To distinguish a 'person' and 'personality' in context

Angela Merkel (Image: Washington Post)

How can we define what a 'person' or 'personality' is? You may have your own answers but you can't help but express these without stating fact. We have our own opinions and perspectives on what these terms mean, or through personal experience, we define the sort of 'person' or 'personality' that we are. We also may be narrowing down the both words mean by defining the 'good' and 'bad' of each.

I have been thinking a lot about these two terms particularly this week as two accolades have entered the limelight which have gotten me to put my analytical cap on. The first accolade I want to go through is TIME Person of the Year. Whoever wins this, whether it is an individual or group of people, have spoken of their honour to be considered an influence in the only way they can.

Whether this influence has had a positive impact on you or not, that is another point entirely. But this year, the accolade went to Angela Merkel. The German Chancellor beat off Americans Caitlyn Jenner, who this year campaigned for transgender rights after having publicly gone through the process of a sex change, and Donald Trump who announced earlier in the year that he wants to run for the White House as a Republican. You cannot conclude whether these people as an individual 'person' is good or bad because we all have our own views and agendas. However, I cannot help but completely understand why they were shortlisted in this magazine for this award.

Syria crisis, Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner (Image: wncn.com)

Merkel has had one busy year. With Germany seen as the most powerful country in Europe, they have been heavily relied upon in regards to the near collapse of Greece who Merkel announced billions of Euros worth of bail out cash to save them from bankruptcy. Merkel can be seen as the leader who lent France a shoulder to cry on through their difficult year, in addition to trying to keep David Cameron happy somewhat as he attempts to negotiate a 'better deal' for UK before his country potentially votes to leave the European Union come 2017. Let us not forget Germany's contribution to the refugee crisis, as Merkel announced that 800,000 people fleeing war zone Syria could reside in the country after the influx of people travelling to the West peaked during the summer. She has proved to be a humanitarian, negotiator and a Chancellor all at once. Winning TIME Person of the Year to me was the least she deserved.

Merkel isn't going to win everyone over for her work in 2015, of course not. But how she dealt with global pressures and media hounds during time of uncertaincy has shown that she is a 'person' as opposed to a 'personality' which to me has a different meaning. To me, personality is about feelings and emotions, about generating a certain presence that being a 'person' comes out of it. Donald Trump is a 'personality'. While he isn't confirmed a US Presidential candidate yet, his 'personality' and views takes away the 'person' aspect of it all. He'd only be a 'person' if he doesn't let the 'personality' dominate.

This leads me to defining 'personality' and if you've been watching the news in the UK, you cannot escape the controversy surrounding his year's BBC Sports Personality of the Year. One nominee in particular has been grabbing the headlines for the reasons only this individual can interpret whether it is positive or negative - Tyson Fury. The boxer had only just two weeks ago won a series of Heavyweight titles against current world champion Wladimir Klitschko. This alone has given BBC the privilege to shortlist the Englishman for their coveted sport's award.

Tyson Fury (Image: ITV)

Despite this great achievement, this victory is overshadowed because of his reported extreme views. In a short space of time, he has come up with quotes that appear homophobic and sexist having compared those who are homosexual as to being a paedophile, while describing heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill, also nominated by BBC this year, as someone who "slaps up good" in a dress. These comments have caused widespread offence with 100,000 already signed an online petition asking him to be removed by the BBC for nomination.

What hasn't helped matters is that Fury defends his comments and BBC are sticking to their word and insists he should remain on the shortlist. The broadcaster wishes that the public recognised him for his sporting achievement rather than his personal viewpoints. This is understandable yet I cannot help but sense he is likely to be jeered whenever the focus is on him during the award ceremony later this month.

That said, I do think that he should remain as a nominee for BBC Sports Personality of the Year. His sporting achievement is great, yes. And yes, I wholly disagree with his highly offensive views that have cast a shadow over his victory. However, he does have a 'personality'. He is a showman and his persona gives him that initiative to pursue further with his views. Sports stars in general are personalities. Wayne Rooney, for example, is more likely to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year than TIME Person of the Year because he is a 'personality' and hasn't gone far as to being a key global influence other than some children who want to have his haircut on them.

I suppose to me, it is about impact and the sense of perspective. Is David Beckham we see in the public eye a 'person' or 'personality'? How about Tiger Woods? It entirely depends, to me, on what that individual has done at that specific time. Angela Merkel can be a 'person' one year and yet next year can be out of that limelight and into something that makes her a 'personality'. The same applies with Tyson Fury. If he took his religious beliefs, that he uses to justify his controversies, however extreme they may be, into physical practice and carries a certain level of influence then I may be inclined to say he is a 'personality'. But we can't officially say whether that individual has 'good' or 'bad' personality, or is a good or bad person without fact, or even without a great degree of seriousness.