Are there any arrogant/obnoxious people that you admire?

[OriginalGeek]

25. read the title

came to post Bourdain and Gordon Ramsay

See that's already been done.

I wonder why the first two I thought of were chefs. I don't, however, wonder why they were those two - the fact that I am not alone I think is proof of concept.


I do want to stress that while I find them arrogant and/or obnoxious, I mean it in the good way. I would love to hang out with either of them for an afternoon. I think it would be one of the most fun afternoons ever.

I think there is room in the world for the arrogance of being a complete master of one's chosen profession. When you are really really good at what you do, just doing it can look like arrogance to people who aren't anywhere near that level. In GR's case, the difference between being a dick about it and just being good is that while Ramsay might think you are less skilled than he, I never get the impression that he thinks you are less of person than he. I think he truly believes the people he is trying to help can be as good as he is if they would just listen. But people get mad when told they aren't good at what they think they are good at and that usually turns the learning channels right off. I sometimes wish I had had someone in my life that was that expert and that committed to imparting their expertise to me about any of the things I ever did. Actually, back when I was younger, I probably would have chafed mightily at it so I guess I really wish someone would do that now that I am more open to learning. I just have much less time to do it.

As for Anthony Bourdain, I've never seen him cook a thing so I don't how he cooks - but the way he describes food and talks about the chefs he admires makes me pretty sure he knows what he is talking about and I LOOOOOVE watching him do that. My daughter and I watch reruns of No Reservations over and over and I hope he keeps making shows for as long as I live. (I mean, he can make them after I die too but I just won't care as much then. My daughter might though so I hope does.)