With all the misery that is being suffered lately, there was, what I thought was a rather nice story about a boy who saved his brother in Krabi from drowning.

It seems that a lot of posters seemed to disagree. So what makes a hero? Who do you consider a hero?

Only Western white Euro-types can be heroes. Written in the Eurocentric manifesto.

Not so. One of my heroes is a a young man, I don't know his name, he cleaned and swept on a train returning from Malaysia. I don't know his name.

I was getting in my upper bunk and leaning out when the train suddenly jolted and I went down, landing on my head. I was unable to move. He made the lower bunk into a bed helped me in and when we got to BKK put me in a taxi and took me home.

A day later, with help from a friend and I went to the Dr. where I was sent to emergency surgery for a broken neck. No official did anything but smile.

Lucky I wasn't paralyzed for life according to the Dr's.

I was thinking of replying to the OP's question that to call a person a hero is subjective.....you post Scott, confirms my thought.

I think that chap on the train was a good samaritan, but not a hero. I'm certainly glad he assisted you, but I don't think he did anything brave or courageous.

I equate heroism to bravery and courageousness, particularly acts that are done despite one's fears.

I completely disagree with zzaa's claim that it is a Western concept.

Harcourt, thanks for the comment. You are correct. He was a hero to me, but overall he was a Good Samaritan.

My son goes to a special needs school. Each and every member of staff are true heros in my eyes and always will be.

My nominations today would be here...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110403/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake

I think a hero is someone who puts themselves at great risk to help someone they don't know with no expectation of being rewarded.

Harcourt, thanks for the comment. You are correct. He was a hero to me, but overall he was a Good Samaritan.

So...the difference between the two might include the level of promotion? As in: unneeded attention and conscious stimulation by promoters of such? Does humility play a part of who decides who's a decent samaritan and the over used term, hero?

I think a hero is someone who puts themselves at great risk to help someone they don't know with no expectation of being rewarded.

I'll buy that one.

I don't neccessarily think not knowing the helpee is a requirement though.

Probably the level of personal danger or risk for the rescuer is a factor as well.

Some of the guys at the nuclear plant in Japan are heroes. They are taking a great personal risk and they know the risk involved. Even though it's part of their job, they are going above the call of duty in their endeavor.

Probably the level of personal danger or risk for the rescuer is a factor as well.

Some of the guys at the nuclear plant in Japan are heroes. They are taking a great personal risk and they know the risk involved. Even though it's part of their job, they are going above the call of duty in their endeavor.

However, the self-less lady who gives most of her life to helping those in need in a Hospice, may not be in " mortal danger", but is she any less a hero ?

Probably the level of personal danger or risk for the rescuer is a factor as well.

Some of the guys at the nuclear plant in Japan are heroes. They are taking a great personal risk and they know the risk involved. Even though it's part of their job, they are going above the call of duty in their endeavor.

However, the self-less lady who gives most of her life to helping those in need in a Hospice, may not be in " mortal danger", but is she any less a hero ?

I don't think she is a hero at all....a selfless good samaritan, a kind and generous person, a good person..... but not a hero in my book.

Perhaps it's a definition thing rather than a subjective one?

The Fukushima guys are heroes: At great personal risk they are doing what needs to be done for the people....I agree with Scott (4 times I agree with him )

Hero being an ancient greek sort of chap, what did he do?

(Song "British Grenadiers" - of Hero and Lysander and such great names as these)

Depends if you want your hero to be the military action hero, or the guy who sets an example that all kids should aspire to follow.

Not everyone has the physique or opportunity to be the former, but all can aim for a role as the latter.

I think a hero is someone who puts themselves at great risk to help someone they don't know with no expectation of being rewarded.

I'll buy that one.

I don't neccessarily think not knowing the helpee is a requirement though.

IMO, saving a loved one (family or friend) is something that you should just do anyway. A mother protecting her child is being a good mother, not necessarily a hero.

I think a hero is someone who puts themselves at great risk to help someone they don't know with no expectation of being rewarded.

