Top 10 Influential People Who Never Lived
Published on November 3, 2008 - 228 Comments
We have done numerous lists of people and things that have had a great influence on man and they are always popular, so today we are presenting another list of influential people - but this time, they are people who never existed. There were hundreds of people to choose from, so this has been a fun list to compile. We hope you agree with our choices, but if you don’t, feel free to use the comments to tell us who you would have put here instead.
What child has not been frightened into behaving thanks to the ever-present youthful fear of Santa not providing come Christmas? Almost all western children were told by their parents that Santa would leave them nothing if they misbehaved. I speak from experience when I say that it was one of the most effective methods of stopping tantrums! Funnily enough, though, the fear always dissipates on Christmas Eve as you just know that Santa will be coming - even if you did slip up a few times.
As Barbie has progressed from a pretty young woman to whom all girls could aspire, to something often verging on the likeness of a harlot, one can wonder whether it was Barbie influencing children, or children influencing Barbie. There are certainly many similarities. Barbie has depicted almost every possible female lifestyle choice and I think there can be no doubt that she has been at the start of the path many women have taken in life.
This could potentially lead to a debate about whether Hood existed or not, but I am of the opinion that he did not. Therefore, he is listed as my number eight on the list. I am sure we have all heard someone justifying theft because the victim is wealthy - and where did this justification come from? Not just the principles of redistribution of wealth that many of us live under in Western Society (read envy taxes) but the fact that to this day, we are all raised believing Robin Hood was a hero - when, in fact, he was a thief. Stealing is almost always wrong, and just because Robin Hood gave the proceeds of his crimes to poor people, it is not a valid justification. As for the previously mentioned taxes, there is every reason for us to believe that the majority of people accept these taxes because of their prior belief in the false morality of the Robin Hood story.
This is one for the boys obviously! Even in remote New Zealand where I grew up, all the boys played “Cowboys and Indians”. The cowboy was a great hero with a shining gun who represented the morality of Western ideals: manliness, defense of justice, protection of women and children. No doubt many now cringe at the lack of political correctness involved in the game and stereotype, but kids aren’t politically correct (thank God) and certainly won’t be hindered because of it. The influence of the Cowboy movie genre is indisputable an immense one. Oh - and for those who say “but cowboys are real!” - yes - but this is about the concept - not about a specific person - just as we might say Santa existed as St Nicholas, the concept is bigger than any one person.
How many men reading this list who smoke, are smoking cigarettes with filters? Venturing a guess I would say all of them. Before the Marlboro Man campaign began, “real men” didn’t smoke cigarettes with filters - they were for women. The aim of the Marlboro Man campaign was primarily to get men smoking filtered marlboro cigarettes. The influence of the campaign is abundantly clear today. The campaign is considered to be one of the best in all history. According to Wikipedia, it transformed a feminine campaign, with the slogan ‘Mild as May’, into one that was masculine, in a matter of months.
And now another for the girls! Rosie the Riveter may not be a familiar name, but her picture certainly is. Rosie the Riveter told women that they can do anything - and they did! Rosie managed to motivate an entire generation of working-age women to get out of the home and in to factories to help the war effort. This is probably one of the most influential events of the Second World War. Once the floodgates of women working were open, they would never be closed again. All women working in traditional male jobs have Rosie to thank.
In a short 24 hours, you can fly from one side of the planet to another. This (one of man’s greatest achievements) may never have happened if it had not been for the mythological characters Daedalus and Icarus. The story tells of Daedalus building mechanical wings for his son Icarus and ever since the tale was told, man has lusted after the ability to take the sky and fly. This eventually came true and the entire planet is a changed place as a consequence of it.
The moral of this children’s tale is that self-belief, optimism, and hard work result in achievement - of even the most difficult tasks. The book first appeared in a slightly different version to today, in 1906. It has been regarded by many as a metaphor for the “American Dream”. The popularity of this book may also be a contributing factor to the huge number of self-help and “positive thinking” seminars and books that we see today.
A relatively modern addition to this list, Big Brother has been a influence in so many social protests that he has to be included here. His name comes up every time a government passes a restrictive law or a law which seems to remove aspects of our eternal freedoms. Everyone recognizes his face, everyone knows what he stands for, and everyone is terrified of the potential for our own lives to be governed by our own version of the fictional character. Big Brother was, of course, created by George Orwell for his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.
Not only can Romeo and Juliet be blamed for much of our ideas of the “perfect relationship” - I think it can also be blamed for a high percentage of divorces. Couples going in to marriage seek the ideal of a relationship based entirely on passion and romance, and when that romance dims (as so often is the case) they feel cheated and believe the marriage has failed. When in reality, passionate romance is not required for a healthy marriage - while respect, love, and charity is. Romeo and Juliet have much to answer for!
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1. Burgerbuddy - November 4th, 2008 at 1:49 am
What? No Ronald McDonald?
2. Burgerbuddy - November 4th, 2008 at 1:52 am
How about Uncle Sam or Socrates?
3. dor - November 4th, 2008 at 1:53 am
i dont think Ronald McDonald is all that influential!!
I always thot cowboys were real!! funny, that!!
& 3 cheers for Rosie!!
4. kafine - November 4th, 2008 at 1:56 am
why you hatin on Robin Hood?
5. Nik-A-Dik - November 4th, 2008 at 1:57 am
I may not be familiar with some of these but one of the most entertaining lists in the recent times.
6. ginger - November 4th, 2008 at 2:02 am
romeo & juliet as #1? i’d put them before barbie.
7. lily78 - November 4th, 2008 at 2:04 am
listverse.com can u plz make a shocking list like little known about fatal disease or weird new religions i mean something down that line thanx
8. jfrater - November 4th, 2008 at 2:11 am
kafine: because he was a thief?
Burgerbuddy: I considered uncle Sam - but not Ronald - though he certainly influenced a few people to overeat
Nik-A-Dik: Thanks - I really enjoyed writing it.
9. Spinner - November 4th, 2008 at 2:13 am
Nice list. I have a number of potentials buzzing around in my head but I’ll keep them there. I wouldnt have thought of most of these ones except santa. Interesting.
10. Iain - November 4th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Regarding number 7 - how about the Dallas Cowboys?
11. AniH - November 4th, 2008 at 2:47 am
At the risk of sparking a debate - God?
Not wanting to step on anyones toes but my belief is that whether you believe in God or not, He/She didnt live.
Like I said, this is just my belief but if God is considered a supreme being/divine entity, He/She would not have lived (breathing air, mortal body type living) but simply existed.
And if you dont believe in God, thats an influence (albeit unknowingly) of others that do believe that makes you not believe.
12. Anon. E. Mouse - November 4th, 2008 at 2:53 am
Humm… I’m one of those people who believe in the morality of what Robin Hood represented. This is mostly because I believe in charity, to a point. I would not support theft from an individual who worked hard for his/her money, struggled daily for it. But the individuals he is depicted as stealing from are not this type. They are generally depicted as fat, tyrannical figures who make thier living from the toil of others. Therefore, I find them undeserving of thier money in the first place. I suppose I’m wierd.
Ah, Rosie the Riveter… All I can ever think of when I hear that name nowadays is a big creature with a rivet gun in a dive suit (Bioshock ftw).
Romeo and Juliet is not a story of “true love”. It’s a story of misguided teenage lust, raging hormones, and overtly dramatic reactions to simple, silly issues. There’s no love there.
