NationStates Jolt Archive


What makes a hero?

Utracia
02-09-2006, 18:04
I was hoping what peoples opinions on this was. Is it as simple as joining the military? Does that give you instant hero status? Or do you have to die in combat? Are you a hero then? Or maybe do you have to go "above and beyond" to get the hero status? What other ways can you be a hero? The media talks about heroes so often I would like to know how easy it is or what peoples standards are as to what a hero is.
Liberated New Ireland
02-09-2006, 18:08
Hmm...

"From the Greek cognate ἣρως, in mythology and folklore, a hero (male) or heroine (female) is an eminent character archetype that quintessentially embodies key traits exalted in the originating culture. The hero commonly possesses superhuman capabilities or idealized character traits which enable him or her to perform extraordinary, beneficial deeds (i.e., "heroic deeds") that inspire fame."
Eon8
02-09-2006, 18:08
Become An Hero.
Andalip
02-09-2006, 18:11
I was hoping what peoples opinions on this was. Is it as simple as joining the military? Does that give you instant hero status? Or do you have to die in combat? Are you a hero then? Or maybe do you have to go "above and beyond" to get the hero status? What other ways can you be a hero? The media talks about heroes so often I would like to know how easy it is or what peoples standards are as to what a hero is.

'Above and beyond' in almost any field, to benefit of others (can benefit you at the same time, mind!) - that's the intellectual side of me speaking, anyway.

That said, 2 of my big heros are Muhammed Ali (spectactle and civil rights) and Marlborough (the english general). So, success in conflict, and beating people up come into it too...
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
02-09-2006, 18:13
To be a hero you have to be on the winning side and represent some virtue that the aforesaid winning side wishes to make more prevalent in future generations.
Heroes are just tools of propaganda, and the desire to become one demonstrates a misplacement of priorities.
1038278
02-09-2006, 18:13
A hero is someone who stands up and does what they think is right, even if it's politically incorrect!

Hail Victory!

ST.Henry
NSM of West Georgia
[NS::]Costa Bravo
02-09-2006, 18:15
A hero is just someone who gets a lot of people killed.
Naliitr
02-09-2006, 18:23
Become An Hero.

Michael Henderson... Ha...

Anyways... If you want to become a hero, chances are you'll either have to be killed while fighting the good fight, kill a LOT of bad people, or save a lot of people. One of those three.

EDIT: That is of course, what the biased media says.
Fadesaway
02-09-2006, 18:25
Hero: someone who doesn't actively seek to be one.

At least, that's my experience on the matter.
Neo Kervoskia
02-09-2006, 18:26
You need a really big hat.
1038278
02-09-2006, 18:30
George Lincoln Rockwell was the greatest hero America ever had, and he was assassinated. He stood up for a cause that everyone thought was wrong. But, if you look at where our country's headed right now, he was actually right! If you're curious who GLR was look him up on the internet.

Hail Victory!

ST.Henry
NSM of West Georgia
nsm_west_georgia@yahoo.com
www.nsm88.com
Utracia
02-09-2006, 18:30
Costa Bravo;11629538']A hero is just someone who gets a lot of people killed.

That would be a wannabe hero.
Eon8
02-09-2006, 18:31
Founder of the American Retard Party.
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
02-09-2006, 18:32
You need a really big hat.
And shiny too! Can you imagine a tru hero wearing anything that didn't gleam with the radiance of at least 5 SPI (Suns Per Inch, squared)?
Let's face it, if people are capable of looking at your head for more than five minutes without suffering permanent blindness, you just aren't going to make it that far in the annals of history.
Turquoise Days
02-09-2006, 18:38
You need a really big hat.

And a shiny sword of destiny.
Zilam
02-09-2006, 19:16
a cape.
Dobbsworld
02-09-2006, 19:19
Someone to tell a tale.
Free Sex and Beer
02-09-2006, 19:36
I'm tired of the hero shitte. A hero is someone who risks all to help others when he/she does not have to or under any obligation to.

