Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People

[ms-nietzsche]

Oh really...I wouldn't make such sweeping generalizations

Maybe it's just people I went to high school with then

 

[American Aries]

Oh really...I wouldn't make such sweeping generalizations

Well, only 25% of American adults got passing grades in economic classes during school, so it's not such a sweeping generalization. (Source is AP)

 

[Erin]

^ That's crazy...

Well, all I can say is that I passed economics with flying colors.

And I hope this doesn't turn into an Americans are stupid thing... ... that comes up one in a while w/ lists like these...

But I do agree, our schooling system needs a huge makeover. It's quite sad. But that's off-topic, so excuse me.

 

[kurt vonnegut]

Maybe it's just people I went to high school with then

oh no, my high school was exactly the same, i would say in a school of 2000 people maybe 200, 10%, knew who ben bernanke was.

 

[Bahiyya]

influential is being able to change the way people perceive something, and i dont think they can do that without knowing who you are or what you do. This especially applies to the categories that many of us know of. I think hey made a most powerful not most influential list

Huh? That doesn't make any sense. There have been untold philosophers and scientists throughout the centuries who have influenced the way countries now run governments and scientists conduct research and I bet every participant in this thread (including myself) could probably only mention five predictable names (like Einstein or something).

Just off the top of my head there have been radical changes in how people view depression and how it was treated from years ago but can anyone name the person/s who identified serotonin and its function? Three guesses. Until recently India had been said to be enjoying the benefits of a "green revolution" -- can you name the person/s or group who started this? Or an easy one -- who's the scientist who mapped the full human genome and arguably helped to make biochemistry a lucrative field?

Of course one's views can be changed without knowing who started it -- they trickle down to the wider community through a variety of sources. it would be unrealistic to expect anything else, IMO.

 

[silviegoeswild]

I honestly don't understand why Miley Cyrus and Mariah Carey are on this list. What have have they done to contribute to society?

 

[Nemova]

I think it's just revolting that they put Vladimir Putin and Evo Morales on the list, no matter how influential they might be (and I know that - unfortunately - they are).

 

[eternitygoddess]

^why revolting?

Influential doesn't necessarily mean good influence.

 

[Bahiyya]

^Yes, didn't Times mag make him Person of the Year recently? And they've done it for Osama (I think) and Hitler back in the day (I think).

 

[MissMagAddict]

^Yes, didn't Times mag make him Person of the Year recently? And they've done it for Osama (I think) and Hitler back in the day (I think).

Yes Putin was Person of the Year for 2007
Hitler was Man of the Year for 1938
Osama hasn't been

Time's choice is always a Man Woman or Idea for better or worse.

 

[Bahiyya]

^ Ah, ok, thanks for the confirmations and corrections .

 

[Nemova]

^why revolting?

Influential doesn't necessarily mean good influence.

Exactly. But it's still revolting, from a humanitarian and democratic point of view.

 

[MissMagAddict]

"I don't know why they did that. I have never done anything for humanity." ~Karl Lagerfeld to Vanity Fair, on his Time 100 Most Influential People award.

 

[Nemova]

^

 

[Bahiyya]

Best response ever. Karl, you're the best.

 

[KKnardi]

why is pattsy stone not on the list?