13. Kyran Wray - November 4th, 2008 at 3:13 am
Burgerbuddy, Socrates was a real man, its Homer who nobodies sure whether he existed or not.
14. jajdude - November 4th, 2008 at 3:18 am
Grilled guns on the list, g, but no Homer Simpson? No Allah?
15. Redcaboose - November 4th, 2008 at 3:34 am
Since we know that King Richard lived, and went to the crusades, I am sure that Robin of Loxley went with him.
16. kakazed - November 4th, 2008 at 4:00 am
the point of robin hood was that he stole from an oppressive king, who had stolen that wealth from the people themselves! hence stealing money back…is that being a theif?
think of him more as a vigalante….and well love vigalantes!
jajdude the list ask about PEOPLE who did not exist…Allah is not a person. If u claim he doesnt exist then first find out who he is, then try to find him, then make your claim..
17. Rina - November 4th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Oh no! Are you telling me Santa is not real?!
*sob sob sniff sniff*
18. Peadaddy - November 4th, 2008 at 4:18 am
Throw this into the boiling pot, what about Uncle Sam? He must be an influencial made up character
19. the dread pirate bob - November 4th, 2008 at 4:22 am
I don’t know, I was liking the list until you got to number one. I don’t know any English lit teacher who teaches the R&J was anything more than Anon E. Mouse put it raging hormones and misguided lust. The most that they ever gave us was a romanticized extreme of the emo scene. Besides wasn’t Tristan and Yseulte a similar concept written much earlier?
I’d say if you’re going to pick a romantic idea then the story of Pygmalion and Galatea/Cinderella and all those other tales that have us believe that if we change enough the “perfect” person will love us.
20. Ali hayat - November 4th, 2008 at 4:24 am
14 jajdude : kid, STFU.
21. Stizzy - November 4th, 2008 at 4:39 am
Anih: That depends on what defines “being alive”? The physical body is just the tip of the iceburg. And if God Himself is literally the Breath of Life and the very power upholding the universe, how could He not be alive? How could a being who is the source of all life not Himself be alive? Afterall, He is the God of the living, not the dead because He is a living God. He has personality, He has a mind and He is spirit. Neither of these cease, so in every sense, God is alive. And if you consider Jesus on top of that, God is very much alive in a bodily sense too.
22. ohrmets - November 4th, 2008 at 4:48 am
Uncle Sam FTW!
23. Iain - November 4th, 2008 at 4:55 am
There’s also a historical context to the Robin Hood stories. They originate from a period when those who ruled in England (all those Princes, Abbots and Sheriffs) were alien outsiders - a French speaking Anglo-Norman elite. So the stories are more about resistance and rebellion that got grafted on to local legendary figures - perhaps a mish-mash of real-life thieves and fairy tale characters. I think that taxes and the morality of stealing kind of miss the point.
24. LemonKiwi - November 4th, 2008 at 4:59 am
What about McGruff the crime dog? He wears a trench coat and says “Take a bite outta crime”
25. LemonKiwi - November 4th, 2008 at 5:03 am
Duh! Sorry about that. He’s not a person. Ignore McGruff. I’m running on too little sleep.
26. Scar - November 4th, 2008 at 5:16 am
Santa should be number 1.
And I’m pretty certain cowboys did exist.. just not like.. the Hollywood kind.
27. ronsantohof - November 4th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Anih: Everyone can decide for themselves whether they believe in God or not; God could not be on this list because God is not a person.
28. Person666 - November 4th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Actually, Rosie the Riverter was a real person.
29. ronsantohof - November 4th, 2008 at 5:45 am
Regarding Robin Hood, I’ve always the felt that Dennis Moore is a much more realistic story. Dennis Moore:
Wait a tic… blimey, this redistribution of wealth is trickier than I thought.
30. Smurff 2 - November 4th, 2008 at 6:03 am
The sandman and the tooth fairy ? Do they count.
31. Dan - November 4th, 2008 at 6:33 am
Great start to the list, killing the hope of any younger readers :p
Awesome list, I heard that Robin Hood was based on several people, who went down as one person for the sake of having an ‘idol’ for the young (PS. I live in Nottingham ^^)
Great number 1 as well, and number 2
32. perun99 - November 4th, 2008 at 6:35 am
How about Dracula (if Santa qualifies, so does Dracula)?
33. alakdan13 - November 4th, 2008 at 6:44 am
uhmm.. superman? or jesus?? heheh
34. Jim C - November 4th, 2008 at 7:09 am
Daedalus & Icarus are the reason we fly today? No, D&I are personifications of a dream to fly that exists in most humans. Significant, yes, but influential - no. We’d still be flying if their tale had never been told.
35. Skellieu - November 4th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Robin Hood? I believe he existed.
36. Quiana - November 4th, 2008 at 7:11 am
WTF? The Marlboro man?? There are at least a million others that could have been on this list. Dracula, Superman, The Sandman, Uncle Sam.
37. Jim C - November 4th, 2008 at 7:13 am
And cowboys - “this is about the concept.”
Why not include fireman, astronauts, policemen…the paragraph about cowboys can easily be rewritten to reflect any of those as well.
38. Callie - November 4th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Barbie was inspired/named after the creator’s daughter. Doesn’t that mean she sort of lived?
39. DamienKarras - November 4th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Hmmm… I may be picking nits here but the list defines “people” to be included. Little engine that could? Every other entry is embodied by a human figure. Which is why I now understand how this list could include hundreds of options!
I was influenced by the Monopoly guy wearing the monacle…
40. Simons - November 4th, 2008 at 7:33 am
AniH - If a person is a Christian, then they believe God did live, as a human being (Jesus Christ) and walked the earth. So technically you could be right if your talking about the Jewish aspect of God, but not the Christian aspect. Just clerifying =D
41. paul - November 4th, 2008 at 7:52 am
where is superman?
42. Bob - November 4th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Robin Hood wasn’t stealing. He was taking back what the rich had robbed from the poor in unfair taxes.
And Romeo & Juliet is only interpreted shallowly by those who are themselves shallow.
43. AniH - November 4th, 2008 at 8:13 am
Simons, ronsantohof, stizzy - ur all right…
i just mentioned what was MY belief and my take on the idea…
44. Brian Flugan - November 4th, 2008 at 8:14 am
The house Juliet lived in is well known to exist, robin hoods grave exists and why would you say something like cowboys never existed? Thats like saying pirates were never around, maybe being more specific would be better like the Captain Jack Sparrow equivalent to cowboys never existed but still i even doubt that.
45. psychosurfer - November 4th, 2008 at 8:19 am
Where is George Bush???
Seriously people, you shouldn´t be posting comments but voting.
Get out there, vote and mend your mistakes for the sakes of the whole world!
By the way, good list.
46. psychosurfer - November 4th, 2008 at 8:22 am
oops those mushrooms are starting to kick hard
47. Saint Splattergut - November 4th, 2008 at 8:28 am
One of the weaker lists. Just my opinion
48. Corey - November 4th, 2008 at 8:30 am
In all fairness, this list should be populated by Jesus and Mohammed in the number 1 and 2 spots… There’s less evidence of them actually having lived than there is of Robin Hood. I know putting them on here would probably caused a ruckus in the comments, but those two are definitely deserving of spots 1 and 2.
49. Jaz_3 - November 4th, 2008 at 8:42 am
how about…
~superman
~Ronald McDonald
~Homer Simpson
?????????????????
