Time Magazine's Person of the Year

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Mon Dec 08, 2014 at 10:39:49 PM EST
Tags: person of the year (all tags)

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Time Magazine released its list of the 8 finalists for Person of the Year today. Here's the list (not from Time, because it has an auto play video.) Pretty lackluster. There are some odd choices, like Taylor Swift. And redundant ones, like Vladimir Putin, who was chosen in 2007 and 2012.

It's not a popularity contest. Time writes:

TIME's choices for Person of the Year are often controversial. Editors are asked to choose the person or thing that had the greatest impact on the news, for good or ill — guidelines that leave them no choice but to select a newsworthy — not necessarily praiseworthy — cover subject.

Time named Adolph Hitler "Person of the Year" in 1938 and Joseph Stalin twice, in 1939 and 1942. In 1979, it was Ayatollah Khomeini.

Since groups of persons are now eligible, how did ISIS not make the list?

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Time Magazine's Person of the Year | 53 comments (53 topical)

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Ebola workers (5.00 / 5) (#3)
by Slado on Mon Dec 08, 2014 at 11:24:31 PM EST

True human sacrifice for all the right reasons.

They embody what can be good in the world.

I say give it to the Pope again (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by nycstray on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 12:25:46 AM EST

or the protestors. Did anyone not know Cook is gay? List is weird . . . or just sad.

: Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 07:33:55 AM EST

with all that happening in the world, Taylor Swift??
Srsly?

Easy choice (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by CoralGables on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 06:39:58 AM EST

Ebola caregivers.

Although the Taylor Swift Spotify story is quite interesting, I wouldn't go with a musical performer until a group of them take down Ticketmaster's exorbitant fees.

CG, I see they found baby Jesus... (5.00 / 1) (#28)
by fishcamp on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:40:09 AM EST

That was close, but I would have loved taking him fishing.


: Taking bits and pieces of this story (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by CoralGables on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:09:26 AM EST

{the stolen} Baby Jesus was found on Navarre Avenue and later held {in lockup} at the Coral Gables Police Department on Friday.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the Baby Jesus alone was valued at $2,500.
{The owner} arrived at the Coral Gables Police Department on Monday and positively identified the Baby Jesus as his own.
Baby Jesus was returned to his {slave} owner and returned to {work unpaid at} the manger.

: Bait? (none / 0) (#30)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:42:38 AM EST

Im sorry.

Easy choice (none / 0) (#11)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 07:38:30 AM EST

But if they make the obvious choice it will make less news.


Hong Kong Occupy Protesters (5.00 / 3) (#14)
by Dadler on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:11:11 AM EST

After we sold out our own Occupy movement on the alter of our cowardice, the HK contingent face much worse in the long run. I have no doubt the Chinese government will brand them for life.


You're picking a group (none / 0) (#15)
by CoralGables on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:39:22 AM EST

that is no longer on the list...a little like picking the Jacksonville Jags to win the Super Bowl.


Call me a rebel (5.00 / 1) (#17)
by Dadler on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:46:05 AM EST

That they aren't even ON the final list speaks to the utter cowardice of that sh*trag mag. Not that I have a strong opine or anything. ;-)


Like I said (5.00 / 2) (#19)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:57:31 AM EST

more interesting if we make our own picks


do you mean ignoring the Time list? (none / 0) (#35)
by Reconstructionist on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:06:47 AM EST

IF so, I would establish my own criteria.

-- an individual not a group

-- responsible for something of actual importance not merely something getting a lot of attention.

-- something important on a wide scale

-- but, something important that affects us in a profound way, not merely because it affects lot of people in a more trivial way (e.g.,a new and improved consumer good might affect a lot of people but this year's model of a better phone won't change the course of humanity)

-- something that the individual is a very strong and influential leader over, if not an "indispensable party," not merely in charge of at the time something significant occurred.

-- If close to a " a tie" considering all that go with positive over negative.

