person of the year

tritium

Since the year is rapidly running down I thought it might be useful to, in the spirit of Time magazine, have a TGC Person of the Year from a male perspective (hopefully we can avoid some of Times more unfortunate winners)

So with that in mind, who is the person (or group) who has had the greatest impact on humanity this year. Ideally their impact should have a positive impact also on the image of men in society or provide some positive future contribution for young men and boys.

My opening nominee (shamelessly current and not uncontroversial): The ESAs Rosetta lander project. Moving beyond the nonsense about the shirt, this is possibly the greatest scientific feat of this generation. Science is suddenly cool again (maybe it always was). Because of the controversy about that shirt, notwithstanding the significant contribution by others of every gender, the face of the project is a male uber casual real life rocket scientist. Surely a win for young boys perception of science in a world that often seems to want them to feel guilty that men dominate this discipline.

Saipanne

But Time don't necessarily have to have a "positive" nominee, do they? So this is hardly in the same spirit.

Also, how is that project a '"person"?

tritium

Saipanne wrote: »

But Time don't necessarily have to have a "positive" nominee, do they? So this is hardly in the same spirit.

Also, how is that project a '"person"?

Um I said person or group, I nominated a group, seems pretty obvious.....

Its in the spirit because its person of the year. If I used exact same criteria it would just be an exact copy. Seems pretty obvious....

Saipanne

tritium wrote: »

Um I said person or group, I nominated a group, seems pretty obvious.....

Its in the spirit because its person of the year. If I used exact same criteria it would just be an exact copy. Seems pretty obvious....

I nominate Islamic State. Can't think of a single person/group that has had a larger impact on the world in 2014.

tritium

Saipanne wrote: »

I nominate Islamic State. Can't think of a single person/group that has had a larger impact on the world in 2014.

Controversial, definitely sidestepped the following:
"Ideally their impact should have a positive impact also on the image of men in society or provide some positive future contribution for young men and boys."

Saipanne

tritium wrote: »

Controversial, definitely sidestepped the following:
"Ideally their impact should have a positive impact also on the image of men in society or provide some positive future contribution for young men and boys."

You said ideally. I presumed that provided some scope for negative things, if deemed significant. Also, the inclusion of IS is anything but controversial, if we are keeping in the spirit of Time Magazine. No one can deny their impact in 2014. They dominated the headlines. Changed the geo politics of an entire region. Brought crystallisation to the meaning of jihad. They are certainly up there.

tritium

Saipanne wrote: »

You said ideally. I presumed that provided some scope for negative things, if deemed significant. Also, the inclusion of IS is anything but controversial, if we are keeping in the spirit of Time Magazine. No one can deny their impact in 2014. They dominated the headlines. Changed the geo politics of an entire region. Brought crystallisation to the meaning of jihad. They are certainly up there.

Well there goes the possibility of a remotely positive thread.....

Saipanne

tritium wrote: »

Well there goes the possibility of a remotely positive thread.....

Now you're just being melodramatic. I'm not stopping others from posting positive things. I've already made my case.

Manach

Given his role in raising of public awareness of his institution and of his championing of marriage and societal concerns such as poverty and immigration over the past year: Pope Francis.

Zascar

Edward Snowdon - he gave up his life and risks life in prison to expose some of the shocking tactics the US are using for mass surveillance.

D'Agger

Zascar wrote: »

Edward Snowdon - he gave up his life and risks life in prison to expose some of the shocking tactics the US are using for mass surveillance.

Whilst Snowden is still relevant - he released the documents in 2013

With regard to positive impacts - I have been impressed massively with Pope Francis however I think he's just being realistic about the Churches situation right now - people are choosing to have faith in themselves and others than in higher powers of late.

skallywag

I would like to nominate the Brazilian football team and in particular their national and international humiliation at the hands of Germany in the semi-final of the World Cup. For me this event was indicative of how easily a global icon can fall from grace in the face of unrealistic expectation.

ongarboy

If we are going to follow the TIME model, then it really relates to most influential person or group (for better or for worse) and I also agree that IS was the entity that had most impact on the world, global politics, peace and security, and men in 2014.

I could list many positive people or groups that have done amazing and wonderful things in 2014 but unfortunately, they have not had the same far reaching impact or influence that IS has had this year.

tritium

ongarboy wrote: »

If we are going to follow the TIME model, then it really relates to most influential person or group (for better or for worse) and I also agree that IS was the entity that had most impact on the world, global politics, peace and security, and men in 2014.

I could list many positive people or groups that have done amazing and wonderful things in 2014 but unfortunately, they have not had the same far reaching impact or influence that IS has had this year.

OK so IS and pope Francis in the lead (I think) Is there anyway I can add a poll for the nominees.

(On reflection I guess IS do have a a pretty big influence in the perception of men in society, just not a very positive influence....)