50. Mom424 - November 4th, 2008 at 8:42 am
How did I know Jamie wrote this list? Could it be the following phrase “there is every reason for us to believe that the majority of people accept these taxes because of their prior belief in the false morality of the Robin Hood story”. I would beg to differ; Robin Hood did not rob from the charitable rich, he robbed from selfish, cruel, nasty, usurping scum. Maid Marion was a member of the aristocracy in most incarnations of the story for goodness sakes. He was stealing taxes collected/stolen from the poor to finance the rich. A fine line yes, but an important distinction. If the taxes collected were used to help the needy, it wouldn’t have been necessary to invent Robin Hood. I see something similar happening today. We’ll see if the current US election does anything to reverse this trend.
51. dududum - November 4th, 2008 at 8:49 am
This list has some nice potential, but too many WTF entries!?
Where is;
Homer Simpson
God
Jesus
Uncle Sam
and many other fairy tale households…
52. Valkyrie - November 4th, 2008 at 8:55 am
Daedalus actually made wings of feathers and wax to escape. He warned Icarus about flying to close to the sun, but Icarus ignored him, his wings melted, and he fell to his death. It’s not at all an inspiring story.
53. Phil - November 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am
Could somebody explain envy taxes please?
54. Renee Pussman - November 4th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I would say that Superman is top 10 for sure. Maybe not all over the world but in the US he is. He is a character who symbolizes selflessness and hope. And anyone who has read the comics or watched the movies should know that
55. Phil - November 4th, 2008 at 8:59 am
Is that exampled by a progressive taxation system?
56. guy - November 4th, 2008 at 9:07 am
how about the boogeyman? he used to scare the hell out of me and i think a lot of other over imaginative kids. and uncle sam should be on there.
57. MzFly - November 4th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Ok, interesting list. But, I disagree with Robin Hood and Rosie the Riveter. I think both people actually existed. I think Rosie the Riveter poster was based on a photograph taken at a factory during WWII.
58. Colinius Romul - November 4th, 2008 at 9:20 am
this was an ok list, but this is ridiculous “As for the previously mentioned taxes, there is every reason for us to believe that the majority of people accept these taxes because of their prior belief in the false morality of the Robin Hood story” taxes were around for milennia before robin hood. It’s pretty obvious with even smattering a knowledge of world history that robin hood and even less than a negligible effect on the development of taxes, or people’s willingness to pay them. Robin hood ‘existed’ in medieval england, but the first taxes were implemented in ancient egypt, and then in basicallye every civilization since….silly robin hood.
59. Colinius Romul - November 4th, 2008 at 9:25 am
its also absurd to think that deadalus and icarus inspired flight thousands of years later. This list was poorly researched and far too subjective
60. Burgerbuddy - November 4th, 2008 at 9:47 am
I still think Socrates should be on this list.
He doesn’t exist outside of Plato’s writings.
Socrates wrote nothing and is likely a fictional person.
A very influential, fictional person.
61. Reyairia - November 4th, 2008 at 9:51 am
LOL Cowboys often raped Indian women.
Anyway, I have to agree with the Romeo&Juliet idea of high divorce rate but *more so* I have to blame the idea of Prince Charming for influencing girls that the best thing that can happen to them is marry an ideal (probably rich) man. Now that’s anti-feminism if I ever knew it!! You can probably blame him even more for the high divorce rate, as women are thinking they’re gonna be in some ideal relationship and well, big surprise when their husband has flaws!!
Since I don’t believe in love at first sight, and I believe that back then there weren’t any tax cuts for the rich and wealthy I have to agree with Anon. E. Mouse
62. Phil - November 4th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Because I have never understood why someones income level should change the percentage of tax they pay.
63. segue - November 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Of all of the characters on the list my personal favorites, since childhood, are Daedalus and Icarus.
The story fascinated me. I was spellbound by Icarus confidence and bravery, to the point of foolhardiness, so that he flew to close to the sun the wax holding his wings together melted and he plunged to his death.
Rather than teaching me the moral of caution, it taught me to try the seemingly impossible!
Hooray, Daedalus and Icarus!
64. bwmyers18 - November 4th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Many have suggested Superman, yet they forget he was not a man. He was an alien from another planet. The same reason ALF or McGruff the Crime Dog cannot be on this list excludes Superman (Kal-El) as well.
65. Cedestra - November 4th, 2008 at 10:39 am
45. psychosurfer: Well, I already voted. Do I have your permission to comment now?
Not your greatest, Jamie. Not a bad list, but I would have gone with some others. Marketing is rich with colorful characters that never “lived”. Besides the Marlboro Man, the aformentioned Ronald McDonald, Burger King, and Wendy (based on a real person, but not a real person) all influence people to stuff their faces daily. We might be able to make an argument for Captain Morgan, too, and maybe Jack Daniels and Jim Bean.
Cowboys existed, but not as we realized (as you said). We might be able to make a case for Pirates then, maybe even Samurai.
Big Brother? It was always a ‘concept’ and never represented one person in particular.
Romeo and Julet? Why stop there? How about Hercule Perot, James Bond, and Sherlock Holmes?
We can also throw in Mickey Mouse and Bugs Bunny to the mix. How about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ash from Pokemon…the list goes on.
I don’t mean to criticize so harshly, Jamie, I just know your caliber is higher than this.
66. woooooolhouse - November 4th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Um, what about the Boogeyman? No, not the professional wrestler, the man that lives under children’s beds and haunts their dreams? I think we can all agree that he never existed, but also that tens of millions of kids every night are haunted by the thought of him under there.
67. Sedulous - November 4th, 2008 at 10:41 am
This is list was VERY poorly done. Not only do I think most of the selections are wrong, but the write ups on each selection are very poor as well. I hope this is one list that is redone. Very disappointing.
68. jfrater - November 4th, 2008 at 10:47 am
Brian Flugan: “The house Juliet lived in is well known to exist”
Actually - Juliet’s balcony in Verona is just a tourist attraction - she is a fictional character invented by Shakespeare.
69. Sedulous - November 4th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Here are a few that I think could replace most of the list-
Hercules
Superman
GI Joe
Mickey Mouse
Cinderella(almost every culture has a Cinderella type fairy tale)
Super Mario
Dracula/Vampires
Sherlock Holmes
Tarzan
King Arthur
Frankenstein
70. Tjgrs - November 4th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Ok, so i haven’t written on this site for a long time but i think it’s time I do. First, the list is good, I don’t really have complaints about the choices or anything. I do have to say after reading the thing on Robin Hood, I wanted to write but I was going to let it slide, but the cowboys threw me and now I feel a need to write. When this site started I used to post on it all the time under this name, and now I feel like getting my voice out.
First, Robin Hood was more than a thief. He was supposed to be a symbol of hope and the possibility of prosperity even for the poor. Yes he stole, but isn’t a man who steals bread to feed his family pretty much doing the same. It seems you political views out weigh the real idea of Robin Hood. He was meant as a symbol of hope to help those who needed it, and in the middle ages, they needed it.
