We can at the end agree to disagree. Part of it is motives. I think the networks’ motives are not the ones you are advancing. They are not trying to give imperfect children encouragement.
The networks are trying for ratings, sex sells. They don’t really care who they damage in the pursuit of ratings; we see that by the ghoulish questioning of the newly bereaved. The networks are also politically correct so geniuses must be brought down, devalued, as must white males. That’s especially good for boys who have the ability to pursue STEM careers to be exposed to /sarc. It is despicable to sensationalize someone’s life after their death for personal gain.
If you feel that Einstein’s sex life gives any depth or dimension to his achievements I disagree. The fact that he had affairs does not mean that his discoveries are eclipsed or make it easier for an average person to grasp them let alone engender them.
I think your “great man” discouragement of kids is an excuse to enshrine mediocrity. I totally reject it. Children are not ready to see the nuances of “real” in any case. It is self indulgence to think that you can enlighten them in that way. You enjoy pontificating but they just give lip service. Just like taking a child of 4 to Les Mis. Some of it they get & love and some goes so far over their heads there isn’t a ripple. That’s the way its supposed to be. Nuance comes in its own time.
The shame of it is that your theory is what creates lack luster kids. Moral relativity and no clear and invigorating embodiment of virtues.
I think they’re just telling the story. The gate opener on this kind of warts and all presentation of historical figures is all the way back in the 70s with the book and then movie Right Stuff. Neither shied away from the fact that the astronauts tended to be womanizers before they were astronauts and then developed a taste for “Cape Cookies” when they got “promoted”. It’s simply a part of the facts of history and pretending it didn’t exist wouldn’t change the fact that most of the astronauts were divorced by the time the book came out. The truth was known, no reason not to tell it.
It’s the same thing here. Einstein’s predilections are known, well documented, in his own hand. Now they could ignore it and tell the “sanitized” version of the story, or they can tell the truth. They haven’t damaged anybody, the information is out there, and was well publicized long before this show was even green lit. He hasn’t been “brought” down, he did it to himself.
It gives depth and dimension to who he was. It’s simply a part of him and his story. Ignoring it is ignoring a major part of his life (he spent a lot of time chasing skirts). Nobody is trying to eclipse his discoveries, it’s simply part of the story.
No, my theory is NOT what creates lackluster kids. It’s blind hero worship and elevating people to unachieved and unachievable glory that does that. It’s the pedestal YOU put these people on that teaches kids they can’t be that good. you are, quite simply, wrong on all counts. this isn’t moral relativity it’s ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF THE FACTS. This DID happen, that’s WHO HE WAS, and anybody that can’t handle that needs to grow the hell up.