[Closed] So who inspires you?

Steven Gerrard, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, JLS, Take That.

Jesus...

the wife

Fred West

Vincent Van Gogh

Ernest Shackleton.
No matter how bad the situation, never give up.

Thor Heyerdahl
While everyone else was discussing whether it could, or couldn't be done, he did it.

My 3 kids
Seneca
Nassim Taleb
Tim Ferriss
Baby Robins

David Cameron

[Edit] Actually I think 'incites' is the correct term with him [Edit]

Kublai Khan

Cheryl Cole inspires me to get up in the morning

Pep Guardiola
Ricardo Semler
Owain Glyndwr.

I honestly have no idea - is that good or bad?!

I have musical inspirations which affect my guitar playing style, but no "life" inspirations.

Ghengis Khan.

Amir Khan

Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Mr Khan Community Leader

Lol @ Elfin

Mr Khan, community leader is my hero, King Khan!

I think we need a forum leader, you know, someone to lead the forum... a forum leader, a leader of the forum if you will.

What is involve job for Forum Leader? Leading Forum?

Yes that's right they'll lead the forum. We'll call them the Forum Leader!

I will follow

I can be Forum Leader. Everybody know me. I am leading Forum.

What is involve job for Forum Leader?

The job involves explaining very complicated things in an 'easy to understand' manner.

For example, as seen 1.40 mins into this video :

uchyych... that's one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time!

Thank you! 😆

Anyway time to lead this Forum back to what would otherwise be an interesting thread if it weren't for people being silly. 🙄

Personally, I'm more inspired by people I meet, than by historical figures/celebrities. Because I spose there's a more realistic sort of chance you can follow their example. And they can praps help you directly, show you their skills and that. You see the real person, not just the myth.

Of famous people, I spose yer Ghandi, Aneurin Bevan, Mother Theresa, people that dedicated their lives to help others, and promote causes they believed in.

Anyone who is willing to give their life to defend freedom, justice and equality.

Elfinsafety, not having a dig at you, but that looks like a pretty much stock list of "inspirational" people.
What have [b]you[/b] ever done that was inspired by one of them.

When I'm fed up and can't be bothered to do something, I often think "What would Shackleton do" and suddenly it doesn't seem so impossible.

While other people are talking about veganism and how you can or can't do this that or the other on a vegan diet, I'm out on my bike doing it. Not on the same scale as Heyerdahl, but the inspiration's there.

if it weren't for people being silly

And you think Woppit, of all people, claiming to be inspired by Christopher Hitchens, an unrepentant Trot, is conducive to being sensible ?

Elfinsafety, not having a dig at you, but that looks like a pretty much stock list of "inspirational" people.
What have you ever done that was inspired by one of them.

Well, this is why I feel that I'm 'inspired' more by people I meet in 'real life'. With the examples I've given, I admire what they achieved, and the way they dedicated much of their energies to doing good things for others. I try to help others wherever possible, and lend my own talents and abilities when I can. Personally I feel that those three I've mentioned are more inspirational to me personally than Shackleton or Heyerdahl. Shackleton was someone who was driven by his own interests. Yeah, great sense of adventure, and a will to overcome adversity, but not all that inspirational to me.

We're all different, innit? I dare say there's some on here who have been inspired by That Woman. Takes all sorts....

Henry David Thoreau, Keith Bontrager, William Wordsworth, Basho, David Lynch, Cormac McCarthy, Edward Abbey, Björk.

Funny, I was thinking about Bjørk; a very unique and individualistic artist. Always done her own thing, not sold out to mainstream ideas just to 'fit in'. Pushed boundaries, tried lots of new things. Got a fair amount of flak for it, but that hasn't deterred her. Yeah, I like Bjørk.

[Heavy]Anyone I have ever seen in paper/on TV talk about how near death has caused them to re-evaluate whats important in life. They usually share common themes. I dont want to have to face early death to learn these same lessons.[/Heavy]

On a much lighter note... Micheal Palin, Bill Hicks, Thom Yorke, Rafa Benitez 🙂

I would like someone to mention Lord Coe so that Flashy and The New Forum Leader can have another, er, 'debate'. 😀

Lord Coe

ernie_lynch - Member

if it weren't for people being silly

And you think Woppit, of all people, claiming to be inspired by Christopher Hitchens, an unrepentant Trot, is conducive to being sensible ?

