What Makes a Hero?

[Shock and Awe]

People talk about heroes all the time. They say people are heroes, or have done heroic things, but what is the quality that differentiates a Hero from someone simply doing whats right?

For me it is summed up in one word: Sacrifice. Without sacrifice nothing can be heroic because it would simply be morally incorrect not to do it. If you can save a life with no risk to yourself and don't, you aren't a bystander you are an accomplice. If you do you are simply doing what is correct. However if there is risk to you, if your life is on the line, then it is heroic, and not doing so is not strictly incorrect. Some may call it wrong, but you are certainly not doing anything 100% wrong such as the first case.

Thoughts? Comments? Death Threats?

 

[FalloutJack]

More than just sacrifice. You can sacrifice lots without heroism. It has to be sacrifice in the face of a terrible alternative for more than just yourself. It has to be that you do what you've gotta do, even if you don't like it, for the sake of others.

 

[Shock and Awe]

More than just sacrifice. You can sacrifice lots without heroism. It has to be sacrifice in the face of a terrible alternative for more than just yourself. It has to be that you do what you've gotta do, even if you don't like it, for the sake of others.

Hmm, I was probably to vague on it. Though I would say that it has to be voluntary sacrifice. If you are forced to you aren't a hero, you are just in circumstances.

 

[Euryalus]

More than just sacrifice. You can sacrifice lots without heroism. It has to be sacrifice in the face of a terrible alternative for more than just yourself. It has to be that you do what you've gotta do, even if you don't like it, for the sake of others.

Hmm, I was probably to vague on it. Though I would say that it has to be voluntary sacrifice. If you are forced to you aren't a hero, you are just in circumstances.

How do you define forced? Do bad circumstamces and few if any alternative options count?

 

[Euryalus]

I define heroism as doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, to the right person, in the right amount. All these things matter. Sacrifice is not as important in my definition because what one person might consider a sacrifice another might not even bat an eyelash at. St. Francis of Assisi wouldn't think twice about "sacrificing" everything to help someone. This is the guy who had his eyes burned off to heal an infection (medievel medicine lol) and used it as a way of remembering how grateful he was for the existence of "brother fire."

EDIT: I also think courage is a necessary component in Heroism (Courage in the aristotelian sense)

 

[Aerosteam]

I think what makes a hero is what he's accomplished in life, it doesn't matter what it took, only the end result.

From somewhere:

he·ro [heer-oh]
noun, plural he·roes; for 5 also he·ros.
1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.

2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.

3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.

4. Classical Mythology .
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.

5. hero sandwich.

 

[Euryalus]

-SNIP-

Hey! Using the dictionary is cheating lol. I also see you have a very ultilitarian sense of Morality :/

 

[sextus the crazy]

People talk about heroes all the time. They say people are heroes, or have done heroic things, but what is the quality that differentiates a Hero from someone simply doing whats right?

For me it is summed up in one word: Sacrifice. Without sacrifice nothing can be heroic because it would simply be morally incorrect not to do it. If you can save a life with no risk to yourself and don't, you aren't a bystander you are an accomplice. If you do you are simply doing what is correct. However if there is risk to you, if your life is on the line, then it is heroic, and not doing so is not strictly incorrect. Some may call it wrong, but you are certainly not doing anything 100% wrong such as the first case.

Thoughts? Comments? Death Threats?

The ability to use swords AND axes.

OT: personally, I think a Heroic action is one that involves the participant fearing the grievous bodily harm his actions could result in, but still having the resolve to undertake said action.

 

[Shock and Awe]

More than just sacrifice. You can sacrifice lots without heroism. It has to be sacrifice in the face of a terrible alternative for more than just yourself. It has to be that you do what you've gotta do, even if you don't like it, for the sake of others.

Hmm, I was probably to vague on it. Though I would say that it has to be voluntary sacrifice. If you are forced to you aren't a hero, you are just in circumstances.

How do you define forced? Do bad circumstamces and few if any alternative options count?

For me it means that the person being the "hero" walked into it of his/her own free will when they could have walked away. Instead of going on their way they made the hard choice and did it. I can't really make an end all be all definition to be honest.