My criteria would probably limit the candidates to political leaders, religious leaders, or those primarily responsible for a "paradigmatic" technological or scientific breakthrough.

I don't think any major political leader accomplished anything worthy of this year's nod, and in the science/technology field, I'm not aware of any strong candidate ( recognizing it's probably next to impossible to identify a person who has made such a breakthrough at the time of his achievement because the importance often won't become apparent until we look back).

So, I guess, despite being an agnostic, it's probably a year a religious leader would get my vote. If the Islamic world, or even one of the major branches had a dominant leader, he (not going to be a she)would be an obvious choice, but power and influence is not concentrated.

Pope Francis probably just doesn't have much competition.

He got it last year (none / 0) (#36)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:08:26 AM EST

i like him too but there are others who deserve recognition.
No?


: Term limits (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by Reconstructionist on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:12:05 AM EST

make it even harder.
Honestly, I'd have to give it more thought if we impose that, because off the top of my head, I'd be inclined to say not every year has a person worthy of such a designation.

That's a depressing list (5.00 / 3) (#12)
by Reconstructionist on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:06:02 AM EST

Although the stickler in me feels that giving "person" of the year to a group is a cop-out, if I had to choose from that list, I'd go with Ebola care workers, by process of elimination.

The most bizarre choice is Goodell. Being an excellent commissioner would hardly make one the person having the greatest impact. Being a smarmy incompetent one just means the impact was for ill, not that it was great in magnitude. That Taylor Swift is not the most baffling choice just shows how ridiculous this list is.

I think it would interesting (none / 0) (#13)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:09:19 AM EST

if we said who we might pick if we could. I already went first.


: Doctors Without Borders (5.00 / 2) (#26)
by oculus on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:37:29 AM EST

Here's your Time (5.00 / 2) (#20)
by kdog on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:07:08 AM EST

Person of the Year...sh&t make it the person of next year too...the entire 21st Century even.

My Pick: (5.00 / 3) (#41)
by KeysDan on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 02:13:03 PM EST

Dr. Joseph Howard Meier. The emergency room physician at Texas Presbyterian Hospital who missed key Ebola symptoms of Mr. Thomas Eric Duncan. Dr. Meier admitted he was not aware that his patient recently arrived from Liberia and that he had a 103 degree fever. Mr. Duncan was not admitted to the hospital at that time, and subsequently died.

The impact of Dr. Meier's misdiagnosis likely had a detrimental effect on the course of treatment of Mr. Duncan and engulfed the country in an Ebola freak-out. Physicians, nurses and other health care workers attending to the sick became pariahs. Politicians, like Governor Christie of New Jersey and Gov. LePage of Maine, disregarded science and glommed onto and fed hysteria. The Doctors without Borders was shunned and disrespected, unfairly treating its saints as sinners--impeding care in West Africa, and, ultimately, here.

Many Americans crawled under their beds and remained there until the all-clear was sounded by FOX news. And, the hysteria fueled those electoral goals of the country going to hell in a hand-basket---with the country now to live with the long-term results of the November elections.


Worthy of consideration KD... (5.00 / 3) (#42)
by kdog on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 02:17:58 PM EST

but I'd give the "American Hiding Under The Bed from Ebola" a slight edge over Dr. Meier...ya can't pin that mess all on him.

Ebola in the USA...already seems like a quaint fear from a bygone era. We're all much more likely to be killed by a police officer than by Ebola. Or by a terrorist, unless you file police under terrorists, and there is an argument to make for that.


: Yes, Dr. Meier (5.00 / 1) (#43)
by KeysDan on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 02:27:45 PM EST

as my Person of the Year, has a circumscribed responsibility, but he lent a spark to cascading events, taken over by those under the bed, in the governor's mansions, and to mindless talking heads everywhere.

Works (none / 0) (#21)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:10:05 AM EST

: I did not mean that to be one word (none / 0) (#23)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:11:32 AM EST

so I use another comment to explain.
Can't win.

