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After reading this article I re-watched videos of Fred Rogers' speaking in front of the Senate committee (highly recommended watching), his lifetime emmy accept
by dharmon 10y ago
After reading this article I re-watched videos of Fred Rogers' speaking in front of the Senate committee (highly recommended watching), his lifetime emmy acceptance, and his brief appearance on Letterman.
While watching them I was trying to figure out, what is it about this gentle, soft-spoken person that is so utterly captivating? Had he been speaking in front of the Senate today, I can't imagine a single person stopping to check their phone.
I'm sure the answer is multi-faceted, but I think a huge aspect is his head-to-toe, 100% Authenticity. I think there's an important lesson to draw there, and its something I see repeated elsewhere (blogosphere, TV, etc.). There's something captivating about authenticity.
The interesting thing is that it doesn't have to be as pure as Rogers'. Sometimes it is just an undercurrent with lots of stylization on top, but that authenticity somehow resonates with humans.
It also reminds me of an old Charlie Rose interview with Quentin Tarantino (to jump to the other end of the spectrum). He is talking about the process of writing, and how he has this inner voice constantly reminding him, "tell the truth", and how he can't watch his movies with some family / friends because it's too embarrassing: he's put a bit of himself up on the screen.
Now obviously Pulp Fiction is not a true story, but I think what he means is that under the hyper-stylized veneer, there is an authentic voice, even in a bizarre made-up world, and that, as much as the shocking revival scene, or hilarious Walken monologue, struck a nerve with audiences.
So my takeaway from Fred Rogers is to be authentic. Even if not as completely as him, make sure in whatever you do, there is some aspect of your true self in it. It resonates with people, and it probably feels good for you, too.
- MrZongle2 10y ago"So my takeaway from Fred Rogers is to be authentic. Even if not as completely as him, make sure in whatever you do, there is some aspect of your true self in it. It resonates with people, and it probably feels good for you, too." I think this is a fantastic point, especially at a time where it seems like just about everybody has an angle and an agenda. When you're cynical and you're presented with somebody who seems authentic and genuine, you start looking for the "tells" and the weasel words...the cracks in the smiley-face veneer. The longer one has to look for them, the more astonishing the person seems to be (and, hopefully, turns out to be). I think the other captivating aspect of Fred Rogers is that he seemed truly concerned about individuals, and that was reflected in his ability to communicate. He didn't lump people into demographic groups, or political tribes, or any other types of social categorization that seems the standard nowadays. I'm sure he recognized such efforts, but they didn't matter when it came to making a simple human connection. I think this interest and drive to connect with people is equally as important as his authenticity. A Ron Swanson-type person could be authentic and admirable, but nowhere near as empathetic. By the same token, someone could be as empathetic, but if they were inconsistent they wouldn't be as admirable. Fred Rogers was a rare cat indeed, at least in terms of those who were/are in the media. As someone who feels nowhere near as consistent or empathetic, my respect for him has skyrocketed since having children.
- bykovich 10y agoMr. Rogers was kind in a way that's almost painful -- but exactly not because it's in any way accusatory.