1: His book, "God is not great: How religion poisons everything".

2: His expose of the execrable "Mother Theresa" and all she represents.

3: His enlivening and amusing debates with various silly theists, available on Youtube.

4: His current writings and interviews regarding his imminent death from cancer, including the recent TV interview with Paxman.

his debate with Blair is on Radio 4 at 8 pm tonight Woppit

I would like someone to mention Lord Coe so that Flashy and The New Forum Leader can have another, er, 'debate'.

I am Forum Leader; I lead Forum. 😀

His expose of the execrable "Mother Theresa" and all she represents.

Maybe when he's spent most of his life helping the poor, sick and needy around the World, he can feel qualified to criticise. 😕

No one.

Shatner

I'm not really inspired by any public figures, however there are quite a few stories from "ordinary people" on the crazy guy on a bike site that hopefully will inspire me to do something similar one day.

1: His book,....

2: His expose of ......

3: His enlivening and amusing debates ........

4: His current writings and interviews ......

Yes, but he still claims to be a Trot.........I had no idea that counted for so little to you.

💡 Maybe he can inspire you to read some of Leon Trotsky's writings ? According to Hitchens it will 'make the hairs on your neck stand up'.

I don't think I've ever even briefly considered taking inspiration from a celebrity.. living or dead.. not even an historical or fictional one.. maybe that's where I've been going wrong all these years..

Friends and family and ordinary people that I've met are always my inspiration..

Shatner

Seems a bit harsh, you may not have like Mother Theresa, but maybe a quiet word may have been more appropriate.

For me, inspiration has come from 3 ground-breaking rebels

Muhammed Ali - In the field of Sport and Civil rights
John Pilger - In the field of journalism and supporting political freedom
King Cn[i]u[/i]t - In the field of Religious understanding and Internet Forum filter avoidance

Maybe when he's spent most of his life helping the poor, sick and needy around the World, he can feel qualified to criticise.

Not a friend to the poor, more a friend of poverty! Keeping the poor in their place, misplacing a few million pounds, resisting the right of women to have control over their own bodies and then buggering off to switzerland for modern medical treatment (that she denied to others in her care)when the going got rough!
Yep, truly inspirational

what did she do with the missing millions?

Not a friend to the poor, more a friend of poverty! Keeping the poor in their place, misplacing a few million pounds, resisting the right of women to have control over their own bodies and then buggering off to switzerland for modern medical treatment (that she denied to others in her care)when the going got rough!

Based on what evidence? The unsubstantiated accusations from an atheist?

People like to knock those who are devoutly religious. Whilst Ma Teresa may not have bin perfect (who is?), the work she did helped countless numbers of poor who otherwise would not have received any treatment at all.

Still, it's easy for self-pubicising evangelists like Hitchens to criticise the dead, eh?

Pft. yeah, cos Hitchens has helped save the lives of many, worldwide. Course he has. 🙄

the work she did helped countless numbers of poor who otherwise would not have received any treatment at all.

She received millions by courting some of the worlds most detestable leaders and instead of using the money to help the poor it was diverted elsewhere. The people she claimed to be helping continued to live in squalor and die premature deaths whilst she took full advantage of 20c medicine.

Her winning of the Nobel prize was a disgrace and when you say

The unsubstantiated accusations from an atheist?

Pft. yeah, cos Hitchens has helped save the lives of many, worldwide. Course he has.

I suspect that makes two of them then? I'm not a huge fan of Hitchins (but I dont hate him with the venom you seem to reserve) but maybe he at least offers an insight.

Goran Kropp he was a true adventurer and hard as nails. Ironic that after all his epics he was killed on an easy climb.

For his famous 1996 ascent, Kropp left Jönköping on October 16, 1995, on a specially-designed bicycle with 108 kg (240 lb) of gear and food. He traveled 8,000 miles on the bicycle and arrived at Everest Base Camp in April 1996. Following a meeting of all of the Everest expeditions currently on the mountain, it was agreed that Kropp would attempt to summit first. On May 3, Kropp blazed a trail through thigh-deep snow and reached a point 300 feet from the summit. However, Kropp decided to turn around, believing that he would be too tired to descend safely if he went up further. While Kropp recovered from the ordeal at base camp, the 1996 Everest Disaster unfolded. Kropp helped bring medicine up the mountain. Three weeks later, on May 23, Kropp again tackled the mountain, this time successfully summitting (without extra oxygen support). He then cycled home

Did you hear Elton John's tribute song to Mother Theresa? Sandals in the Bin.