Galwayguy35

I'm going to say Bob Geldof, he speaks his mind regardless of what people think and in the same year as he lost his daughter decides to raise money to fight ebola.

RDM_83 again

A water meter

Serious recommendation would have been Putin but he's already had a cover :-/ which blows my idea of using him as an interesting example of how portraying an aggressively (some would say comical) masculine persona can be an electoral tool.

So its the the user who started the "my wife is dying of cancer" thread, thankfully not had to deal with a situation like that personally but its nice to see Boards being used as a positive tool, particularly with the stereotypical mens response of bottling stuff up. (obviously an extremely local impact but I'm sure there is many things like this showing how the internet discussion can be a positive)

Hazys

If it was only for impact in Ireland, I would pick this guy:



Basically a nobody to most coming into 2014, he'll leave 2014 as arguably Ireland's biggest sporting athlete and personality. Well dressed, phenomenal athlete, inspiring and motivating speaker, witty and funny, a little rough around the edges but a great ambassador to Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXitGBLAcoo

D'Agger

McGregor's not a bad call but his roughness around the edges is beginning to show lately - personally think some of what he's said lately have been taking things too far

Certainly would win most ambitious person of the year - his progress is nothing short of astounding. It's one thing to talk it but he's backed it up consistently so far

keane2097

A bad year for humanity going by this thread, a heap of bigots of various flavours and a loud mouthed pleb.

D'Agger

keane2097 wrote: »

A bad year for humanity going by this thread, a heap of bigots of various flavours and a loud mouthed pleb.

Any suggestions Keano? The thread is only going to be as good as the content offered by posters

keane2097

D'Agger wrote: »

Any suggestions Keano? The thread is only going to be as good as the content offered by posters

None, that's what I'm saying. The Rosetta team are by a mile the best of the bunch put forward so far, but realistically the answer is clearly IS unfortunately.

2014 has been a fairly bleh year I guess.

keane2097

I do like the idea of Bob Geldof winning as a reward for his 30 years of patronising the billion odd Christians in Africa.

Letting us all know ebola is a thing at the same time as letting all of them know when Christmas is on is pretty impressive. And they say men can't multitask...

walshb

Is Geldof being included here some sort of joke?

Edit: The whole thing is a joke. I need to slow down...

Starokan

I must also choose ISIS, an appalling outfit but their impact globally has been pretty astounding.

I'm still trying to figure out how they actually managed to gain so much territory.

Richard Hillman

We will feel the impact of the Rosetta project in future generations. One of the greatest risks to humanity is being hit by an asteroid or comet. Isis on the other hand, even if they succeed and turn the world into a Sharia Law paradise, they will only eventually be wiped out by an asteroid or a comet.

ISIS will be forgotten about eventually. The Rosetta wont be.

But if we were to measure by the dominance of how much they made the news in the year of 2014, its gotta be ISIS.

tritium

So its looking like too close to call between ESA and IS with Ed Snowden not out of the running yet! Interesting takes on the impact IS have had-even though from a military point of view they haven't really been that spectacular (nor to say they haven't gained a lot of territory), their ability to make the headlines is undeniable. Still sticking with ESA myself though- what they achieved is just astonishing.

Pawwed Rig

From an Irish perspective we could put Gerry Adams in there. Leader of a party that went from zero to arguably the biggest party in the State along with the murkiness of his past that is constantly coming to light.

DEFTLEFTHAND

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

From an Irish perspective we could put Gerry Adams in there. Leader of a party that went from zero to arguably the biggest party in the State along with the murkiness of his past that is constantly coming to light.

On what populist fluff economics? Don't pay much heed to opinion polls, if it comes to it both FG and FF will do whatever it takes to keep that crowd out, even if it means going into government together and risking what could come if they were to fail.

Pawwed Rig

DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »

On what populist fluff economics

People are buying their nonsense. They are in the right place at the right time

skallywag

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

People are buying their nonsense. They are in the right place at the right time

Dead right. The constant bashing they are getting in the media, particularly in the Indo, is only playing into their hands as well, which is quite ironic.

Fate Amenable To Change

Starokan wrote: »

I must also choose ISIS, an appalling outfit but their impact globally has been pretty astounding.

I'm still trying to figure out how they actually managed to gain so much territory.

Apparently they've got some serious funding behind them from oil countries.

Saipanne

Fate Amenable To Change wrote: »

Apparently they've got some serious funding behind them from oil countries.

The Wikipedia areicle is quite detailed

skallywag

Starokan wrote: »

I'm still trying to figure out how they actually managed to gain so much territory.

It seems that the Iraqi defence forces are completely incompetent and have given up without even trying to put up any resistance in many cases. Also, there is little or no cohesive government, not to mention a strong leader who the nation can unite behind. Just goes to show that sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for, it might be better in the mid to long term to deal with the devil you know ...