Who are your role models?

Originally posted by inimalist
elaborate then

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Leary

Timothy Leary is known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs in treatment of mental disorders. He is also known for his use of said drugs.

This is primarily what he is known for in modern society. His subsequent achievements really mean dick to the vast majority of the population.

When King Kandy listed him as a role model I questioned it due to the drugs...a natural, logical query.

Somehow this conversation has degenerated into 'well yeah, he like, did drugs but thats not what he is all about!'

Would someone please explain the appeal of Leary if not for the drugs and all his escapades fighting the law?

why arent those enough? "all his escapades fighting the law" are not something that can really be hand waved away...

For instance, his desire to use science as a way of fighting against the state would be a reason he'd be a role model of mine.

this is silly, i need to go buy a tie...

Can we all just agree that I am a role model to all of you.

Originally posted by theICONiac
So when one proclaims Leary a role model (an individual by your own admission who cannot be extricated from "drugs" he endorsed) can one assume that drugs are a component of that admiration?

Not really. If you have no other information it's the guess that will be right the most times but that's not a very useful thing to know. An individual could conceivably be anti-drug and still respect his conviction or really hate Nixon or like his work on personality theory. Drugs defined his life but they weren't his whole life.

It's sort of like thinking that because inimalist like Desmond Tutu it must be because Tutu is African. Sure being African has defined pretty much every aspect of his life but that doesn't make it the entirety of the man.

My issue with your responses so far has been that you're being dismissive of Leary as just being the drug guy (or possibly you've worded your statements about him that way in order to troll people).

Roy Keane
Superman

Nobody else really "inspires" me that much.

Originally posted by theICONiac
Somehow this conversation has degenerated into 'well yeah, he like, did drugs but thats not what he is all about!'

Few people here are going to care that he "did drugs". Lots of people "did drugs". The important bit is that he did science involving drugs at a time when that was extremely controversial and he never backed down because of it.

If you want to dismiss that as just doing drugs you're welcome to do so but it does make you fairly stupid.

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Not really. If you have no other information it's the guess that will be right the most times but that's not a very useful thing to know. An individual could conceivably be anti-drug and still respect his conviction or really hate Nixon or like his work on personality theory. Drugs defined his life but they weren't his whole life.

It's sort of like thinking that because inimalist like Desmond Tutu it must be because Tutu is African. Sure being African has defined pretty much every aspect of his life but that doesn't make it the entirety of the man.

My issue with your responses so far has been that you're being dismissive of Leary as just being the drug guy (or possibly you've worded your statements about him that way in order to troll people).

Perhaps King Kandy will chime in and finally reveal to us why Timothy Leary is his role model and we can put this whole thing behind us!

Originally posted by Mindset
Can we all just agree that I am a role model to all of you.

I'd rather have Colossus Big-C as a role model... 😱

Originally posted by Symmetric Chaos
Few people here are going to care that he "did drugs". Lots of people "did drugs". The important bit is that he did science involving drugs at a time when that was extremely controversial and he never backed down because of it.

If you want to dismiss that as just doing drugs you're welcome to do so but it does make you fairly stupid.

And if Leary was hot-to-trot on herbal remedies like Saint John's Wort instead of psychedellic drugs we would not be having this conversation.

Originally posted by -Pr-
Roy Keane
Superman

Nobody else really "inspires" me that much.

If we are allowed to cite fictional characters then I add 'Walker, Texas Ranger'.

My Grandfather
Jesus
Siddhartha Gautama
Superman
Sokrates

I know I'm so kuhl 😛

Originally posted by theICONiac
I'd rather have Colossus Big-C as a role model... 😱

Originally posted by Mindset
That says a lot more about you than it does about me.

That was a joke. 😉

So was mine.

Originally posted by Mindset
So was mine.

😄

K...I'd choose you over Colossus Big-C, but you would definitely lose to muh man Quan.

Originally posted by theICONiac
Perhaps King Kandy will chime in and finally reveal to us why Timothy Leary is his role model and we can put this whole thing behind us!

More than half the people on my list used psychedelic drugs so I can't see why you're picking on him.

Originally posted by King Kandy
I would say I admire him due to his countless contributions to the fields of psychology, championing of human rights as well as his attempts to provide a link between science and religion (including but not limited to research into psychedelic drugs).

More than half the people on my list used psychedelic drugs so I can't see why you're picking on him.

hoover

Timothy Leary is known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs in treatment of mental disorders. He is also known for his use of said drugs.

It was just a question.

Originally posted by inimalist
For instance, his desire to use science as a way of fighting against the state would be a reason he'd be a role model of mine.

That's a pretty good reason to admire him as a role model.

There are probably much better choices, but a psychologist or a student of the mind would find Leary more appealing...just the same as Walter Peyton is a role model of mine due to my interest in football...but there's probably better athletes that were good role models to kids.

Honestly, I think you're being trolled.

Originally posted by dadudemon
Honestly, I think you're being trolled.

🙄

Could also be an honest attempt to understand the perspective of someone who admires one the most controversial figures of the 20th century??

For some reason people here are afraid to engage in discussion that may possibly cast the late, great Mr. Leary in a potentially negative light.

Originally posted by dadudemon
There are probably much better choices, but a psychologist or a student of the mind would find Leary more appealing...

it probably depends on what you mean by better, but I dont know another scientist who has been called the most dangerous man in America.

Julian Assange might be close, but he isn't a scientist... Galelaio I suppose, but those circumstances seem different to me

Originally posted by dadudemon
Honestly, I think you're being trolled.

sym and KK got it worse, but no doubt