Soldiers-no-sorry but they sign on for a job where they are expected to do it, the overwheming majority of soldiers never have a shot fired at them.
Police-no-they know the risks of the job when they join.
Firefighters-same-it's a job, in the unlikely they'll ever get a dangerous assignment and even if they do they knew it may when they signed up.I know a few firefighers they classify their jobs as semi-retirement, excellent pay and very little work.

A passer by who runs into a burning house or into a raging river risking their lives for a total stranger when no expects them to is a hero.
Utracia
02-09-2006, 19:44
a cape.

What powers do you think this guy will get?

http://x1a.xanga.com/5aeb94050543545082958/b30457855.jpg
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 19:46
I don't believe in "Heroes".
Desperate Measures
02-09-2006, 19:47
My favorite English teacher told me a long time ago that a hero by definition is someone who brings the downfall of himself and others while trying to bring about a greater good.
Cluichstan
02-09-2006, 20:32
a cape.

Can't forget the tights, too. ;)
Liberated New Ireland
02-09-2006, 20:33
I'm pretty sure you can make a hero with an E-Z Bake Oven...
Cluichstan
02-09-2006, 20:35
Damn...I wish I could remember where I put that pic someone created of me as a CoH character... :(
Cluichstan
02-09-2006, 20:39
Damn...I wish I could remember where I put that pic someone created of me as a CoH character... :(

Oh snap! Found it!

Behold! A true hero!

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9578/cluichcohhb4.jpg

:cool:
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 20:43
I'm pretty sure you can make a hero with an E-Z Bake Oven...

If by hero, you mean delicious chocolatey cake, then yes!
Liberated New Ireland
02-09-2006, 20:45
If by hero, you mean delicious chocolatey cake, then yes!
...I thought that was the definition of hero! :D

Oh snap! Found it!

Behold! A true hero!

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/9578/cluichcohhb4.jpg

:cool:

You know what this guy looks like? Blue Laser from Homerstarrunner... hang on... I'ma try to get a picture of 'im...
Cluichstan
02-09-2006, 20:47
Another true hero:

http://www.leeshoagiehouse.com/images/abouthoagie.jpg

Or hoagie, as I grew up calling them. :)
Liberated New Ireland
02-09-2006, 20:47
http://www.hrwiki.org/images/5/53/BL_Commander.PNG
Here we go.
Cluichstan
02-09-2006, 20:50
http://www.hrwiki.org/images/5/53/BL_Commander.PNG
Here we go.

http://209.85.48.12/6802/45/emo/happy175%5B1%5D.gif
Utracia
02-09-2006, 20:59
I don't believe in "Heroes".

I suppose you don't believe in "cowards" either.
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 21:03
I suppose you don't believe in "cowards" either.

What's that supposed to mean?
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
02-09-2006, 21:06
What's that supposed to mean?
It means that you hate Freedom and America! You filthy terrorist swine . . .
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 21:09
It means that you hate Freedom and America! You filthy terrorist swine . . .

How did you know I was a terrorist? The name didn't give it away, did it? Darn, I knew it was too obvious...
Utracia
02-09-2006, 21:10
What's that supposed to mean?

I was going an extreme example. I am just trying to figure out if you don't believe people can be heroic then they can't be cowardly either, right?

It means that you hate Freedom and America! You filthy terrorist swine . . .

Relax! Freedom and America would be better off if people would stop talking about the terrorist swine so much.

Then again her name... Do terrorists like cake? :eek:
H N Fiddlebottoms VIII
02-09-2006, 21:15
Relax! Freedom and America would be better off if people would stop talking about the terrorist swine so much.
I can't relax, I have Jim Kramer's disease.
And those pigs have it coming, what with their high-cholesterol infiltrating my veins.
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 21:17
I was going an extreme example. I am just trying to figure out if you don't believe people can be heroic then they can't be cowardly either, right?

People can do cowardly things, but they're not cowards. I don't believe in labelling people as either "good" or "bad." People aren't either, they're a mix of both, with a potential to go either way.
Utracia
02-09-2006, 21:27
People can do cowardly things, but they're not cowards. I don't believe in labelling people as either "good" or "bad." People aren't either, they're a mix of both, with a potential to go either way.

