dawn of humanity; kids cartoons are just one iteration of that. But since kids spend a lot of their time paying attention to their favorite media, it’s pretty well known that it’s important as a parent to make sure you know what media they’re consuming and what it teaches them.
So yeah, Optimus Prime. He may be a big space robot that turns into a truck, but the characterization and the moral and ethical lessons it can impart in you without you even realizing it are the important part.
My grandpa
What made your grandpa a great role model for you?
My parents were shit but he always made sure I was taken care of. Did his best to protect me from adult issues and even though his son, my dad, has screwed home over a lot, he has never talked poorly about my dad to me. He’s just a man’s man and I try to let him know he’s the one who made me what I am today.
I loved Bill Nye. When the tv cart got rolled into class I knew we were gonna have an amazing time.
Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill…
Bill Nye for sure. He’s smart and kind, and just generally awesome. We got to watch him in class a handful of times, and it was always fun.
As far as celebrities go: The dad from the “Dad, How Do I” YouTube series.
Maybe not exactly what you’re looking for, but If we’re talking meaningful people for your child to look up to, find an IRL male who has good morals and an open mind. They make great role models. If you’re a decent parent, that should be you.
I struggle to think of someone for my generation, but someone who I’ve looked up to is Carl Sagan, even if he passed before I was born.
A bit more recent - Sam Gamgee.
Atticus Finch
Utah Phillips