ISIS not niceis. (5.00 / 3) (#22)
by lentinel on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:10:19 AM EST

They probably couldn't decide to go ahead and call the group "ISIS", and risk upsetting the administration and its spokespeople who keep saying, "ISIL".

And if they called it "ISIL", nobody would know what they talking about.

So they just let it go.

I nominate the folks who make things like these (5.00 / 3) (#24)
by Dadler on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:22:16 AM EST

Not the exact bottle I bought and shipped for my chemo-enduring sister-in-law, and which worked beyond belief, but close enough to make the point. And we choke men to death without consequence for selling loosies on the street? Such a phucked up plan-net. (link)

The Hashman... (none / 0) (#25)
by kdog on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:29:47 AM EST

would be a fine choice, and a positive one...good call.


How about this kid (none / 0) (#27)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:38:44 AM EST

Devonte Hart

An Adopted Boy Who Survived Abuse Has Touched the Nation With a Hug


Great Story... (none / 0) (#31)
by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:53:41 AM EST

...too bad they are using it to prop up denying women their rights.


Missed this (none / 0) (#32)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:00:25 AM EST

and I am cooking. I would appreciate understanding how and why. Not doubting it for a second. Just unaware.


I Think the LifeNews Website... (5.00 / 2) (#39)
by ScottW714 on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 01:22:42 PM EST

...was obvious, along with the prolife ads, but if that wasn'rt enough:

Devonte's story gives me hope. Hope for every child that's unwanted or neglected. Many argue that abortion is a merciful option for children born into circumstances like Devonte's. They believe it's justifiable to terminate a child to spare them from potential abuse. Imagine the absolute beauty that would have been lost if Devonte never existed. We can never know the potential a single life holds. Devonte was born into negative circumstances, but he overcame through the love of his adopted parents. Adoption is a powerful force for good in this world .

Or this special note at the bottom:

LifeNews Note: Christinia Martin writes for Live Action News. Martin has been a pro-life voice for eight years. Her work began after her mother confessed she paid a doctor to abort her, but walked out before he could. Knowing she was saved from death, she wanted to fight for others.

: Interesting (none / 0) (#44)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 02:48:18 PM EST

can we make the opposite argument for Ted Cruz?

Not so fast... (none / 0) (#33)
by kdog on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:03:20 AM EST

there is a witness claim that now iconic photo was staged, the child had no desire to hug that cop, and he was crying only because he was petrified.

Who knows if it's true, but they sure don't look tears of healing to me...they look more like "Mommy don't make me hug this stormtrooper for your stupid picture" tears.


: Not necessarily basing it on the photo (none / 0) (#34)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 11:06:45 AM EST

i saw that. The kid has an interesting story.

My money is on Putin (none / 0) (#1)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Dec 08, 2014 at 10:56:11 PM EST

he already took home the gold from the Advocate

I really don't get (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by CaptHowdy on Mon Dec 08, 2014 at 11:04:09 PM EST

Roger Goodell.

It would be nice if the Ferguson protestors got a nod. That would make some heads explode.


It makes sense in light of Time's (none / 0) (#8)
by Anne on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 06:52:41 AM EST

criteria:

the person or thing that had the greatest impact on the news, for good or ill

For me, I'd forget about anyone whose influence was about money and/or the making of it, which eliminates Taylor Swift, Jack Ma and Tim Cook. The Tim Cook thing really mystifies me - what's the big deal about him finally announcing what most of the rest of the world apparently already knew - that he's gay?

Putin? I don't even think the media bothers covering what's going on in the Ukraine, do they? Old news. It's like releasing a movie at the beginning of the Oscar year - no one will remember or care when it's time to vote on the nominations.

