King Boonen said:
The fact that this discussion and many like it, along with comments on his facebook 'apology', are on going just goes to prove many people can't make the distinction between genius rider but total @rsehole.
I thought it was rather clear that such behaviour is generally rejected .. despite his harmless and goofyness intention.
It's not that this makes him an @sshole, it's the action itself that is rejected, my example was just an analogy. (If most of your actions are like that you'll likely be considered an @sshole).
He is in no way a role model based on his moral grounds, nor should he be, that's not his function, that's for parents, family and teachers. This is clearly ment by the role model argument which I refute .. you try to generalize this which is wrong imo. Just because you are a role model for the success you achieved (being a good cyclist) doesn't mean you can invoke this as an argument when you do something bad.
Saying public/famous figures are automatically held role models in every sense of the word is wrong. Saying by the moment they sign a contract they are held accountable as a role model is wrong. I don't think it's in their contract for starters. I also watch athletes for their performances, not the moral guidance they may offer, that clearly isn't their job description.
Someone can aspire to be as/or be more successful than another. This doesn't mean they're automatically a role model. Yes you can be a role model on certain parameters (success, tactics, skills), yet most of the time you can perfectly filter out the bad ones. This to me indicates you don't need to invoke the role model argument as I ment earlier.
Think I'll leave it at that, if you want to make all these famous ppl role models just because they're famous do as you want, judging by their actions they clearly don't feel like it and I can't disagree with them. I hope I will raise my children good enough so they don't need a role model like Sagan or Nicky Minaj to tell them good from wrong. I would have clearly failed!