Secondly, cowboys were real. In concept as well. In the late 1800’s cowboys became more than cattle herders and ranchers. Yes, that was their main job, but after doing that job for a month or two or three they would go into town and blow money on booze, prostitutes and gambling and things got out of hand. Eventually bands of cowboys came together to form “gangs” and “outlaws”. Now, they didn’t go around fighting the Indian’s all the time, and yes cowboys, became a generalization of loners and people in the west searching around the Old West, but that’s because at one point they were most likely cowboys, cattle ranchers, farmers and such. And if you’re looking for a couple examples, the best I can come up with off the top of my head is Johnny Ringo, who fits both your cowboy/wrangler/cattle driver and your gun fighting cowboy. And yes, we sometimes confuse the words to mean, maybe, the sheriff or deputy and other people who were not cattle drivers, but the name came from the loud and violent cattle drivers of the day.
Then my small comments. Daedalus and Icarus did not start mans curiosity to fly. Man has probably wanted to fly since seeing birds do it (I say probably because I do not want to sound like I was there when I obviously wasn’t). Yes, maybe Daedalus and Icarus pushed certain people to learn how to make man fly, but so did Da Vinci, and I’m not sure if the Wright brothers were drawing inspirations from the mythical father and son team, but they were taking inspiration from birds that could fly. Also, at the end of the myth Icarus flies to close to the sun, and thus the heavens, and then with either the wings melting or burning, depending on the tale, crashes down back to earth and dies. I would be kind of scared to go create a flying machine after that.
Those are my small things I wanted to say, and sorry for the length, but it’s been awhile since I have posted. Love this site, keep up the great work, and I welcome any comments from other people.
71. James - November 4th, 2008 at 11:27 am
No Jesus? Have some balls man.
72. YogiBarrister - November 4th, 2008 at 11:30 am
I thought for sure Jamie was going to include John Galt. Thankfully he didn’t.
73. jfrater - November 4th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Tjgrs: it is great to see you back and commenting - even if I don’t agree with your sentiments
74. lith - November 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am
what about merlin,king arthur or hercules? Those are certainly better than the marlboro man, big brother or icurus.
75. JayBe - November 4th, 2008 at 11:55 am
what about GOD?
ok, I shut up… XD
76. dan231 - November 4th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Rosie the Riveter is/was not a real person. She was an idea; an embodiment of women in the workplace. Norman Rockwell painted the original image and it was posed for by a real person who was a telephone operator. The painting was exaggerated by more body mass and muscles.
http://www.rosietheriveter.org/painting.htm
77. dan231 - November 4th, 2008 at 11:59 am
and my comments about Jesus:
Jesus was a real person. It just depends on your religion if you believe he was a savior, a prophet or just a common person. But most if not all religions do depict him as a real person.
78. Tangofish - November 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
How about Sherlock Holmes.
79. Blogball - November 4th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Nice unique list. I heard if Barbie was a real person her measurements would be 5′9′, 110 pounds, 39-18-33
80. dustin - November 4th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
great concept, but not so great execution.. cowboys? the little engine that could? really? i could understand these if the list wasnt a top ten, but just influential people. what about king arthur?
81. Foxy - November 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
You forgot Zorro!
And while we’re on the topic, @ no. 8, it might have slipped your mind that this fellow is associated with the Middle Ages. Back then, social stratification was outrageously clear with few nobles and many more peasants working on feudal estates. So beside the fact that they barely scraped through the day because they couldn’t keep much of their own work, they also had to pay abusive taxes (from money they did not have).
I understand your issues about taxation, but really now! the situation in the Middle Ages bares NO comparison to the one today. You may want to try a list on taxation systems…
82. 8rustystaples - November 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Gee, I didn’t realize the lists on listverse were a forum for proselytizing.
Robin Hood is an archetypal symbol of the fight against injustice and tyranny, not simply an icon of “redistribution of wealth,” regardless of anyone’s opinion on the subject. But is the opinion warranted in this piece?
That being said, cowboys did and still do exist.
Daedalus and Icarus’s story is a cautionary tale, not one of inspiration.
A strong claim could be made that Big Brother does, in fact, exist. Not as a singular entity, of course, but in this modern age of instant video and legislation like the Patriot Act, it’s not far from the truth.
Many people are dropping Jesus’s name in the comments section. Regardless of your religious beliefs, it’s generally accepted that Jesus of Nazareth was a real person. Whether he was the son of God is up for debate.
83. evacreek - November 4th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Hello to ALL you folks that make this the best site on the net; this is my first post.
jfrater, you are a man of endless creativity and subtle wit. I am always surprised and delighted at your choices.
nd this is the only bboard I ever read much of, since it doesn’t degenerate into flaming and name calling…not blatantly anyway.
But to the point: let’s blame Mr. Shakespeare for R and J being in the top spot. And no, he didn’t invent them, he stold the idea from another play. But what he did do was to begin to codify and fictioalize the condept of romantic love. It didn’t exist until a few writers helped to get the word out.In Elizabethan times, being in love was not a desirable state, definitely not something to be sought.In fact, love was considered a disease. Consider Olivia in 12th Night,after her first meeting with the disguised Viola.Olivia catches herself repeating some of Viola’s clever word sparring, and warns herself to slow down and chill. Afraid she might be “falling in love”, Olivia says, “Soft now! Even so quickly may one catch the plague?” The answer is “well, yeah”, and from there, much hilarity ensues. In short, it;s not Juliet’s fault, or that silly Romeo;s either.
84. BOLTRON73 - November 4th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
no mc donalds… but great list….
85. BrotherMan - November 4th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Santa Claus IS real! How else do you explain all the presents under the tree Christmas morning that weren’t there before or the fact that the milk and cookies I sat out for him are all gone in the morning?
86. gezzanater - November 4th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
If you’re going to throw Robin Hood in there,why not King Arthur, isn’t he the same as Robin Hood in the sense of “did he really live”????
And I agree with 8rustystaples comment about JC, then again religion is always a touchy subject.
87. Jack - November 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Good list, but you forgot Jesus, and Santa is based on a real person though he himself is not real.
88. dan231 - November 4th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
does anyone actually read the comments before posting
/notices lots of repeated comments
89. Lewis Taylor - November 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Sherlock Holmes would have been nice.
90. Frankie Di - November 4th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Saying that mythological humans “never lived” is obviously a stretch. Mythology isn’t fiction, it’s just knowledge that’s not verified, therefore not history.
However, Daedalus and Socrates are people survived by their works. So, um… you can correct that if you will.
91. jhm27 - November 4th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
There is no doubt that Jesus lived, there is a lot of evidence, the argument is whether or not he performed miracles, was the son of God and other things. This list is messed up, especially Romeo and Juliet and Icarus. The top 4 are not great, but I think the others fit well.
92. dan231 - November 4th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
#91: The actual argument on this list IS if Jesus existed or not. Whether or not he performed miracles is not relevant here. The list is, after all, “Top 10 Influential People Who Never Lived”
93. Papavitch - November 4th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
First of all, decent list, definitly not one of the best, seems like there were quite a few missed. I’d personally of taken Daedalus and Icarus out of there because I agree with a couple other people on here about the humanity always wanting to fly.
Also to those name dropping Jesus are you kidding? Whether you believe he was God’s son or not, he existed it’s so universally agreed upon by scholars that it is basically fact. You’re opinion on him as a religious figure cannot make him dissapear from history.
94. joebecca - November 4th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
sorry to disagree with you on this one, but cowboys? they are as real as anyone. They really did exist and they roped and had gunfights and all that other stuff.. i don’t know how you could consider them as mythical as Santa Claus. Also the little engine that could? ummm… yeah… not so much.
i do love the site though!
