Comments on: Observing role models is better than mimicking them

By: Things to Avoid - Drooling Over A-Listers » Reader Appreciation Project

Things to Avoid - Drooling Over A-Listers » Reader Appreciation Project — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 23:13:59 +0000

[...] People who follow others online without thinking have the tendency to do the same in the offline life because they probably have personal issues. They cannot express themselves, and they want attention and approval from someone. If they disagree with someone, they feel secluded, since their happiness revolves around the concept of sucking up and keeping someone famous happy. These people do not realize that observing role models is better than mimicking them. [...]

By: Are your reactions based on how others react? at The Reasoner

Are your reactions based on how others react? at The Reasoner — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:30:48 +0000

[...] or someone. Even if the people you respect or idolize react in a specific way to something, try to learn by observing and analyzing instead of copying those people and reacting in the same exact [...]

By: Site updates : new logo, shorter name, updated links and related content - v 0.94 at The Reasoner

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 22:58:23 +0000

[...] that way and more appropriate. I thought about this change because of what I wrote before about doing things simply because others did it. Please let me know what you [...]

By: Bes

Bes — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 19:30:52 +0000

Thanks for that comment Sil. I see now what you mean. Non-blogging context; that’s very interesting. Yes, you can look at the post that way too.
Thanks again. I really appreciate your time reading and commenting on this. I will try to be clearer in my future posts and write them in a more non-blog context also, as that would be better too.

By: Sil

Sil — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 01:34:11 +0000

“Does that make sense?” Yes it does. My comment post was a response to “you have to be you in order to develop your own icon and model that others can look up to.” At first that sounded liked another just-be-yourself quicky. But rereading your entire post, I can see now that you are basically breaking down the “be yourself” into practical advice - learn from others, evolve from them and your mistakes to become original, etc. (since I’m not an avid reader of blogs, I did read your post in a non-blogging context)

By: Bes

Bes — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 14:36:51 +0000

Hi Sil. Thanks for the comment. You bring up an important point: hearing the same thing again and again. I apologize if my post was confusing or unclear. I was talking about being yourself when it comes to handling your blog and your posts, and the way one expresses themselves through it. Also, what I meant was that you have to set your own standards of success and follow them.

Your example of someone growing up to become an artist [I like that profession] or a “weird” job is a nice example. The words are said repeatedly because very few people actually try to be themselves. Also, saying the same thing again and again may sound verbatim. However, that may not mean one is doing what everyone else is doing, since one also offers their own version and reasoning as to why they believe in something that others believe in too. Otherwise, even using a blog and English letters to write any post makes me a person who is doing what everyone else is doing. Does that make sense?

Thanks for letting me know what you think. I really appreciate it, as it helps me further refine my future posts on this topic.

By: Sil

Sil — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:08:34 +0000

“Be yourself”? Sorry but this phrase is so overused that’s it’s lost all meaning for me. I’ve come to realize that if my “myself” is not up to the same standards as someone else’s “myself”, I will not be accepted by them. If I tell someone my what my life choices are or career choices, or if I show them how I dress, the “be yourself” “choice” won’t work with most people. Example: Those who want to grow up to become artists/or another weird job. And you don’t need a verbal cue to get it (depending on the case), visual cues are enough.

Whenever I read or hear someone (especially a stranger giving advice) saying the same old “be yourself”, it feels like the same old recycled words I heard when growing up. People keep saying it because it’s never seemed to fix anything over time. It hasn’t evolved. This blog entry (an interesting read I must say) is about being original, and not copying others, but so many times, I feel I’m reading the same thing over and over.

By: Bes

Bes — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:25:19 +0000

Maki, thanks so much for the nice words regarding that page. Your comment is really encouraging. I am glad you enjoyed reading that page.

By: Maki

Maki — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:41:16 +0000

Hi Bes,

Don’t get me wrong. I love your About Page! The length and detail makes it very easy for readers to learn more about the person behind the blog.

I think all readers will appreciate your candidness and actually will like reading more about your personal life and interests. I enjoyed it myself and I think you don’t have to change it. It’s great!

By: Bes

Bes — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:36:04 +0000

Maki, thanks for the comment, I really appreciate it.

I thought for a while over your use of the word “entirely” and I think I agree; being “entirely” unique isn’t necessary when one wants to be successful.

As for my About page, thank you. I think I may go around and look for ways to shorten it because of you finding it among the top 3 longest About Me pages out there. Maybe that is a good thing?

By: Maki

Maki — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 23:27:15 +0000

I don’t think that anyone effective and successful must be entirely unique. However, I do understand where you’re coming from about how one should develop and become familiar with his or her own personality and goals.

I checked out your About page. I think it’s maybe second or third longest About Me page I’ve seen.

Well written and covers a lot of ground that should be covered. Great job, Bez !

By: Reader Tips: 18 February 2007

Reader Tips: 18 February 2007 — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:27:56 +0000

[...] Observing is better than mimicking â€“ How to learn from role models (The Reasoner) [...]

By: Bes

Bes — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 04:31:44 +0000

Vera, thanks. Also, that’s good to know. Now is the time to enjoy the time. You should get G2 [I am assuming you are talking about menalto Gallery?] before you become more busy, heh.
Chau, no problem. Yes, doing your own work is better since that way you will feel more motivated and will not give up on your efforts easily. You are right about a lot of people seeing something nice, picking it and then using it themselves.

Nicole, you have an excellent point there. Being ourselves “should require no effort.” The effort will probably be put on the task of making sure our readers understand us, right? You are right about everything being influenced in one way or the other by many other things and factors.

It’s interesting to know that you don’t look at your hits and track them to see how your blog is doing. Many bloggers focus more on stats than their content everyday, since their focus is not on producing good content for their readers but having more traffic. It makes sense, don’t worry.