What constitutes a "hero"?

[mossrose]

Don't know where else to put this.

I am interested in what the members of Tweb consider the makeup of a hero. Don't want debate.

Thanks.

[Christianbookworm]

Someone that does the right thing no matter what. Even if it hurts or kills them. Even if everyone else thinks they are uncool for doing the right thing instead of the safe or selfish choice.

[Cerealman]

Don't know where else to put this.

I am interested in what the members of Tweb consider the makeup of a hero. Don't want debate.

Thanks.

Me.

[mossrose]

I am not interested in spam in this thread.

[Cerealman]

To me if a hero is human then I don't expect him to be perfect.
I expect him to make mistakes whether on accident or on purpose.
I guess I'm describing a morally ambiguous hero honestly.

[Cow Poke]

I am not interested in spam in this thread.

I'm wondering if you're getting at the fact that we bandy about the word "hero" all to easily. Calling people "heroes" for doing things that any reasonable person would have done.

Lemme take a crack at this, and maybe we can come to some kind of consensus or understanding.

A hero is somebody who does something unselfish, at (great?) peril to themselves, to save or protect the life or property of somebody else, overcoming their own fears and concerns.

[mossrose]

I'm wondering if you're getting at the fact that we bandy about the word "hero" all to easily. Calling people "heroes" for doing things that any reasonable person would have done.

That's exactly what I am getting at.

Lemme take a crack at this, and maybe we can come to some kind of consensus or understanding.

A hero is somebody who does something unselfish, at (great?) peril to themselves, to save or protect the life or property of somebody else, overcoming their own fears and concerns.

Okay. I actually don't have a problem with this, or with what Cbw said, or Cerealman.

I am asking because, like you, CP, I think the term is overly used, so that even sports figures are "heroes", Hollywood has it's own "heroes", etc.

And wondering why we have come to this state.

[KingsGambit]

I agree with CBW's definition. I personally prefer to say that individual actions are heroic than to say that somebody is a hero.

[Carrikature]

And wondering why we have come to this state.

Let's call it meaning transference. A hero is someone people generally look up to because they're awesome for the reasons CP mentioned. Someone may decide that some other guy or gal is also awesome, though perhaps for somewhat different reasons. No matter, it still counts as someone to look up to because they're awesome, which is close enough for most people. Then we get to looking up to people that we think are awesome for whatever reason and who cares if anyone else thinks those people are also awesome. It's not so close to the original conception, but it's not so far from the second conception which is still close enough for most people. In two short steps we've moved from hero as someone who's awesome because they did certain things to hero as someone we look up to. From there we move pretty easily into a hero as someone who has done something we think it'd be neat to do too. Both of these last two cases are ridiculously broad and can encompass pretty much anyone we want. The original meaning hasn't been lost so much as simply watered down.

[Cow Poke]

Let's call it meaning transference. A hero is someone people generally look up to because they're awesome for the reasons CP mentioned. Someone may decide that some other guy or gal is also awesome, though perhaps for somewhat different reasons. No matter, it still counts as someone to look up to because they're awesome, which is close enough for most people. Then we get to looking up to people that we think are awesome for whatever reason and who cares if anyone else thinks those people are also awesome. It's not so close to the original conception, but it's not so far from the second conception which is still close enough for most people. In two short steps we've moved from hero as someone who's awesome because they did certain things to hero as someone we look up to. From there we move pretty easily into a hero as someone who has done something we think it'd be neat to do too. Both of these last two cases are ridiculously broad and can encompass pretty much anyone we want. The original meaning hasn't been lost so much as simply watered down.

Kinda makes me think of the valor thieves -- people who wear (or claim) war decorations they were not legitimately awarded.

[rogue06]

I'm wondering if you're getting at the fact that we bandy about the word "hero" all to easily. Calling people "heroes" for doing things that any reasonable person would have done.

Absolutely. Over the last several decades we have turned entertainers (whether in sports, music or acting) into heroes. That says much about our society and it isn't good.

I should add that this doesn't mean that an entertainer cannot do something heroic but rather merely starring in a couple good films or TV series or having a great year playing a game does not count.

[Bill the Cat]

I liked the premise of Disney's Hercules that a hero wasn't a hero because he slayed the hydra or drove off the minotaur, but because he sacrificed himself for others for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. That's why I only have one hero. Guess who that is?

[Christianbookworm]

Jesus? Maybe that's why English teachers/ annoying literature people like to claim that fictional good guy protagonists are Christ Figures? Because Jesus is the only one who was always heroic and never did anything wrong.

[37818]

The ultimate hero: God's Christ. Our Savior Jesus of Nazareth.

[Christianbookworm]

Of course! That's why He's the one fictional characters keep getting compared to! That gets annoying though. Because said fictional characters aren't divine!