Are there any arrogant/obnoxious people that you admire?

[Wait Wut]

82. Finally, I can respond to this!

Your comment nails my thoughts on arrogance perfectly and I wanted to have a clear head before I replied. I think intelligence and talent may just come off as arrogance without the person's knowledge. I also think everyone should have a bit of arrogance. Just enough to give them confidence in situations that they may otherwise avoid. How can any great author become published without thinking, "People will buy this book because it's good."? How can any politician become elected without thinking, "Enough people will like me to elect me."? It's the hypocrites I can't stand. Those that feign humility to gain our support. Mittens comes to mind.

Yes, there are people in this world that are arrogant without reason. Those that just think by "being" they are better than others without the substance to back it up. But, the intelligent, the artistic, the talented...maybe it's just that confidence that some of us lack makes them seem more arrogant. Bourdain is a good example. He's smart, he's talented, he's attractive...why the hell shouldn't he be confident? He's also incredibly compassionate and driven. Those traits negate the negatives (Is that a double negative? Heh.).

Maybe I have more understanding of the personality because I'm arrogant. I fought hard to gain the confidence I have and I'm damned proud of it. Look at Shorty Rossi (Pit Boss). He had a really rough life growing up and into his adulthood. He not only turned his life around after spending 10 years in prison, but chose to devote his life defending dogs that had been judged unfairly...like himself. Whether or not you like pit bulls, his actions are admirable. He not only deserves to be the asshole that he is, but needs to be.