95. Blogball - November 4th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Kind of off subject but kind of an interesting fact, the man in the Marlboro add is Wayne McLaren and died of lung cancer.
You can read about him here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_McLaren
96. matt - November 4th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
terrible. Daedalus and Icarus, little engine, and romeo and juliet dont fit in with everything else on the list
97. Asmym Livural - November 4th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Love the list, especially the inclusion of Big Brother.
I do think that King Arthur should have made the list, though, rather than Robin Hood.
98. Brickhouse - November 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Jesus was a real person (though I don’t believe he was the Messiah).
Robin Hood - Honestly, that one hurt a bit. But then I’m a Robin Hood fanatic. You are right that there is debate of whether he was real or not, since the history of him was passed down orally and not written. I’m sure his exploits were exaggerated, but to call him a common thief cannot be true. If it were, his story would’ve died long ago.
I agree with many here, if the person listed is based on a real person then they shouldn’t be on this list. If you were going for concepts or symbols, then maybe this list should’ve been called “Top 10 Influential Symbolic People” or some such.
Okay, that was a bad name, but I haven’t voted yet and I have to get moving!
99. Brickhouse - November 4th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Robin Hood Sites:
www.robinhood.ltd.uk/robinhood/index.html
www.boldoutlaw.com/robages/
100. Brickhouse - November 4th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
PS. I especially liked the Big Brother inclusion as well (1984 is my second favorite book, after Robin Hood).
101. Mike - November 4th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Joe Camel
102. linaznz - November 4th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
hey your from New Zealand thats bad ass i always thought this was either an american or english site!
this is my favorite site keep up the awesome work
103. appie - November 4th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
ok guys..
let’s put another 10 influential people who never lived.
hehehe…
104. ronsantohof - November 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
does anyone actually read the comments before posting
/notices lots of repeated comments
105. Cyn - November 4th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
intelligent people read previous comments to avoid repeated postings unless of course they’re just being sarcastic.
still, it would speak much better of individual commenters to post original comments. so i’d suggest taking some time to actually read each list completely and at least scan all comments and then actually think about something original or different to contribute to the ‘conversation’.
106. HollyTamale - November 4th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
This list is boring.
107. DiscHuker - November 4th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
it only took 11. i was wondering how long it would take for someone to say either God or Jesus.
anon: we agree on something. Bioshock. FTW!!
108. segue - November 4th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Phooey. I noticed a couple of errors in my post.
Apologies, all.
BTW, my husband and I signed up for the vote by mail, and we voted 2 weeks ago. We’ll be permanent voters by mail from now on.
No lines.
No hassles.
Cool.
109. angryfeet - November 4th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
Hm, I enjoyed this - don’t know why people are so down on it. Although I really do have to agrue that cowboys are real - in concept as well as actually having physically existed. But I still enjoyed the list.
110. angryfeet - November 4th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Oops, argue
111. Joe - November 4th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Dude, this is quite possibly the LAMEST list I’ve ever seen on this site. Why was it even put up here for us to read?
112. Sesel - November 4th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
What about Prester John?
113. Anon and On - November 4th, 2008 at 4:55 pm
I was hoping to see Prester John on this list. Anticipating the arrival of a non-existent Indian ally, army in tow, led to lethal disappointment for the Christians during the Crusades. Or so they say, anyway.
114. kat - November 4th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
i have a rosie tattoo on my left shoulder blade. i’m a sculptor who primarily uses metal so welding comes in handy. also, being the only girl in my welding classes, she is an excellent comeback when a “women can’t weld” argument comes up
115. Precision - November 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
#95 Blogball - thanks for that additional info re: the Marlboro Man.
Kind of ironic (and very sad) that such a massive promotional symbol for cigarettes ends up dying of lung cancer. Apparently he campaigned AGAINST smoking after his diagnosis…pity the results weren’t as successful as the advertising campaign.
As for the list on the whole; I thought it was pretty good. Keep up the good work
116. Precision - November 4th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Also, for those people criticising this list please expand your reasons a little bit so that we can better understand your opinion.
Simply stating “this list is boring” etc. tells us nothing about WHY you think that, and hence is an essentially useless comment.
By all means disagree with the list content, but be prepared to back up your argument so that people actually take you seriously.
117. Laura - November 4th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I really don’t think this list was that well thought out, mostly because the Little Engine That Could was included. Although it may have a great influence on children, it was a train. Not a person. Also, the fact that cowboys are included on this list seems absolutely ridiculous.
118. Anon - November 4th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
If you are including genre (cowboys) as well as individuals (Santa Claus), then I reckon the *wicked witch* (sources, Brothers Grimm, Snow White, Wizard of Oz, etc., etc.) is far more valid than several of those listed. I promise you that as a small boy the knowledge that wicked witches were lurking on the landing in the dark frequently solved my constipation problems! It also lead to notable precocious athleticism; leaping right over the corner stair where a particularly vicious one lurked. They also featured prominently in frightening nightmares.
Without doubt the historical concept of the witch also lead to the deaths of innumerable innocent and reclusive women who either looked ugly, or were hated, were abortionists, were misunderstood, despised, or maybe practiced herbalism or some similarly harmless social deed.
it could be argued that *real live witches* such as Mother Shipton existed, created from the superstitious concept.
In that case the existence of real-life cowboys, perhaps most notably William ‘Buffalo Bill’ Cody is far more solid and was certainly built upon reality, as noted.
Are fairies and angels considered to be people? I guess so, and both are influential in the imaginative and religious or cultural lives of multitudes of people. Conan Doyle was even kidded into believing fairies existed. A particular fiary? O.K., the Tooth Fairy. A particular angel? Gabriel?
Then what about Peter Pan, not forgetting Captain Hook. Peter Pan is still used as a generic term for adult males perceived to retain boyhood traits. Incidentally, the now common female name Wendy was derived from the fictitious Barrie character in the same work, so perhaps she should be included.
Huck Finn? Some of our water and woodland adventures as kids certainly invoked his name.
I havn’t had time to more than skim the comments yet, so apologies for any repetition.
119. Sofar - November 4th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
The Marlboro Man isn’t real? :’(
120. 803cpkeenan - November 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Uncle Sam
121. Cubone - November 4th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
AWESOME LIST!! could have been a little longer . . .
122. Profeh - November 4th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Come on, Uncle Sam? Ronald McDonald?
“people and things that have had a great influence on man” That’s how the intro reads, it doesn’t say “people and things that have had a great influence on Americans” now, does it? Anyway, I quite agree that Sherlock Holmes should have been on this, insofar as he had an actual effect on the way people in general approach riddle-like situations, not to mention the way detectives proceed to this day. Also, he’s one of the most quoted characters in fiction, at least in contexts involving deductive reasoning. And how about Major William Martin, that fellow the English invented to mislead Hitler’s Germany into clearing away from the actual invasion site in Normandy? The “man who never was” played a key role in the final outcome of WWII, and that seems pretty influential right there. Not to mention a fascinating tale in itself. Yet I must say the list is excellent as it stands, as usual very enjoyable to read, and as shown by the comments, to critique as well. Thanks for another bit of entertainment.
123. segue - November 4th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
118. Anon: Faeries don’t exist? I spent half my childhood in the company of faeries!
Faery Rings dotted my lawns, and faery homes hid along my side yard.
Faeries had names, of course, they were Celtic names, difficult to pronounce and incredibly beautiful.