Well calling someone a hero is just saying they did a heroic act. You can look up to that but it doesn't automatically make them a better person. I'm sure plenty of those people are jerks in their personal lives.
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 21:40
Well calling someone a hero is just saying they did a heroic act. You can look up to that but it doesn't automatically make them a better person. I'm sure plenty of those people are jerks in their personal lives.

Calling someone a hero seems to me to be the same thing as calling someone "good." I'd rather just say that sometimes people do good things, but nobody is a hero.
Utracia
02-09-2006, 21:48
Calling someone a hero seems to me to be the same thing as calling someone "good." I'd rather just say that sometimes people do good things, but nobody is a hero.

I can certainly agree that no one is perfect, everyone has flaws in their character but I can certainly see that there are people out there that we can admire for their accomplishments as long as we do not take it to an extreme. There ARE evil people out there so we need to have those we can look up to as a counter-balance.
Terrorist Cakes
02-09-2006, 22:40
I can certainly agree that no one is perfect, everyone has flaws in their character but I can certainly see that there are people out there that we can admire for their accomplishments as long as we do not take it to an extreme. There ARE evil people out there so we need to have those we can look up to as a counter-balance.

Like I said, I don't believe in "evil" people.
Utracia
02-09-2006, 22:51
Like I said, I don't believe in "evil" people.

Pychopaths aren't evil? Serial killers? Dictators who massacre millions of their own people? I suppose these sorts people have a couple of good points somewhere so they don't qualify as evil?
IL Ruffino
02-09-2006, 22:55
I am a hero.
Utracia
02-09-2006, 23:03
I am a hero.

Are you talking about this song?

http://www.minibite.com/passion/embrace/hero.htm

:D
Neo Kervoskia
02-09-2006, 23:20
The only evil people in the world are makers of teflon.
IL Ruffino
02-09-2006, 23:25
Are you talking about this song?

http://www.minibite.com/passion/embrace/hero.htm

:D

Ohhhh snap!

I went from singing pfantom of the opera songs from to singing this!

TY!
Harlesburg
02-09-2006, 23:30
I was hoping what peoples opinions on this was. Is it as simple as joining the military? Does that give you instant hero status? Or do you have to die in combat? Are you a hero then? Or maybe do you have to go "above and beyond" to get the hero status? What other ways can you be a hero? The media talks about heroes so often I would like to know how easy it is or what peoples standards are as to what a hero is.

Ones peers make one a hero, dieing aint heroic, but doing outstanding good in your peers eyes makes one a hero.
Utracia
02-09-2006, 23:36
Ohhhh snap!

I went from singing pfantom of the opera songs from to singing this!

TY!

Well then, I guess my job is complete.

Hmmm. Though a real hero shouldn't be someone who calls themself a hero... that just makes you an egotistical jackass.
Utracia
04-09-2006, 01:13
Ones peers make one a hero, dieing aint heroic, but doing outstanding good in your peers eyes makes one a hero.

So a hero is simply a person who has other people look up to the them? The specific act doesn't really matter?
IL Ruffino
04-09-2006, 02:33
Well then, I guess my job is complete.

Hmmm. Though a real hero shouldn't be someone who calls themself a hero... that just makes you an egotistical jackass.

Egotistical jackass?!

..

I got nothing..

Well, maybe.

If you save a baby from a fire, just for the.. nah.

Hrm.

I'll take that egotistical jackass, along with some vanity, thank you very much!
Naliitr
04-09-2006, 02:38
Wait. Here's the REAL definition of "a(n) hero". Someone who shoots themselves because thier iPod was stolen.
Utracia
04-09-2006, 03:01
Wait. Here's the REAL definition of "a(n) hero". Someone who shoots themselves because thier iPod was stolen.

What? Some kind of anti-hero?

Egotistical jackass?!

I'll take that egotistical jackass, along with some vanity, thank you very much!

A vain, egotistical jackass. Okay. :)
IL Ruffino
04-09-2006, 03:03
What? Some kind of anti-hero?

