Hi there...

I've been asking a few people this question, the reason being that somebody I know who happens to work in schools recently asked a bunch of teenage girls who their role model was. Almost all of them replied things like 'Katie Price, Jade Goody, Paris Hilton' and the like. When asked why, the answers ran along the lines of 'They've got big houses and lots of money, they don't have to do anything...' and all of a sudden the moral panicks about these people being role models for the younger generation become horribly real.

So talking about this with my family, I got far better answers. My Dad, for example, admires Muhammed Ali, for always sticking to what he believed in and doing what was right and not necessarily easy. My sister thought of J.K.Rowling, yes, we're Harry Potter fans, but we all know what she acheived from having almost nothing other than a couple of kids to becoming a bestselling author of an internationally recognised series of books. My brother talked about Lance Armstrong, coming through as many horrible illnesses as can be put upon a man to become a legend in his sport. I even asked Emma, my singer, who right off the bat talked about Joni Mitchell, for the talent she has and her contribution to the arts over a very long period of time.

As for me, I don't know whether any of you listen to Aiden at all, but the lead singer wiL, there's something about him I find encouraging. At the age of 15 he was a complete basket case, in to drugs, alcohol, homeless, and a petty criminal. After being caught several times he was given one last chance by a judge, I forget her name, to sort himself out otherwise he would be put away for a very long time. Too many stories end like that. But wiL got himself cleaned up, started the band, and with a ferocious and pragmatic approach to recording and touring has made a name for them as well. They're on their 4th album now, and even though they're still touring on a shoestring budget in a van, they're still trying... In short, wiL was given a second chance... and took it. I find that hugely inspiring.

So what about you guys, who would you consider your role models to be? I know a lot of you have a few years on me and my friends but a bit of life's experience often makes for some very interesting answers, as this forum proves, so what do you think?

(Incidentally we had Katie Price in signing her book at the Waterstones shop in Merry Hill, over the road from where I work. All joking about having the better looking models/more plastic in Games Workshop and going to give her a hand with the big words aside, the queues were stretching out on to the car parks and the screams of delight were ringing out for the entire morning. I think that day proved that, whatever else she is, Katie Price's job is to be Katie Price. Most of the people in the line were much too young to know what she's actually famous for. And most of them were girls, as well. So yeah. That's the sort of person a large percentage off our young look up to...)

Very thought provoking Matt. I suppose, as a kid growing up in the 60’s my early role models were the likes of Neil Armstrong, Donald Campbell, Bobby Moore and crew and Sir Edmund Hillary. Reasons being, well it’s a media driven thing again. These people were brave leaders that captured the attention of the world.
Then the music thing kicked in and a different element was aspired to, the now great rock legends of Jimmy Page, John Lennon, Phil Lynott, Jimi Hendrix....I could go on. In retrospect most of them weren’t actually “good” role models in a general sense as very few survived the ravages of an alcohol and drug induced existence. So what’s new and should that make a difference? After all, these people were up there because they were sensational musicians and performers.

As I grew older my role models changed from being media stars to just ordinary every day people. My first boss had a huge influence on me, a kind generous man who guided me through the pitfalls of life as a young man, my father in law, the same...Selfless people who inspired me.

As far as the likes of Katie Price, Jade Goody, Paris Hilton go, (to be honest I don't know much about them) are they any different to Tom Daley, Lewis Hamilton, Barack Obama? In terms of media success, then probably not. The fact that youngsters aspire to the first three is frightening especially being the main reason for this is they have big houses, lots of money and don’t have to work?? The deluded, talentless, idiot contestants on X Factor, American Idol etc sum it all up for me in that too many people nowadays see fame and fortune as a some sort of God given right. The media circus has a lot to answer for.

Interestingly, if the conspiracy theorists are correct and all the evidence seems to suggest they are, one of my first childhood heroes has seriously let me down, lol!