[the-pigeon]

It really depends.

I take this really just to mean "everyone has faults".

People often idealize heroes and think of them as beyond human. If you do that and met your hero then your illusion will often be shattered. But the problem is just that you were putting them on an unreasonable pedestal.

Of course some people are frauds and some people have no idea what they are doing but manage to make people think they do. But I didn't read this as being one of those situations. Just someone they saw as beyond human being only human.

[bitexploder]

I like the phrase “kill your heroes”. Not literally, of course. But in your mind. They are just flawed people like everyone else that happen to have been mythologized. Learning more about your heroes often leads to disappointment.

[vlunkr]

I've recently found a podcast called "your favorite band sucks" that's along these lines. They have real criticisms of popular bands, but it's also a bit tounge-in-cheek. It's a nice contrast to the typical worship of rock bands. I think it's healthy to be able to enjoy something, or be inspired by someone, without buying into the mythology.