I've been inspired by:
Alberto Giacometti
Paul Foot
Dominic Behan

Maybe Hitchins was wrong but given the support and adulation she continues to receive around the world its strange that little of his claims have been refuted.

You seem to think that Hitchins is a person of some importance.

You seem to think that Hitchins is a person of some importance.

It wasnt me that brought him up.

you sort of give the game away.

What game?

She received millions by courting some of the worlds most detestable leaders and instead of using the money to help the poor it was diverted elsewhere

Evidence please. Or do you know something those investigative journalists don't (they couldn't find any proof either)? No claims have ever bin substantiated. So, no refutation necessary.

Her winning of the Nobel prize was a disgrace

[url= http://www.xtimeline.com/evt/view.aspx?id=43176 ]

In 1982, at the height of the Siege of Beirut, Mother Teresa rescued 37 children trapped in a front line hospital by brokering a temporary cease-fire between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas. Accompanied by Red Cross workers, she traveled through the war zone to the devastated hospital to evacuate the young patients.

I'm going to leave it there, as I really can't be bothered continuing a pointless argument. MT was a flawed, yet caring Human Being. Who dedicated her life to helping others. That's how I'll remember her, and try to take inspiration from the good works she did.

It wasnt me that brought him up.

Nothing wrong with bringing up Hitchens. Although I find the suggestion that he is of any consequence rather peculiar.

Although I find the suggestion that he is of any consequence rather peculiar.

I didnt suggest he was. I noticed that you got your knickers in a bunch on page one about the same subject, clearly he is not on your Christmas card list.

I'm going to leave it there, as I really can't be bothered continuing a pointless argument. MT was a flawed, yet caring Human Being. Who dedicated her life to helping others. That's how I'll remember her, and try to take inspiration from the good works she did.

If it inspires you Fred then more power to your elbow, I'll remember her as flawed but there you go.

Sean Kelly

My father - of similar stock to Kelly but rubbish on a bike (good at digging holes though :-))

I didnt suggest he was.

Ooo, I think you did.........[i]"its strange that little of his claims have been refuted"[/i]. Who gives a monkeys what Hitchens thinks ?

clearly he is not on your Christmas card list

No, he's not..........I think he's a tosser.

Ernie; can you get hold of some timber for cheap? Might need some advice on a little construction project I've thought of only a bit of furniture mind nowt mental like that bloke on Grand Designs with his Hexagonal wooden house mind you that's quite inspirational actually.

It's got a spiral staircase at the centre, what uses an 800-year old oakstump to support the whole thing. 😯

Somebody mentioned Hitchins and condemmed his book about Mother Theresa. I said

its strange that little of his claims have been refuted

and you seem to be claiming that I hold him in high regard. Whether I do or I dont I dont think the above bears that out, despite your impressive use of quotations.

The boys who flew on the Apollo missions, esp. 11 - Aldrin, Armstrong, Collins.
[img] [/img]

If I feel inspiration coming on I go and have a lie down and wait for it to pass.

Ernie; can you get hold of some timber for cheap? Might need some advice on a little construction project I've thought of only a bit of furniture mind nowt mental like that bloke on Grand Designs with his Hexagonal wooden house mind you that's quite inspirational actually.

It's got a spiral staircase at the centre, what uses an 800-year old oakstump to support the whole thing.

You want some cheap timber to build a spiral staircase round an 800-year old oakstump ? 😕

What's this gotta do with people who inspire you btw ?

Anyway, can't chat, suppose to be going out and I'm not ready......and I'm gonna get a bollocking 😐

I am my own inspiration, but I am also my own worst enemy!

Lance Armstrong. No, really. Cant say I like the fella though.

And a multitude of climbers. some famous, some not...

My real answer is Henry Bowers

The boys who flew on the Apollo missions, esp. 11 - Aldrin, Armstrong, Collins.

