Society has always idolized extraordinary men, those who rose above the ordinary and left an indelible mark on history.
Nowadays, social media has distorted the filter through which we grant the title “Influencer.”
Figures like William Wallace, Alexander the Great, and Genghis Khan continue to captivate us because their stories were forged in times of strife, bravery, and ambition.
These men didn’t just seek personal glory; the best among them inspired others to follow a mission that elevated themselves and their entire communities. Their legends have persisted through the ages, passed from fathers to sons, imbuing their names with a mystique reserved for those who shaped history.
Fast forward to today, and we see a troubling shift.
In the age of social media, the aura once reserved for remarkable individuals has been diluted.
Fame is now accessible to anyone with enough controversy, outrage, or clever marketing. This has led to the rise of idolized individuals for reasons that would have baffled past generations. Choosing a healthy role model in this landscape has become a task that demands discernment, research, and critical thinking.
Popularity no longer equates to accomplishment.
Take, for instance, the discussion sparked by a statement comparing President Joe Biden’s perseverance to George Floyd's example.
One social media influencer with over 280,000 followers wrote, “George Floyd would have wanted Joe to keep fighting.” Regardless of intent—whether satirical or serious—the comment reveals a disturbing cultural tendency: replacing traditional role models with figures who gained notoriety by how they died while overlooking how they lived.
It’s worth pausing to ask: Why would we look to George Floyd as a role model?
While his death rightly sparked a global conversation about racial injustice, his personal history—marked by drug use and criminal activity—complicates the idea of using him as a beacon of inspiration.
In what way would Floyd be a good example to use in defense of Joe Biden’s Presidential campaign, if a popular person has a popular opinion, that doesn’t mean it’s right, and more often than not, it means that it’s a message approved by the mainstream media, who (reminder) hates every one of us and wants nothing more than fear and chaos to glue us to their articles and videos.
Floyd’s death undoubtedly catalyzed change, but should we consider him a symbol of the values we wish to impart to the next generation?
Idolizing Floyd in any positive way is reinforcing the notion that Black lives only matter when tied to a tragedy at the hands of the caucasian race rather than celebrating the success and accomplishments of those black individuals who actively uplift their communities.
While George Floyd's tragic death has sparked a much-needed conversation about race and injustice, the use of his name and image as a popular role model is problematic.
All individuals should have their opinions put through the same filter:
Does this make sense?
Does evidence support this?
Have multiple people experienced the same?
Popular people can mentor and guide us toward personal growth and success. I’m not saying that popularity makes one dumb or that you should ignore them, but follower count cannot be conflated with intelligence or that they are more versed in reality than you are. Take your subjectivity out of the equation when looking at messages, and put it all as objectively as possible.
Look at what is happening and not how it makes you feel.
It’s important to understand that individuals you may not choose to follow when it comes to lifestyle may still have value to add to your life.
Two such individuals in my life are the Tate Brothers; these two have been used against me more times than I care to admit.
The charge, “How can you, a family man, support these degenerates?!?” gets thrown in my face every time I share one of their messages.
IDNGAF.
So, Who Do You Follow?
The answer is that whoever causes you to think and is often exposed as telling the truth and living what they preach, as well as those who can show tangible evidence to support their claims - those are the ones you follow, popularity be damned…
When I speak to people and look at what makes a healthy role model, I focus on how those consuming the message respond.
Just like you would watching people eat a berry in the woods - you wait, watch, and see if they taste good, make the person who ate them hallucinate, or if the one who ate them just straight up dies…
Once you observe the product, you decide if you’ll partake.
(Don’t eat the berry after someone dies; reach out for help)
Watching what happens to men after watching and listening to the Tates and others who live a life of notoriety, I’ve seen a more positive response than anything else. This isn’t glazing; I want nothing from them or anyone, but I have learned from them, and that’s something everyone should open themselves up to.
Just because a person’s lifestyle isn’t popular in your circle does not diminish the value the information shared could have for you and your life.
Popular Does NOT Mean Correct
In today's world, toxic behaviors and harmful ideals are often glamorized and promoted. We must consciously choose healthy role models for ourselves and the next generation. We must prioritize individuals who showcase success and the hard work, sacrifices, and lessons learned on their journey.
This is what truly makes a role model worthy of admiration and emulation.
I don’t care if the Tates, Trump, RFK Jr, Robert Downey Jr, Jelly Roll, Eminem, Beyonce, Taylor Swift, any Kardashian, or Elon Musk himself all say that 2+2=5
They are wrong.
We must educate ourselves and our youth on choosing individuals whose messages align with proven truth, not personal feelings.
- Zac Small