Do you think popularity is a measure of success in any way?

1. 72

   donnaisabellaposted 12 years ago

   Do you think popularity is a measure of success in any way?
   
   In media and popularity driven culture, we begin to admire the people the media tells us to admire. We want to be like them and even learn from them. I do not really have any problems with the media, but do you think that is how we should be living our lives? How easy is it to be a self defined person that will not be dictated to by pop culture or the expectations of others?

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2. 81

   EuroCafeAuLaitposted 12 years ago

   Yes and no.  If lots of people think you're cool then you are, right?  I think "follow your own heart".  I respect everyone but have to live with myself, so best to live how I think best.  The media is just a mirror - it attracts light here, it attracts light there.  So many movies from the 1980s - the actors have disappeared completely!  I think respect is a better goal - first, self respect, then respecting others, and then finally, being respected by others, even if our views and opinions on certain topics vary.

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3. 68

   ptosisposted 12 years ago

   
   
   Name one successful person who was unpopular - who are you gonna pick - Nietzsche? Donald Trump?
   
   Hmmm - I guess the answer is no.

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4. 41

   alisha4uposted 12 years ago

   No, because sometimes you get popular for negative reasons too...

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5. 60

   smzclarkposted 12 years ago

   In high school the least successful tend to be the more 'popular' ones in my experience.
   
   And the popularity measure you speak of; the media; is not a measure of popuarity at all. In my opinion These people who are famous don't tend to be any more popular when it comes to close friends or likeability within their families. They are just as popular as the rest of us where it really matters.
   
   I think most people grow out of wanting to be like the ones you speak of above. Often I feel bad for them. I would hate to have my picture in every magazine and newspaper just because I was spotted crying!
   
   Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Stephen Gately and many more have all proven that it's not what it's made out to be.
   
   Popularity is measured on how well-liked a person is and I don't think these stars are anymore liked than we are when it comes down to the crunch. Well known, but no more 'liked'.

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6. 82

   kwade tweelingposted 12 years ago

   Popularity is not the only measure of success. Just one of them. We are social beings and we pay close attention to others to evaluate them and try to be like those we admire.
   
   As for your other two questions:
   
   No, I do not think that is how we should live our lives.
   
   Some personalities have a very hard time breaking away from what others think. And that is their way, I wouldn't dream of changing them. Others hardly care what people think of them. So in the end, it is as easy as you will let it be.

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7. 61

   justincayceposted 12 years ago

   Your dichotomy is that you ask how you can be a self-defined person who will not be dictated to by culture and other peoples expectations yet you also say that we...  (this "we" pronoun you used means you includes "you")   ...we want to be like them.
   
   Well the bitter truth (truth can be detected by its bitterness) is that the more you are like "them" the less you are like "you". So you should never admire people that the media wants you to admire. You should also never compare yourself with them. In fact you should try to entirely avoid judging and comparing people. People are incomparable.
   
   But it's not easy to be a "self-defining person" when we all need a little recognition on occasion, or a lot - depending on the size of our ego. I'm not saying ego is negative, we all have one and it's often useful. But the age-old advice "Be Yourself." is boring - but true. You really can't be anyone else without being fake. But if you badly crave appreciation you have to follow the fashion and conform to the culture. So we sell more or less of our precious freedom ( of mind, heart and soul) to be liked, appreciated or adored.
   
   You really can't be like anyone else without being a bit fake.

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8. 60

   Dave Mathewsposted 12 years ago

   NO! definitely not. I am not here to win any popularity contest, as a matter of fact just the opposite.

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9. 60

   Cassinassieposted 12 years ago

   I think the real question is 'what is your definition of success?'
   For some, being surrounded by friends or adoring fans is how they know they've been successful.  For others it may be owning a house and having a family, for still others it might be reaching the top of their career field. 
   But it is hard to measure when you don't know what you're measuring.

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10. 60

    simosad1posted 11 years ago

    yes it is
    being successful means that you do something for your community
    or you do something unique or ...... and people will say "his is the guy or she is the girl  who......"
    hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    this what makes  popular  a measure of success.

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