Yes especially Collins and to echo an earlier post Dominic Behan, absolute patriots, no games. Much respect to both those heroes

For Elfinsafety, who really should look before he leaps.

hmmmm, that Hitchens bloke makes my skin crawl in the special way I thought I'd reserved for Piers Morgan alone. He really is quite objectionable!

It would be indeed be pretty unprecedented in human history, if someone with an exceptionally high profile, who had achieved an enormous amount of good, and had made a real difference, were not to be vilified by some. It has always been the case that "do-gooders" are seen by some people as posing a threat to their own warped interests. It has always been the case that those who preach dangerous and challenging polemics such as "love your neighbour as you would yourself" should be publicly crucified.

It should surprise no one that someone such as Hitchens, who indisputably has his own agenda, should choose to vilify someone who claimed her life was motivated by a belief in "God". Hitchens is a hypocrite of unimaginable magnitude........a right-wing ultra-leftist, a Tory-loving Trot, an outspoken critic of Henry Kissinger, and yet an outspoken cheerleader of naked American Imperialism, and so the contradictions, inconsistencies, and hypocrisy, of the privileged pen-pushing waffler go on. Still, as some on here will argue, he "writes very well"......so that's OK then.

So, it's O.K. to provide a crowded, unhealthy environment for people who are dying and refuse them medical help unless it's inadequate medication from dirty syringes administered by ignorant and untrained nuns because the agenda is to hurry them along to "heaven"?

Presumably you're O.K. with the attempt to ban abortions and also contraception, as the Catholic Church does in Africa? Oh sorry, Ratzinger now says contraception is O.K. For prostitutes. Or something.

Also, the support for Reagan, the Duvaliers and Hoxha?

Have actually watch the video, or are you just using the subject to excercise your dislike of Hitchens?

Get a grip.

So, it's O.K. to provide a crowded, unhealthy environment for people who are dying and refuse them medical help unless it's inadequate medication from dirty syringes administered by ignorant and untrained nuns because the agenda is to hurry them along to "heaven"?

No it's not. Those who are dying should be provided care in modern well-equipped hospitals. What's your point Woppit.....that Mother Teresa should have led an insurrection to overthrow the Capitalist system so that a Socialist system which guarantees healthcare to everyone can be established in India ?

my inspiration is to inspire others.
I think to aspire to be ' the whole package' will lead to disappointments so need to think of achieving little bits of everyone and to impart a little bit of our own individual awesomnity into others and ourselves - does that make sense?
I guess what I am saying is that each and everyone of us has their own traits that others will admire and that in its own way is inspirational, but we must learn not to disappear up our own behinds

Ernie the point of the video, I would have thought, is obvious. The woman is revered for a lie. She didn't provide anything useful at all, unlike the thousands of unsung charity workers who do - Medecins sans Frontier, the Red Cross and so on. She just used the sick and dying to push the anti-human agenda of her church. All the money she raised by being friendly with dictators of various stripes went not to aiding sick, which we are led to believe was the reason for her sainthood, but to the establishment of more convents whose purpose was to push that same appalling agenda.

Have you actually watched the videos?

I get the feeling lately that you're not concerned with arguing an opinion or position, but just like to argue. So many of your posts contradict themselves that it becomes hardly worth the bother of paying them any attention, it seems to me.

Teresa died apostate and bitterly dissappointed in not having found her "christ", by the way...

lol, atheists mock someone because they demonstrate [u]normal [/u]human behaviour. 😆

No it's not. Those who are dying should be provided care in modern well-equipped hospitals. What's your point Woppit.

That she diverted countless millions away from providing just that modern medical care to the poor of Calcutta whilst benefiting from it herself in Switzerland when she became ill. Thats hypocrisy.

Mockery, where?

My wife is ace. She inspires me.

Is that "Petesgaff" changing his forum name?

How are you these days, Mark?

mark webb inspires me. He's awesome.

frankie boyle
the prawn

Woppit - I have watched the video link. As a piece of journalism, it was pitiful. Hyperbolic, one dimensional propaganda at best. If that's the only evidence you have to support your case then you'd have been better off sitting on it.

Whith which particular points that were made, do you disagree, and why?