The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived

tunatartare · #1 10-23-2006, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

That's because Mr. Rogers truly lived!

was the guy's real name Rogers?

honeychile · #2 10-23-2006, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

was the guy's real name Rogers?

Yes, ma'am - Pastor Fred Rogers!

When ADPi was answering the phones for WQED (public television, first in the USA) during a telethon, a few of us found his set while on a break. We were goofing around it, and when I looked up at the doorway, there was Mr. Rogers, smiling that beatific smile of his, happy to see us playing!

MysticCat · #3 10-23-2006, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

Yes, ma'am - Pastor Fred Rogers!

The "pastor" is because he was a Presbyterian minister.

He was also a Sinfonian.

Quote:

Originally Posted by honeychile

Of course, I'm surprised to see that King Arthur didn't exist!

The jury is still out (and probably always will be) on whether there was an actual person who became the King Arthur of legend.

DeltAlum · #4 10-23-2006, 12:58 PM

Naturally, a lot of radio folks were talking about this list recently.

I was listening to one woman DJ trying to comment who said, "I don't know who this Big Brother is." Is that Mr. Orwell rolling over in his grave?

She also really didn't understand "Rosie the Riviter" as being a highly successful and important propaganda tool. She assumed that "Rosie" was simply a symbol of womens liberation.

My late mother actually did work in an aircraft factory riviting the wings on fighter aircraft during WWII.

MysticCat · #5 10-23-2006, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I was listening to one woman DJ trying to comment who said, "I don't know who this Big Brother is." Is that Mr. Orwell rolling over in his grave?

Where has that woman been. Everyone knows that Big Brother is the guy at CBS who puts people in a house over the summer and watches their every move.

DeltAlum · #6 10-23-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

Where has that woman been. Everyone knows that Big Brother is the guy at CBS who puts people in a house over the summer and watches their every move.

Oh. My mistake. I thought we were talking about the obligitory big brother who is the bane of every young girl on TV sitcoms.

ann.coulter2 · #7 10-23-2006, 03:06 PM

Does Karl Rove really exist, or is he just some imaginary whipping boy?

"This is an unusual election in that the media have not even waited for the polls to open before declaring the results. Indeed, the Associated Press was forecasting a Democratic "landslide" as early as May. And since we all know that everything in the papers is true, if the Republicans end up winning, or at least holding their majorities, it can only mean that Karl Rove stole the election." By JAMES TARANTO

RACooper · #8 10-23-2006, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The jury is still out (and probably always will be) on whether there was an actual person who became the King Arthur of legend.

No kidding

Academic careers have risen and fallen in this debate - but for the most part it is almost impossible not to do any work on the sub-Roman era of the British Isles without touching on Arthur and the attendant myths and legends.

So far the earliest mention of him, as far as I know, is in the Welsh epic poem Y Gododdin from around 600AD (or 80 to 90 years after the battles that Arthur was supposed to have fought). Incidentally this manuscript/poem also includes the earliest mention of a Myrddin (Merlin) as an ancient Celtic bard/advisor who accompanied the host defeated at Catraeth (Catterick).

Anyways... it's also debatable whether or not Robin Hood is a fictional character ~ not the Hollywood Robin Hood - but the Robin Hood of earlier legends... or whether Robin Hood is actually the amalgam of two seperate bandit lords.

Interesting mediaeval factoid - Old King Cole of the song is actually a real person; a King of the early British kingdom of Strathclyde.. King Cole was noted as a bardic king how composed and played his own music, held lavish music festivals, was a great patron to bards and poets, and finally lived to a very old age.

tunatartare · #9 10-23-2006, 01:11 PM

Another one I'm surprised about is Charlie Brown. He's the poster child for mediocrity and under-achievers in America.

honeychile · #10 10-23-2006, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

Another one I'm surprised about is Charlie Brown. He's the poster child for mediocrity and under-achievers in America.

Did you ever hear that, when Charles Schulz went to his class reunion, nobody knew who he was/had become?

tunatartare · #11 10-23-2006, 01:49 PM

No. That's so sad.

epchick · #12 10-23-2006, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticCat

The "pastor" is because he was a Presbyterian minister.

If I remember what my dad told me....he was also a navy seal that had killed 25 people, and he always wore sweaters because he had tattoos on his arms. I love Mr. Rogers.

RACooper · #13 10-23-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epchick

If I remember what my dad told me....he was also a navy seal that had killed 25 people, and he always wore sweaters because he had tattoos on his arms. I love Mr. Rogers.

Urban legend - never served.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Rogers

Check bottom of page

SydneyK · #14 10-23-2006, 02:57 PM

Am I the only one who finds it odd that the Marlboro Man is #1 on the list? I understand why he's on the list, but #1? Really?

tunatartare · #15 10-23-2006, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SydneyK

Am I the only one who finds it odd that the Marlboro Man is #1 on the list? I understand why he's on the list, but #1? Really?

No I agree. I personally would've put Mickey Mouse or Santa Claus as #1.