Of course as I matured I outgrew belief in faeries, I forgot to look for faery rings, faery homes, faery artifacts. Strangely, when I look for the signs, they still exist.
Do they exist because I was taught to expect them? Or do they exist because they exist?
LOL!
It’s election night, and I’m drunk with a mixture of anticipation and fear of disappointment, so I’m having a giggle here.
Anon, we’ve been having a fox in the garden the past few weeks, and yesterday there was a bobcat. A couple of streets over, a bear wandered into a yard! Reminds me I haven’t seen any deer in at least 6 weeks.
124. Precision - November 4th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
#122 Profeh - as far as Ronald McDonald goes the worldwide spread of the McDonalds brand has surely introduced the Ronald McDonald character into more homes than just those in the USA. I know here in Australia he’s very recognisable.
As for the “influence” of the Ronald McDonald character…I agree with you that he should not be included in this list. In my opinion Ronald is only a part of a greater advertising strategy, which is no doubt very influential to a large number of people.
125. sergent buzzkill - November 4th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
King arthur?
126. Vera Lynn - November 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
(69) Oh I love GI Joe!! Any soldier. All soldiers.
And I don’t care what anyone says. Santa is real. He has to be. He’s the magic in everyone’s heart.
127. goof_ball - November 4th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!
#3 is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!
128. Paulb - November 4th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
Malboro man is also influential because he’s led hundreds and thousands of people lung cancer
129. esteban - November 4th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
heeeey
Santa DID exist, he was nicola from bari, a bishop, and also a saint
130. Bill - November 4th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
No such thing as a cowboy!? My great-grandpa worked as one on a ranch and did quite a few cattle-drives. On his WWI draft card, his occupation was listed as a…”Cowboy”. It’s a safe bet he’d disagree with #7.
131. Anon - November 4th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
segue,
Ah, yes. Every time one says one doesn’t believe in fairies … Clearly I myself was responsible for the snuffing out of a fairy there. By my insinuation that fairies don’t exist, Tinkerbell got excluded! Besides, I’m perfectly well aware the Tooth Fairy is real. The only reason I can’t prove it is lack of milk teeth these days to put under my pillow. The Tooth Fairy was amazingly adept too at calculating inflation between the time of paying for my teeth and those of my daughters years later.
But how I envy you. If only benign fairies had played the part in my childhood that malign witches did! Growing up was more conquering non-existent fears than losing charming fantasies.
Your wildlife is spectacular. All we can offer at present is a series of garden visits by the giant hummingbird, the world’s largest, plus some good lizard and hawkmoth sightings during our recent short field trip to the north.
In fact, apart from the coastline, Chile isn’t all that rich in megafauna. At least the Atacama is the world’s only hot desert without venomous reptiles or serious scorpions. A definite consolation. Watch out for those Chagas disease-carrying bugs though.
132. Renegade - November 4th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
Ugh..it’s amazing all of these people who blatantly shout Jesus as a PERSON never existed. I’m glad we can so easily discard the commonly accepted research by those who are far more knowledgeable about history and past affairs. I suppose in another 2000 years Hitler will never have existed and the Holocaust will be a story to frighten children. Sounds good to me, ranting is done. Moving on.
This list is certainly vague. You say influential “people” and throw the little engine that could into the list. I’m going to take that to mean that you also want to include personified things/animals as well. In which case why not add Smokey the Bear? Maybe Clifford the Big Red Dog?
If we are talking about just people, there are certainly people who are more influential than these that never existed. King Arthur? Any of the Knights of the Round Table? How about Harry Potter? Look how many people were glued to that book and some of the cults based off of it? I mean shoot, I even heard some lady open up a Hogwarts in England.
I mean..the list was a great concept in thought. There is just WAY too many influential and fictional people out there. I kinda think you’re looking to cause controversy with these lists too..particularly after that “Top 10 Influential Jews” list that sparked an unreasonably long and rather verbally abusive debate over the existence of Jesus, Moses, and Abraham lol.
133. Maggot - November 4th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
To those that are throwing out names such as Superman, GI Joe, Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, etc. - I’m curious to know why these characters should be considered as “influential”.
134. chris - November 4th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
If it wasn’t for Superman, we wouldn’t have so many superhero movies or comic books. If it wasn’t for Sherlock Holmes there would be no detective stories and without Dracula there would be no vampires. You can skip GI Joe.
The Marlboro Man got free cigarettes for life after the success of those ads and 15 years later he died from lung cancer.
Santa was real, he was Greek and known as Saint Nicholas and lived about 1000 years ago. His legend has only evolved into Santa Claus over the last 300 years or so, and he’s pretty different today to how he started out. The image of him as a fat white bearded man in red actually was created in the 30’s as part of an ad campaign for Coca-Cola.
135. J. Lindsey - November 4th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Superman
Cinderella
King Arthur
I think they should be in the list too. And Santa shouldn’t be at number 10.
136. Adrian - November 4th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
You forgot to add Jesus.
*ducks and covers*
137. Nick Palla - November 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Barack Obama is the 44th president.
Hells yeah!
138. gcat - November 4th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Barack Obamas alter ego as the savior of humanity? I guess we’ll have to see….
139. Profeh - November 4th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Maggot/Chris:
I disagree with you, Chris, the impact on literature or on a genre is the author’s doing, not the character’s - but I agree about G.I. Joe. In Holmes’ case, the character influenced actual investigative procedures.
140. nyys - November 4th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
Where’s King Arthur?
141. chris - November 4th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
139 Profeh
Im not saying it wasn’t the author’s who are responsible for what they created, but I think with these characters they trancended simply the authors creation to became fixtures within the public conciousness. For instance, it was Edgar Allen Poe who invented the detective novel, but it was Sherlock Holmes as a character that cemented the genre into place. The two teenagers who invented Superman sold the character for $50 and recieved no recognition for what they created for over 50 years and never did anything again, yet within a year of their Superman comic book being released, they had initiated a genre and a flood of imitations that is still going stronger then ever.
142. CRSN - November 5th, 2008 at 12:47 am
The Santa image of today was firstly created by Coca Cola ( i think) in the late 50’s, originally it was him in a Green suit.
Please, someone prove me wrong.
143. J. Lindsey - November 5th, 2008 at 1:53 am
nyys: yeah, King Arthur too.
144. Anon. E. Mouse - November 5th, 2008 at 3:11 am
107. DiscHuker: It’s hard not to agree on Bioshock! That game is fantastic. Must say though, when it comes to Big Daddies, I’m definitely more fond of the Bouncers than the Rosies.
For all of you yelling ‘Jesus’, there is little doubt for most historians that he existed. The only question that remains is whether he was truly the son of God. That does not, however, change the amount of influence and inspiration he holds. Although I am personally not Christian, I find the concept and idea of Jesus Christ to be a very inspiring and beautiful one, and I will always respect those that hold thier faith in Him (as long as they do not press thier views onto me).
145. pete - November 5th, 2008 at 4:07 am
get a life people
146. Paulb - November 5th, 2008 at 4:26 am
lol its funny we’re having this Jesus validity argument again when we just had it on the 10 influencial Jews list.
147. Ironcross - November 5th, 2008 at 6:22 am
I have trouble with cowboys not being real. Of course they were and they are exactly as they are depicted. You would have been better off adding in Mr Rogers of his neighborhood fame.
