smac wrote:And I expect we will hear the usual "role model" tripe in the press, particular from the dynamic duo this afternoon. Growing up, my role model was my father - and I am my sons role model (hopefully a good one!).
If a kid needs a stranger to be their role model then the parents need a kick in the arse.
I know what you are saying and can agree to an extent. I don't know how old you are, but if you are like me, you grew up in an era where you saw more of your parents, and knew more about them, than you did of your favourite football star. All I really knew about Peter Hudson was how well he could play footy.
However, today's kids have working parents who wouldn't be able to find a lot of time to kick the ball around with their kids, and the evening meal at the dinner table rarely happens these days. Football is like a soap opera with media attention 168 hours a week, and kids are learning more about the lifestyles of the sporting heros they wish to emulate.
Kids don't want to be "just like dad" and work in an officer 60 hours per week for a decent wage, they prefer the hollywood style lives of AFL footballers who are paid big bucks and not having to be held accountable for their actions.
As sad as it may sound to the likes of you and me, these footballers ARE role models to society whether they want to be or not. In my youth, we saw the police as the most powerful authority figure in our society. I am willing to bet that kids today look on the AFL as more powerful authorities than the law. If they see the AFL handing out Claytons punishment to recalcitrant players for acts of thuggery, public indecency, etc, their subconscious will tell them that brawling in public places, drunkedness, drug taking, etc are acceptable in society.
It's not just parents who need a kick in the arse, it's everyone in today's society for being way too tolerant of anti-social behaviour.