What Is Your Idea Of A Hero
- Thread starter Liberalman
- Start date
Good question. The results can vary tremendously but to me selflessness in the action is what counts.
I'll sort of echo Kreskin:
A hero is someone who puts themselves in harm's way to try to help someone else.
They are not sports stars. Or community volunteers. These folks are terrific - but they are not heroes.
Pangloss
A hero is someone who puts themselves in harm's way to try to help someone else.
They are not sports stars. Or community volunteers. These folks are terrific - but they are not heroes.
Pangloss
There are lots of heroes out there. A man or a woman who takes an extra job so as to afford his family things they wouldn't normally be able to afford, whether it be necessities or hedonistic extras, is a hero/heroin in my opinion. As Kreskin pointed out, just that selfless attitude goes a long way to make a hero.
Someone who can inspire...someone who sets an example for type of person I wish to be...that's ONE definition anyway.
That definition would dilute the word "hero" until there was little meaning left to it.
What you describe in your second sentence would be better described as a "responsible provider" or "dedicated parent" or simply as someone who lives up to their responsibilities.
When we describe someone who does the right thing as an exceptional person, we are also saying that the normal thing is to be selfish, lazy and thoughtless. A dangerous road to travel.
Like the word "genius", "hero" is tossed around with little regard as to it's exceptional status, turning it into an everyday quality.
There is a huge difference between the thoughtful person and the person who will sacrifice themselves for the common good, or the good of others. What words do we use for the truly heroic, when we have tossed them away on the everyday good?
Pangloss
I disagree. One heroic act is much easier then working 100 hour weeks. Sometimes I feel tired after a 40 hour week.
s243a:
Then everybody is a hero.
What then do we call the person who jumps into the frigid, fast river to pull a drowning person out, at the risk of their own life?
Pangloss
Then everybody is a hero.
What then do we call the person who jumps into the frigid, fast river to pull a drowning person out, at the risk of their own life?
Pangloss
I'm afraid to tell you what my opinion of the "normal" is. I don't think the "normal" are those who go the extra mile. Those who who always give the extra time and effort for the good of all are heroes in my books. I would count my parents in that group. All heroes don't have to throw themselves on a grenade to be counted. That one heroic act, in my mind, pales in comparison to one who constantly gives for the good of all at personal cost.
So, Juan, I'm a "hero" for shoveling my neighbours sidewalks all this winter?
Maybe I'm just a good neighbour. Maybe I'm just assuming the responsibilities of being a grown up.
Exceptional language for ordinary decent behaviour makes ordinary decent behaviour exceptional.
Bad idea.
Pangloss
Maybe I'm just a good neighbour. Maybe I'm just assuming the responsibilities of being a grown up.
Exceptional language for ordinary decent behaviour makes ordinary decent behaviour exceptional.
Bad idea.
Pangloss
I agree with Pangloss.
Being "tired" after working is not being a hero. Being sore or having a bad day or less fun as the consequences for helping others is normal behaviour, its called "not being an ass" or at best "Being a good person".
A Hero is something far greater. A hero risks something irreplacable to help others, knowing nothing good will come of it to him/her and usually that there is a good chance it won't work anyways, and his/her sacrifice will be in vain.
Being "tired" after working is not being a hero. Being sore or having a bad day or less fun as the consequences for helping others is normal behaviour, its called "not being an ass" or at best "Being a good person".
A Hero is something far greater. A hero risks something irreplacable to help others, knowing nothing good will come of it to him/her and usually that there is a good chance it won't work anyways, and his/her sacrifice will be in vain.
I'ts about opportunity isn't. What makes you think that most people that are willing to work a 100 hour week for their family wouldn't jump into a freezing river to save someone.
I don't know. If you throw your life away in vain is that heroic or just stupid? The student that stood in front of the tank in Tienanmen square was he heroic or naive?
The same thing, Heroism is the suspension of pragmatism for the ideals of what is right.
Pragmatism would mean its not heroic at all. Saving someone because the reward money will get you a new car is not heroic, especially if there is no risk at all to you.
Pragmatism would mean its not heroic at all. Saving someone because the reward money will get you a new car is not heroic, especially if there is no risk at all to you.