148. cass - November 5th, 2008 at 7:01 am
Here´s your proof CRSN - http://snopes.com/cokelore/santa.asp
And I question the fact that Romeo and Juliet didn´t exist, as the play was based on real events from Verona. I´ve been to LA CASA DI GIULIETTA and rubbed the breast of Juliet´s statue for good luck.
http://www.italyguides.it/us/i......php?ID=71
Interesting fact: The balcony was added after the play gained popularity as originally the house lacked one.
So even if the play was a fictionalised account of their story, it doesn´t make them any less real than Julius Caesar for example.
I´d have thought a Shakespeare buff like you Jamie would know this.
149. Kelly - November 5th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I’m also going to come down on the statement that cowboys were nore of an ideal than a reality. I’m a fifth generation rancher in the American West. My ancestors dealt with many of the hardships depicted in movies and stories, but they did it for real. The cowboy is, and has been, romanticized by Hollywood and other sources, but is still a collection of real people with real values and work ethics.
150. robneiderman - November 5th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Not your best work. Santa Claus, Robin Hood, and cowboys were all real people who have had legends attached to them over time. Saying that cowboys weren’t real because they weren’t like we imagine them is like saying Christopher Columbus wasn’t real because of all the misconceptions about him.
Also, the Little Engine That Could? As much as he might think he can, he can’t be considered a person.
151. Dionysus - November 5th, 2008 at 10:37 am
What about God?
I think he influenced some people.
152. Lizzyxo - November 5th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Great List Jamie!
I do think an honorable mention to Uncle Sam though.
I see a lot of Homer Simpsons or Ronald McDonald and such, they were famous, but not influential in the way the, say Rosie was. All girls know Rosie, she is in text books and is an icon for women being able to do anything they want…
Homer drinks beer eats donuts and says D’oh! (I love the Simpsons so don’t go yelling at me!)
The list same influential, not famous….
Side Notes: Where the hell is Randall? and Pleas take the Jesus/God stuff to the Influential Jewish list!
153. Hollis - November 5th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Okay, I know you said you were expecting this anyway, but I have to say that there actually was a Robin Hood (Robyn Hode in old english). I graduated with a degree in world history and actually did a research paper on the subject and found him to be real. In fact, the original RH was so popular that other thieves adopted his name after him and so the legend was born! The story we all know and love is, of course, not altogether true, but there actually were some “Merry Men”. No Maid Marian I’m afraid. The romance never happened, but came about as RH was actually a member of the Cult of the Virgin and quite devoted to the Virgin Mary. The romance part was popularized sometime in the 17th century by a travelling play-group. The original RH lived in the early 13th century and had problems with King Edward II. Never King John.
Sorry about the rant =p Just being a nerd over here.
154. angryfeet - November 5th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Curious about your research, Hollis - I’m currently reading “Great Tales from English History”, by Robert Lacey, and while he does acknowledge that there were two people believed to have possibly been the source of the “Robin Hood” myth, one in 1225 an outlaw named Robert Hood, and another one in 1261 named William Robehod, Lacey claims there is very little known about either man other than the fact they were outlaws in one way or another - there’s no records that these men were even thieves. Are either of these men your original Robin Hood? Can you suggest some good books to read on the subject, or where you found your research? I’m a student of history myself, particularly English history, so I’m very interested in the Robin Hood story, I’d love to read some new perspectives on it.
155. Maggot - November 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Profeh, Chris,
That’s kind of where I was going with my question. I took “influential” to mean roughly: inspires people to think or behave in certain ways. In the several examples I questioned (and many other seemingly random characters that are being suggested), really the only influence was to inspire others to expand on the genres with “copy-cat” ideas and characters (as Chris said in #141). IMO that doesn’t fit the list criteria, but I guess it is subject to interpretation.
156. NO - November 5th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Wasnt there a real Santa at one point…meaning he has lived
157. Andy - November 5th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
What - No Jesus Christ ??
No God ??
LOL
158. Shadow - November 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Way to tell fo that Robin Hood trash, Jamie! Speaking as someone who has nearly bee na victim of illegal wealth redistribution, (read armed robbery), I think I have some idea of what it feels like to have your hard earned money taken away and given to those who are less deserving of it.
Oh wait, what was I thinking? I live in America and I’m a taxpayer, I get raped by Big Brother and have to pay for the privilege. My wealth is then given to illegal aliens and people who refuse to work a day of their miserable, misbegotten and slothful lives. I have no problem with helping those who are truly in need, but not the rest.
Speaking of that… I heard today that we’re supposed to be getting a second stimulus check in March from the Feds, for a measly $2,000. Now, if you cut my taxes to the Feds in half, and let me keep the difference, I would actually get to have about three times that back. Anyone else see where this “Economic Stimulus Plan” is smelling a little fishy?
159. segue - November 5th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
131. Anon: If you want to get into birdlife, we have several kinds of hummers, scrub-jays, blue-jays, robins, woodpeckers, hawks, wild turkey, quail, turkey vultures, and so many more land birds. Go a quarter mile west and the sea birds arise, gulls, sand pipers, pelicans, egrets and on and on and on.
I am punch-drunk rich with wild life.
The tide pools are full of anemone, sea stars, mussels, barnacles, limpits. Sea Otters play and feed just off shore, as do harp and harbor seals, and elephant seals have their rookery two beaches down.
In the fields on the other side of Hwy.1 from the beaches, zebra browse with the cattle.
Yes, I live in paradise. I appreciate that fact daily.
If faeries don’t exist, who needs them with all of this natural beauty?
160. Huh? - November 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Smokey the Bear.
161. Peeves - November 5th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
I agree with the people who have already pointed out how ridiculous your anti-taxes rant was in addition to your poor or at least limited knowledge of the Robin Hood story. The two really don’t have anything to do with each other even if you were correct in your whole ‘most people who believe in taxing and protective government have a false morality’ argument. Gross.
162. astraya - November 5th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
I find this list very vague: we have a doll and a train, we have clearly fictional people, we have people for whom there is a grain of historicity, we have people for whom there might be a grain of historicity and we have people for whom there might not be a grain of historicity.
On the bus tour of Stratford-upon-Avon, the tour guide mentioned that there’d been a case of premature burial there just before Shakespeare’s time, and maybe he’d heard about it and woven it into the story.
When most girls yearn for their Romeo, being dead within a couple of days after meeting him probably doesn’t spring to mind.
163. segue - November 5th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
162. astraya: How right you are! I’ve never really considered it in exactly that way before. Meeting my true love, and almost immediately killing myself, is not my idea of true romance.
164. Magda - November 5th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Burgerbuddy (#60)
Many ancient greeks never wrote anything or their writings are not recovered but you cannot conclude that they did not exist. Plato did not create Socrates as a fictional character, he rather altered him to express his own philosophy put into the mouth of his mentor.
Taken from wikipedia: “Yet, the ‘real’ Socrates, like many of the other Ancient philosophers, remains at best enigmatic and at worst unknown. However, it is also clear from other writings, and historical artifacts that Socrates was not simply a character, or invention, of Plato. The testimony of Xenophon and Aristotle, alongside some of Aristophanes’ work within The Clouds, can be usefully engaged in fleshing out our perception of Socrates beyond Plato’s work.”
Frankie Di (#90)
I kind of agree with you, but Plato’s works are philosophical not mythological. Mythology is a variety of ancient fairytales and the characters are definately fictional. Deadalus was fictional, Socrates was not.
