Are you a leader or are you led?

1. 57

   mandybeauposted 14 years ago

   I have always been the epitome, of the leader style, I had my own rules, was an over average student, that could have been better, Lead with my fashion styles, rather than follow others, made a few bad decisions, but what teenybopper backt then didn't.
   I was always the loudmouthed kid, rebel without a cause, and could never understand people that took it from others without arguing their opinion.
   What do you guys think you are Leader or Led.
   In many cases it shows in peoples writing. Do you agree.
   The country i am from is like one big alternative School, New Zealand is like no other place, it is exceptionally character building, and gives heaps of opportunities, you wouldn't get elsewhere. For example I built my first house just out of my Teens, house ownership is avauilable to everyone, so I guess that makes a difference too. New Zealand has a lot of Leader type people.

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   1. 59

      goldentoadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Mandy, here in America, we are taught to be followers, to be complete idiots, its easier to control us that way. I mean what kind of country elects GWB, not once but twice? They put corn syrup in all our food products so that we become fat and lazy, so that we are unable to move off the frickin' couch. We can't get off our cell phones, we can't turn off our TVs, we can't turn even log off from our computers, we need to be plugged in 24/7 to the great machine that is watching us, stuffin' us with antidepressants and pills for erectile dysfunction. We are nuttin' but followers, if you speak up, show some character, they sedate you and throw you in a padded room. They give you People magazine to read, and tell you shut-up or go to sleep. You must fit the marketing department's idea of a Good Dumb American, if you don't, they threaten to ship you off to China where they will throw you in the factories with a billion ten year old kids. You will sew those nikes shoes together, you will let your fingers bleed, mutate, until they are just tentacles and if you're lucky, they will let you drink some ginseng tea because they claim it has antioxidants, they want to make sure their slaves live a little longer now.

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      1. 69

         C.Ferreiraposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         We only REALLY elected Bush once...the other time he cheated his way in!
         
         I think that you are right toad. We have been brought up to be followers, but that does not mean we all do. I consider myself a natural leader. In my group of peers, my classmates, and family, I stand out as the "leader of the pack".
         
         You seem pretty angry about the way technology has sucked us in. Maybe you should lead the way and stop spending so much time on your computer, but don't really cause then we wouldn't be able to talk about this stuff online! ;c)

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         1. 59

            goldentoadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            there should never have been a close election, the man barely knew his abc's, and still doesn't, but it reflects upon us the people, the american sheep who turn on fox news and gobble up the words of rush limbaugh and sean hannity, maybe not you and I, but fifty percent of america does, and maybe more. Imagine a hundred year old man was almost considered to be the best choice for america, him and his ex cheerleader hooker, sarah palin, who sings of jesus but gets her freak on behind closed doors, who says whatever the puppetmasters tell her to, come on sarah bat those little eyes a few more times, give us a "that's what america is really about", thumbs up. Stick to calling the dog sled races sarah!
            I readily admit I am on the computer too much, and I eat so much garbage, I have movement damn near three times a day but its all good in the hood, sometime this summer I am going to drink a couple of gallons for prune juice for a week, you'll have to tie a string around me so I don't fly away.

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      2. 57

         mandybeauposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I can see no man molding you in such a fashion goldentoad, you would definitely be Leader material.

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2. 60

   TheMindlessBruteposted 14 years ago

   True freedom is perpetual and unifying,when an entire nation's majority are leaders(free thinkers) then I assume everyone takes notice of any erosion of that freedom.I said that I assume because I live in America,our philisophical,political differences offer a veil behind which our liberty and freedoms are eroding.When one political side has power and control the "followers" for the most part rationalise any increase of the beauracracy and decrease in personal liberty.When the country has had enough we elect the other side and the process begins again.Our schooling system is almost uniformly the opposite of what you describe in New Zealand,it frowns upon character and smiles on uniformity.

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3. 63

   Kelsey Tallisposted 14 years ago

   For me, it depends on my mood and/or the topic at hand. Sometimes I'm happy to lead and take charge. Sometimes I'll follow along just because the already self-designated leader is too damn stupid to be worth arguing with (as long as they aren't completely amoral--in which case I'll just go elsewhere, unless I think my words may have some kind of effect...)
   
   In high school, I would not wear anything that hadn't been in style for at least a year. In college (university for non-Americans) I stopped giving a damn and became... myself.
   
   Frankly, I like "myself" better :-). But I still don't like arguing with morons... which is why I've been avoiding much of the Religion forum for the most part, haha!
   
   PS: Ftr, I am not anti-religion, but I am anti-fanatic... that type of leadership is inhumane and unnecessary (imho).

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4. 58

   Aya_Hajimeposted 14 years ago

   Neither! Guess that makes me a loner or just a major pain in the ass

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   1. 48

      CabinGirlposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Pain in the ass gets my vote !!

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      1. 57

         mandybeauposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Mascara still holding out, probably it has corn syrup in it too lol.

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5. 61

   Lisa HWposted 14 years ago

   Goldentoad, I don't know what part of America you live in - but I'm fairly certain nothing I've eaten in even just the last couple of weeks has had corn syrup in it. 
   
