Which person do you consider to be the most influential, in the past century?

I don't know granny- lots of different aspects of influence... I suppose the secret elite have influenced people from behind the scenes. They decide when we have economic booms and busts. Politicians from all countries influencing investment and wars.
Why who do you think has influenced people? Any one person you got in mind?

Alan Titchmarsh

Chopper, no I don't have anyone in mind. There are so many possibilities , but no doubt it would depend on where our priorities lie.
It takes a lot of thought if we are serious, not so much if we are lighthearted.

Adolf Hitler affected and influenced millions of lives so must be in the top ranks of influential people. As you say Granny many many contenders for this.

Albert Einstein also springs to mind,
like salmon says Hitler takes some beating.

If you mean local Granny? then Thomas Ismay would be a contender for me as he had a huge influence locally.

PB

I am not being lighthearted Granny. Just thought I would respond to your post the other day. Hope you get better answers than my apparent lighthearted one. I had come back to this post as i was hoping to read the suggestions as I was interested.

I think Granny was referring to my post, chopper. I am 90% lighthearted these days , I blame the medication, 23 pills a day must do something bad as well as good :-)

No, I was not referring to anyone or anyones choices, only a general comment. Sorry if it came across in the wrong manner. Certainly not inrended.
Neither was it intended as a remark towards you Zipper.

Only an innocent remark, with apologies sent.

IAfter having some thought I agree with Salmon and vanman,. My own choice mivht be Mother Teresa, for the never ending ,never tiring dedication she gave to the homeless, dying, orphans and all those who suffered around her.

Thanks Granny- I will stop being offended now lol.
I think that for each generation during the century, there are different influences- Mother T may have been yours, Martin Luther King may have been others. I think also you are generally influenced by popular culture in your teens and that moulds you.. for instance I think musicians have a lot to influence a growing mind- sometimes for the better and vice versa.
Really I don't know - I can't pin one name to your topic lol.
Take it easy granny

Very interesting Granny, although i will not be participating in your psychological game.

Chopper....Pleased you came back and put your thoughts here.
With your comments about music, it could be said that The Beatles were also instrumental in opening up the countries of the world and breaking down barriers through their music.

Ste, I have little concept of what you mean by psychological games. No need to join in, but your comment makes no sense. Sorry.

I never make much sence Granny, you should know that by now

Too generalised for me.......cannot possibly choose one Individual.

I also agree with Ste- this topic may or may not be a method of deciphering implicit thoughts of members for personal gain??

Please explain 'personal gain' . Really at a loss as to what the problem is.
It's a question put forth by the Times Magazine in 1999.
No need to respond.

Well, I said Alan Titchmarsh.I hope you get a lot of pennies for my thoughts... LOL

At least you took the time to give a sensible answer , Zipper. Thanks, not a completely worthless topic.

My pick would be no other than the great man himself.Who is Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela is a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and politician.

Goodness me, it is a simple question of opinion, how could any individual gain personally from somebody else's thoughts on the subject.

Take a thought for a minute salmon, think like a shrink

You mean twist everything back to my repressed childhood where I had to clean chimneys from the age of 2 and down the pit at 6AM from aged 8 while getting a crust of bread once a week. And then of course there is the sexual anxieties. I am off for a walk in the rain now to talk to the trees.

Must have been tough in them days Salmon.Not like this today though.Thanks for sharing x.

You got bread? Every week?? Luxury!

I had to get up in the morning at ten o'clock at night half an hour before I went to bed, drink a cup of sulphuric acid, work twenty-nine hours a day down mill, and pay mill owner for permission to come to work, and when we got home, our Dad and our mother would kill us and dance about on our graves singing Hallelujah.

You try telling that to kids today...

But anyway, my nomination for most influential person is Gerry Anderson. His work has influenced my thinking more than anyone, teaching me that the World is full of puppets but even a puppet can be a hero too.

My Grandmother.

What about Jim Henson for "The Muppets" to go with the "Puppets"?
I used to walk like Andy Pandy, mum said if it wasnt for "Andy" I`d proberbly never have walked. I was more than 2 years old before I started walking, shuffled around on my bum before that.

Could have been worse Zip. At least you didn't learn from Spotty Dog!

I still aspire to be Troy Tempest when I grow up, and marry Aqua Marina.

What about the auto pilot in Fireball XL5, he was always jumping out in emergencies though :-) or mad mitch from Supercar?. He was a born leader.

On that theme it must be Homer Simpson, once nominated by US newspapers as a perfect role model for fathers. Makes me laugh anyway.

Nikola Tesla

Never heard of he/she.may i ask who this influential person is?

Google is your friend.

okay Thanks Pinz will have a look now x.

Click on his name, Candyfloss. As soon as you see his photo you'll recognise him (...I'm sure it's the bloke out of Sparks. Although he might also have collaborated with OMD on their hit song Tesla Girls)

Anyway, I think we should also nominate the creator of Absinthe.

Ah, La fée verte. I've drunk it in Prague.

Haha he does look like him out of Sparks.Well spotted.and he is a really talented guy with all his experiments.Now who is Absinthe?Chriskay drinks it lol.

I'm pretty sure that Tesla was the guy out of Sparks. I mean, him being an electronics expert he must have been a bit of a bright spark. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't single-handedly invent the first synthesiser. No wonder OMD were so inspired by him!

Absinthe is a very potent drink, once much favoured in artistic circles and, as chriskay rightly says, is sometimes refered to as "la fée verte" (the green fairy). It was banned for a long time in many countries.

Next time you watch the movie Moulin Rouge it will suddenly all make sense!

Very interesting info Yin.