165. j_teether - November 5th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I know it’s been mentioned several times already, but Cowboys were real, but not quite the way they are portrayed today.
In movies cowboys are always burly tough guys, but in real life they were incredibly scrawny because they had to go on long trips of driving cattle and a heavy person would wear the horse down, require more food, etc…
166. Crash - November 5th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
barbie isn’t real, romeo and juliet aren’t real, but there’s no proof that Jesus isn’t real. I think that the exclusion of jesus, god, allah, and all other “supreme dieties’ is a good choice since nobody can difinitivly prove or disprove their existance.
On that note, I think that replacing some of the ones that might have existed with those that definitivly did not would have been better. for example, Santa claus, rosie the riveter, and the marlboro man could be replace by Superman, Freddy kruger, and Uncle Sam. however, i do agree that superman and freddy kruger may not have had as much influence on people.
good list!!
167. paulyt - November 6th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Well it could be argued Santa did live since the inspiration for the story about him came from a real person.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa#Origins
168. luna1580 - November 6th, 2008 at 1:23 am
romeo & juliet -ever read it? it is a depressing story about the horror wrought by the irrational urge for honor-vengeance in a family feud. the story has nothing to do with “true romantic love,” that is just the vehicle to display the pointlessness of people dying over an old hatred.
why put a doll and a fictional train on a “people” list? i’d expect more along the lines of folk-heroes: an example from a U.S. perspective would be paul bunyan (and his big blue ox).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Bunyan
169. YO-YO - November 6th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Jfarter I think U blew it this time
thats my opinion
170. Skomi - November 6th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Jesus, Alah and other characters invented by different religions should be on top of the list…
171. tj - November 6th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
they are awesome u need to put more on they i hope u do
172. Caroline - November 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Oh my! Robin Hood was real. I’m from that area, and he did.
XXX
173. Choosil1cious - November 6th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Those were a VERY racist remarks some of you said.
As a Muslim I believe in both. That is why if we ever ever ever got enraged about christians there would be posters like “No Christians!” instead of “Down with Jesus!” because we take Jesus as a Prophet, not much of the Son of God (correct me if I got the Christian’s belief wrong).
And everyone with a religion believe that their icon is true and not invented. Exaamples include Allah (Islam), Jesus (Christianity), Abraham (Judaism), Buddha (Buddhism), many many gods and probably Krishna (Hinduism), Amaterasu (Shintoism) and Guru Nanak (Sikhism)
(CORRECT ME AGAIN IF I AM WRONG AT ANY OF THE LISTED ICONS FOR THE RELIGINS
)
Just because you are an atheist you cannot state that they were all made-up.
Oh and Allah is a name for god in Arabic. Does not refer to the same god as in different religions.
What Crash is saying is the statement that you should be making. And what Stizzy said, to me it is completely true. I believe that God is watching all of us, every second of our lives eversince we were born, even as we type in our comments. Rosantohof, you cannot say that God is not a person because some believe that once God came to Earth and lived.
174. orenj21 - November 6th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
GORILLAZ FTW
175. CRSN - November 6th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
173. Choosil1cious - dude, chill, that’s generally why we try to avoid religion in the comments cause it always offends someone, just because some posters take liberty in cutting the piss out of a religion does not mean that they are racist, they may be ignorant, but still, not racist.
A lot of people misinterpreted certain religions aspects because of the way they have been bought up, I was bought up in an Irish Catholic family and did all of the ceremonies, but still to this day i do not consider myself a Catholic because of some of their beliefs.
To some people God is as real as UFO’s, you can not change a persons position on religion by having a go at them and THEN trying to explain why, try and be open minded to other people perspectives by being empathetic.
Regarding the meaning of “Allah”, we know, we are not dumb, if you really want to have a good back ground on what people on this site know about religions, then go to a couple of the older lists and scroll through the comments, Jfrater is very well versed in religion, and you may see why we try to avoid religious conversations, it’s too much of a flammable subject.
176. whatiswrong - November 6th, 2008 at 10:29 pm
Amazing. Every once and awhile, I come back to see what self-rightous agenda your parlaying. So, William Shakespeare is responsible for the high divorce rate? Please.
177. Ella - November 7th, 2008 at 6:10 am
Rosie the Riverteer was actually a working woman who was portrayed in an early documentary film, so all though she doesn’t hav a lot to do with all the posters and stuff, she actually was a real person.
178. lifeschool - November 7th, 2008 at 11:20 am
God eh?
Very nice concept - but flawed, in that God was never a man nor a woman - but an ever present force. Some see this force as energy, of light, of love, a force of nature, a force of justice or forgiveness, a source of the ‘life force’; which exists at the heart of all things.
To me, god was never a person - but lives on regardless.
179. daedalus - November 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Excellent idea, poor execution.
180. poonus - November 7th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
crap list
181. Anon - November 7th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Romeo and Juliet encapsulates mobid romantic wallowing in the self-pity of doomed infatuation. As such it brought to mind another fictional character in that mould, who for a while was even more influential, Goethe’s Werther.
In ‘Die Leiden des jungen Werthers’ (Young Werther’s Tragic Sorrows), the hero (or anti-hero) becomes obsessed by a beautiful but well-balanced married woman a little older and a lot more mature than himself. She feels sorry for him, but he misinterprets her sensitive and sympathetic reaction as encouragement. His mood and personality are symbolised by the all-blue suit he wears. On eventually realising his passion is not reciprocated and hopeless, he commits suicide by leaping from a bridge. During Goethe’s lifetime so many spurned young Germanic men dressed up in blue suits and fell to their death into rivers that the author felt obliged to *discourage the practice* in a foreword!
My earlier suggestion of witches and fairies was seriously intended to be in line with the “Influential” thread. When I was a kid, books were full of both and, as with Santa Claus and the Bogeyman (or Boogeyman), many adults at the least did little to discourage children from making up their own minds as to whether or not they existed. Such potent chimeras therefore played a large part both in the imaginative life of young children, and also in their examining and assessing the reality or not of what was handed down from the adult world: i.e., growing up. It might even in some cases have begun the process of conditioning minds to question rather than accept received information. That should be considered against a background when the label *free-thinker* was still widely considered somewhat daring and beyond the pale, and in some quarters quite morally unacceptable even.
182. A. Wittee Naime - November 8th, 2008 at 8:34 am
I don’t know why, but Listverse certainly harbors a lot of dumb shits.
183. segue - November 8th, 2008 at 11:58 am
181. Anon:…many adults at the least did little to discourage children from making up their own minds as to whether or not they existed. Such potent chimeras therefore played a large part both in the imaginative life of young children…
****
Oh! So spot on!
I can still hear the words ringing in my ears, ” Stay little as long as you can”.
And my dumbfounded thought in reply (never dared spoken!), how can I remain “little”? Growth is a natural factor.
Of course, what my parents meant was “stay young and innocent, naive, as long as you can”. They did everything in their power to make this come true including, but not limited to, parochial schools for 13 years.
What they didn’t know, couldn’t know, had no means of dreaming, was what was going on in my head! I was learning about the real, the wide world from the library. During one summer, while still in grammar school, I read our entire Encyclopedia Britannica. The next summer I read the Websters Unabridged, a hardcovered book more than a foot thick.
While I still believed in the faeries my parents forced on me, I was learning about the world. Eventually, the world won.
What I find funny and sad about the entire experience,