Stupidity, at least.
Megaloria
04-09-2006, 03:05
The Touch.
IL Ruffino
04-09-2006, 03:09
A vain, egotistical jackass. Okay. :)

A sexy hero. :cool:
Utracia
04-09-2006, 03:24
A sexy hero. :cool:

Yes. That would make a difference now wouldn't it?
PasturePastry
04-09-2006, 03:53
I would say that a hero is someone that employs courage to achieve that in which they believe. Of course this begs the question of what courage is, to which I would say that courage is willingness to overcome obstacles being fully aware of the dangers present. This distinguishes courage from foolhardiness, where one may appear courageous simply by being ignorant of the dangers involved.

One thing that goes hand and hand with courage is vulnerability. If there is no chance of getting hurt, then there is no courage involved. It's not just mortal peril that is considered dangerous in the case of courage. Pain, suffering, embarrassment, humiliation - all of these can be considered vulnerabilities to overcome through the use of courage.

The only sticking point when it comes to being a hero is wether or not the observer agrees with the objective the hero is trying to attain. An American soldier taking on a dozen terrorists is considered heroic, but a terrorist taking on a dozen American soldiers is considered foolish or insane.

People who are called heroes don't often think of themselves as heroes. That is because the definition of a hero is outside of them.
IL Ruffino
04-09-2006, 03:53
Yes. That would make a difference now wouldn't it?

Quite possibly.
Greater Valia
04-09-2006, 04:48
I was hoping what peoples opinions on this was. Is it as simple as joining the military? Does that give you instant hero status? Or do you have to die in combat? Are you a hero then? Or maybe do you have to go "above and beyond" to get the hero status? What other ways can you be a hero? The media talks about heroes so often I would like to know how easy it is or what peoples standards are as to what a hero is.

An hero.

http://pr0n.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/7/7d/Mitchellhenderson.jpg
Naliitr
04-09-2006, 04:51
An hero.

http://pr0n.encyclopediadramatica.com/images/7/7d/Mitchellhenderson.jpg

Seems as though I'm not the only one to know the whole "An Hero" thing. Seriously, fucking kid killed himself 'cause his iPod got stolen. What a douche.
Utracia
04-09-2006, 05:00
Seems as though I'm not the only one to know the whole "An Hero" thing. Seriously, fucking kid killed himself 'cause his iPod got stolen. What a douche.

Shit, you are serious! :eek:

That kid must have had problems to begin with.
Naliitr
04-09-2006, 05:02
Shit, you are serious! :eek:

That kid must have had problems to begin with.

No, just because his iPod got stolen. And apparently he "had a bad day". My god... The jokes about this kid will never end. Meh well. Might as well enjoy it.
Harlesburg
04-09-2006, 13:23
So a hero is simply a person who has other people look up to the them? The specific act doesn't really matter?
To some extents, mainly because people say he was a hero just for going to war, for me that is partially true, i regard it at its highest order as being someone who has won a VC(*Add slightly lesser award here*) though that isn't always true.

Heroism is different to courage(Which is doing dumb things out of need).
----------------------------------------------------

As for the whole An hero, never heard of it, but i have heard of them being lost in the bog.
I take it the walkman isn't 'the thing' anymore.:(
Damor
04-09-2006, 14:07
Heroism is like obscenity, I know it when I see it.
The Aeson
04-09-2006, 14:11
Costa Bravo;11629538']A hero is just someone who gets a lot of people killed.

Hurrah for bastardized Serenity quotes!
Deep Kimchi
04-09-2006, 14:36
'Above and beyond' in almost any field, to benefit of others (can benefit you at the same time, mind!) - that's the intellectual side of me speaking, anyway.

That said, 2 of my big heros are Muhammed Ali (spectactle and civil rights) and Marlborough (the english general). So, success in conflict, and beating people up come into it too...

Gandhi, too. You don't have to be violent to be a hero.

There's some element of noble risk-taking, and self-sacrifice.
Utracia
05-09-2006, 15:05
Gandhi, too. You don't have to be violent to be a hero.

There's some element of noble risk-taking, and self-sacrifice.

*nods*

I can certainly see some people who make a difference non-violently who can be called heores.

What bothers me though about this "hero" thing and I don't know if I should feel bad for thinking it is whether every soldier who dies is an instant hero. According to the media it does, given their "fallen heroes" bit. I always think they are just using a persons life and using it to get ratings but perhaps I am being too cynical.