   As an American, I do think there are a lot of followers of people who end up leading for reasons many of us cannot figure out.  At the same time, I have no question that I am a "leader type" (even though, in my living situation, I don't happen to be leading any larger groups of people right now.  I think in America there are a lot of "leaders without followers", because many people won't allow themselves to be followers but aren't out looking to get anyone else to follow them either.
   
   I've always been someone who comes across to others as very "quiet", and yet I often find myself being the one to take on a leadership role.  As a kid, nobody would have guessed that "quiet, little, Lisa" was the ring-leader among the group of friends. I was more the one who always had a cause but pursued it in a quiet way.  So, I'm a leader-type and certainly not a follower-type.  (Goldentoad, as an American, I can tell Mandy that we all don't stay on the couch, watch tv, stay on cell phones, etc. and live on anti-depressants.  None of the Americans I know in my "circle" do any of those things.)

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   1. 59

      goldentoadposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I wasn't speaking literally but if that's the way you wanna call it, fine. You must be living in a hippie commune if you have no corn filler in your food, check your pantry, tell me what you see. Call your friends, ask them for the truth, have them reveal what is in their medicine cabinet but you'll find out America thrives on sick people, it great business as they say, or maybe you're right, in your circle none of that exists. And I wish I lived in Mr. Roger's neighborhood too.

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6. 60

   TheMindlessBruteposted 14 years ago

   Let's not forget the 1 out of 6 elementary aged school kids that are now prescribed medications for A.D.D./A.D.H.D in the states.I went through this with my son,who I've taught to be independent and I spent years fighting the school system that was tryig to "medicate" him.Even the benefits of natural vitamins and minerals will be under assault soon,next year Codex Alimentarius goes into effect here in the states,the non followers tried to resist our involvement in the W.T.O(World Trade Organisation)in 1999,what ensued is now commonly referred to as the Battle in Seattle,which was later made into a movie:
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdRlOfNI … re=related
   
   They failed and the silence of the lambs haunts me still,next year Codex Alimentarius(W.T.O) goes into affect and even Green Tea is covered by that.The music chosen for that clip above is from Beethoven who is one of the first musicians to rage against the machine(Napoleon),a perfectly chosen symphony as the sun sets on our liberty.

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7. 57

   Mrvoodooposted 14 years ago

   Was your question: 'are you a GOOD leader?' or 'do you like to lead?'  Because in my experience the two things are not necessarily the same.
   
   Many people think that they are 'natural' leaders, but that doesn't mean that anybody else would choose to follow them.
   
   On a day to day basis I tend to be a follower, mainly because I find that others around me tend to enjoy their chance to impress others so much more than I do, it's like giving kids candy, their little faces just light right up.

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8. 48

   CabinGirlposted 14 years ago

   I guess I am too easily lead, I hope I spelt that right I am really silly

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9. 0

   Leta Sposted 14 years ago

   Oh, take a guess... 

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10. 60

    lbtraderposted 14 years ago

    Are you a leader or are you led?
    
    I'm the best leader i can find in a flock of ONE!!!

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11. 60

    Murilionposted 14 years ago

    both is no different to me,all leader means serving,and that what lead means for isnt it to serve"only stupid people who think "leader mean can kill your own people that you dont like to

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    1. 57

       mandybeauposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I am now totally confused.

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       1. 0

          Leta Sposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          (Mainly, I have to bury my little corporate rant on the business forum, lol.)
          
          He/she is saying leadership is not about having power over other people.  Only fools and brutes think like that.  Leadership is about serving others; serving as an example for others.

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          1. 57

             mandybeauposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Thanks Lita for the translation, You have been busy on the Forums, cold over here its freezing I can hardly find the keys.

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12. 59

    Pete Maidaposted 14 years ago

    In martial arts we have a saying, "Bow to the Sensei."  This means that you should listen to the person that has the most knowledge and experience on a subject.  You lead when it is your turn to lead and you follow when some else knows the way.  I was only a follower until I receive my black belt.  Since then I've learned that I can be a leader and at times I am the Sensei.

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13. 57

    mandybeauposted 14 years ago

    All the martial arts have this philosophy, however this is a taught or instructed influence, what I wanted to know was how did you start off. As a leader or a led, that is without the influence of Gatka, Rembuden, Tai Kwon Do Zen do Kai anything.

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    1. 59

       Pete Maidaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I started off as a follower with not enough confidence in my own ability to lead.  Growing through Tang Soo Do martial arts and receiving my black belt showed me that I that I can lead.  I have something to teach others and it is not just martial arts.

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14. 67

    Anamika Sposted 14 years ago

    I like to lead than be lead.

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    1. 57

       mandybeauposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Good to hear.

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15. 60

    logic,commonsenseposted 14 years ago

    Leaders do not need to validate whether they are leaders or not.  They just are.

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    1. 59

       Pete Maidaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I guess that means no leader in history started out tentative about their abilities.  I guess I find that hard to believe.

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