TheModernApe's video: Why you should follow good ideas rather than good role models

Have you ever noticed how common ideas are? They’re everywhere. Your mind is constantly feeding you ideas. Your friends are as well. And now that we live in the information age, we are bombarded with ideas from the moment we wake up, to the second we fall asleep. But one problem we’ve always had, is deciding which ideas are good and which are bad. This is a difficult problem to solve and our newest technologies seem to be creating novel challenges that make it harder to distinguish truth from fiction. Although it’s been tremendously helpful as well, modern technology, has allowed information to spread at the speed of light, influencing the minds of billions, and all without distinguishing whether or not the information is factual. Needless to say, this is not something we have dealt with in the past and its consequences could be an absolute catastrophe for those who consume any form of media. A common technique used to circumvent the difficulties of having to decide what to believe and how to act, is that of adopting a role model. Someone who’s behavior seems exemplary and whose morality is clearly superior to that of the average person. But there are problems that arise from following the example of a role model. To take on a role model, is not only to take up the best of their characteristics, but also the worst. Blindly following someone means blindly following their ideas and often without even a hint of skepticism. Anyone who takes up this sort of a task, might soon find themselves behaving in an almost cult like manner. Thus the age old cliché still holds it’s purpose “think for yourself”. Now you might say, couldn’t I just adopt the role model and reject the negative ideas they have. Yes you can, but if that’s the case then why bother with the role model at all. You might as well just take on a series of good ideas without resorting to unhealthy fanaticism towards another person. Your heroes will always disappoint if you put them on a pedistool. How can reality ever hope to compete with your imagined perceptions of how others are? This is not to say that we should not appreciate the great accomplishments others have done. It’s just a reminder that you shouldn’t believe that a person “is” their accomplishments. You are not your accomplishments, they are just a part of the bright side, of what you have done. So it might just be better to rigorously test ideas and adopt them, rather than adopting role models and all the baggage that comes with them. But don’t listen to me, I’m just some dude on the internet. If you enjoyed this video please feel free to subscribe. TheModernApe The Modern Ape