 

[Euryalus]

More than just sacrifice. You can sacrifice lots without heroism. It has to be sacrifice in the face of a terrible alternative for more than just yourself. It has to be that you do what you've gotta do, even if you don't like it, for the sake of others.

Hmm, I was probably to vague on it. Though I would say that it has to be voluntary sacrifice. If you are forced to you aren't a hero, you are just in circumstances.

How do you define forced? Do bad circumstamces and few if any alternative options count?

For me it means that the person being the "hero" walked into it of his/her own free will when they could have walked away. Instead of going on their way they made the hard choice and did it. I can't really make an end all be all definition to be honest.

What about choices freely chosen even if they're the only choice. You can be forced into an option or you can choose it, and this remains true even if, paradoxically enough, there's only one option. For me Volition is all that matters. In that light the only time I consider someone to be forced into something is when they have no control, or rather do somthing contrary to their will, for whatever reason (Headcrabs lol).

 

[octafish]

A hero overcomes adversity, or exhibits great strength of character. It's funny we are having this discussion with the Paralympics only a week away.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

My uncle, who is a Vietnam Vet spelled it out best for me.
He said

"A hero is not a person who puts their life on the line once,
but someone who chooses to put their life on the line multiple times, despite hardship to self.
Those people who are fire fighters and police officers, who work long hours for the good of the community.
Those people are heroes."

 

[Nantucket_v1legacy]

The cape.
It's all about the cape - nothing more and nothing less.

Could you imagine Superman without a cape? I THINK NOT!

 

[WanderingFool]

I actually find the word "hero" to be in the same class as "honor"; both are terms used by man to define quailities that are to be praised, even if those qualities are of negative consequence. What one person my define as a hero, another my define as a villian.

My thoughts on what makes a hero? Someone who refuses to be called a hero for doing what he feels needed to be done. We call fire fighters and policemen heros, but to them, they're just doing their job.

That is what a real hero is...

 

[Ashhearth]

People talk about heroes all the time. They say people are heroes, or have done heroic things, but what is the quality that differentiates a Hero from someone simply doing whats right?

For me it is summed up in one word: Sacrifice. Without sacrifice nothing can be heroic because it would simply be morally incorrect not to do it. If you can save a life with no risk to yourself and don't, you aren't a bystander you are an accomplice. If you do you are simply doing what is correct. However if there is risk to you, if your life is on the line, then it is heroic, and not doing so is not strictly incorrect. Some may call it wrong, but you are certainly not doing anything 100% wrong such as the first case.

Thoughts? Comments? Death Threats?

The ability to use swords AND axes.

OT: personally, I think a Heroic action is one that involves the participant fearing the grievous bodily harm his actions could result in, but still having the resolve to undertake said action.

Ah I see the Fire Emblem reference you made although looking at your avatar made it easier

A hero is someone that may not always make the right choices but learns from their mistakes and is always trying to be the better person. Sometimes that involves sacrifice be it time, money, themselves, etc but the real hero's make these choices willingly and without remorse.

 

[S1leNt RIP]

I've got the manual right here!

But yeah, I agree with most of the other guys saying undertaking some action that might result in grievous injury or death for the good of others.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

Those who take on what they see as a duty of committing selfless actions for the sake of others. So yeah, fire-fighters and doctors are good examples.

 

[HardkorSB]

A villain, or in the very least a threat. Basically a hero needs to save someone from something.
For example, without any villains, Batman would just be a totalitarian fascist bully.
Without the over the top cartoon villains, Indiana Jones is just a thief and a murderer.

But when it comes to real life examples:
After WWII, the USA were considered heroes. They played a major role in defeating the Nazis. After that however, there wasn't really anyone who could challenge them (there were the EEEEEEEEEEEEEEvil Soviets but they didn't defeat them or save people from them so that doesn't count). Nowadays, they still try to be this peacemaker but their actions make them look more like schoolyard bullies who have to kick someone's ass every now and then to make themselves feel better (and steal some lunch money, while they're at it).

 

[Canadamus Prime]

I would say selflessness and courage in the face of great adversity, esp. the selflessness part.

 

[CrimsonBlaze]

That pretty much sums it up for me. If those aren't the merits of a real hero, I don't know what is.