As noble as the causes are of both the Ebola aid workers and the Ferguson protestors, I would probably give it to Goodell, just because it's a story and a situation that's been in the news for almost a year, and he has mishandled it in every conceivable way - the only positive being the light it has shed on domestic/intimate partner violence. How the guy still has a job, much less one that pays him in excess of $40 million a year, is a mystery to me.

But the nature of his notoriety really calls for him to be "Goat of the Year," not "Person" of the Year.

On second thought, the whole thing is dumb, and about selling magazines and making money; the cover should be blank.


: I think if it was up to me I would pick (none / 0) (#9)
by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 07:31:06 AM EST

Neil deGrasse Tyson. For leading the science vs superstition discussion. I really think it may end up being one of the very most important issues we deal with going forward.

I lost respect for Time (none / 0) (#4)
by McBain on Mon Dec 08, 2014 at 11:37:56 PM EST

when they ran that darkened O.J. Simpson cover

: What a coincidence. (5.00 / 7) (#6)
by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 01:32:30 AM EST

I lost respect for Fox News -- and the people who watch it -- when it darkened our country's broadcast airwaves. At least Time magazine used to be good.

Why I do not care (none / 0) (#16)
by jimakaPPJ on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:42:02 AM EST

Look at the list.

Cheney should be on it? (5.00 / 2) (#18)
by CoralGables on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 09:49:15 AM EST

: this might be (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by CST on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 10:41:33 AM EST

the first time I agree with him on something.
The list is just... meh?
I mean Ebola workers are amazing people, don't get me wrong, and in a way I wish they were the people of the year, but the only time they ever seemed to make the news is when they got sick and scared the cr@p out of a bunch of people nowhere near them. And that was a thing for maybe a month or two at most and then no one in the news cared anymore.
If we're going for media coverage and impact, and we're including groups - you gotta hand it to Isis I think. Or frankly - I kind of like kdog's image. It's certainly impactful.

ISIS (none / 0) (#40)
by Slado on Tue Dec 09, 2014 at 01:56:50 PM EST

On second thought is the easy choice.

No other person or group of people have caused so much news this year.

I do understand the thought however that essentially giving them free propoganda might not be in the collective interest of everyone not in ISIS.

But that is a journalistic call.

The list has gone (none / 0) (#46)
by fishcamp on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 07:03:54 AM EST

downhill at the same speed as the magazine. I used to look forward to the Time magazine person of the year, as well as the magazine itself, but now I read TL, and Rolling Stone. And, of course, Ken Follett, James Lee Burke, and Wilber Smith.


Made me google Wilbur. (none / 0) (#50)
by oculus on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 03:54:07 PM EST

Wilber Smith is my favorite (none / 0) (#52)
by fishcamp on Thu Dec 11, 2014 at 03:08:19 PM EST

author of all time. He's very Michener like, but his sagas are all about early Africa. They are exquisitely wonderful.


: Fiction? Is he as (none / 0) (#53)
by oculus on Thu Dec 11, 2014 at 08:50:39 PM EST

long-winded as Michener? (I did enjoy "Tales of the South Pacific" and "Iberia."

Not Rand Paul? (none / 0) (#51)
by jondee on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 03:59:45 PM EST

or the flesh-eating Night of the Living Dead version of Ayn that still stalks the land?

You cut me to the quick, Slado.


Photographing Time's Person of the Year (none / 0) (#45)
by Mr Natural on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 06:53:36 AM EST

This looks official.

Sworn to secrecy, photographers Jackie Nickerson and Bryan Schutmaat were on the assignment of a lifetime when TIME asked them to photograph the 2014 Person of the Year -- the Ebola Fighters

As I said (none / 0) (#47)
by CoralGables on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 07:22:54 AM EST

easy choice


: Darn (none / 0) (#48)
by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 08:02:34 AM EST

I was hoping for Taylor Swift

It's Official: Ebola Fighters (none / 0) (#49)
by Anne on Wed Dec 10, 2014 at 08:02:56 AM EST

Here's the link to Time.

Glad it's not Roger Goodell.