I'll buy that one.

I don't neccessarily think not knowing the helpee is a requirement though.

IMO, saving a loved one (family or friend) is something that you should just do anyway. A mother protecting her child is being a good mother, not necessarily a hero.

Hmmm, if you put it like that, I can see your point...... Hmmmm.

So taking risk in the absence of duty?

I think a hero is someone who puts themselves at great risk to help someone they don't know with no expectation of being rewarded.

I'll buy that one.

I don't neccessarily think not knowing the helpee is a requirement though.

IMO, saving a loved one (family or friend) is something that you should just do anyway. A mother protecting her child is being a good mother, not necessarily a hero.

Hmmm, if you put it like that, I can see your point...... Hmmmm.

So taking risk in the absence of duty?

That sounds about right.

Also, someone can do something heroic without being a hero. For example, a mother protecting her child against a wild animal or a passing stranger protecting her child from a wild animal. The act is the same, but the motivations/reasons are different.

Someone who calls themselves a hero is a charlatan. The true hero, is one who in the eyes of those who have stood witness (be they passive or actual) to the heroic events, still stands as a hero in their eyes..........Totally subjective.

That sounds about right.

Also, someone can do something heroic without being a hero. For example, a mother protecting her child against a wild animal or a passing stranger protecting her child from a wild animal. The act is the same, but the motivations/reasons are different.

Ok...I'm on the same level .......but, for the sake of argument or POV......what if the mother was wheelchair-bound when she saved the child from that wolf?

I feel that the level of risk is a factor too....so even though she is the mother, the fact that she was at greater risk, and had to make a greater effort than had an able-bodied stranger saved the child, seems to me to be (more) heroic, thus making her a hero(ine)

?

From Wiki

The first Hero:

Hero (mythical priestess), in Greek mythology, priestess of Aphrodite, goddess of love, at Sestos, a town on the Hellespont (now Dardanelles). Hero was loved by Leander, a youth who lived at Abydos, a town on the Asian side of the channel. They could not marry because Hero was bound by a vow of chastity, and so every night Leander swam from Asia to Europe, guided by a lamp in Hero's tower. One stormy night a high wind extinguished the beacon, and Leander was drowned. His body was washed ashore beneath Hero's tower; in her grief, she threw herself into the sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero

Hmmmm?

From Wiki

The first Hero:

Hero (mythical priestess), in Greek mythology, priestess of Aphrodite, goddess of love, at Sestos, a town on the Hellespont (now Dardanelles). Hero was loved by Leander, a youth who lived at Abydos, a town on the Asian side of the channel. They could not marry because Hero was bound by a vow of chastity, and so every night Leander swam from Asia to Europe, guided by a lamp in Hero's tower. One stormy night a high wind extinguished the beacon, and Leander was drowned. His body was washed ashore beneath Hero's tower; in her grief, she threw herself into the sea.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero

Hmmmm?

So...connotations of self-sacrifice?

Add the original connatations to linguistic evolution...... As we see today, some people consider good deed doers as heroes, some see simply a person to look up to for their achievements.

I tend to restrict it more to courageous deed doers.

It's all pretty subjective isn't it? Take this guy for example, hero or nutjob?

Did he save peoples lives or cost people their lives? That his actions were iconic and inspirational I have no doubt, but was it heroic? I say it is, but others might legitimately disagree.

I would have to say he is a hero. His actions were not only heroic, but inspirational.

The chap in Tianamin....inspirational and heroic. I couldn't say if he saved any lives, but he put himself at risk for a principle that would benefit many others.

And yes....what is heroic may be subjective, as I have suggested.....but I can't see how anyone would not see this chap as heroic.

Let me rephrase that.....I think that anyone who sees that chap as a nutjob is probably the type of person who could never be a hero themself....far too self-interested, and probably would not thank a true hero if one saved them.

It's all pretty subjective isn't it? Take this guy for example, hero or nutjob?

I guess that would depend on your political/social perspective.

Interesting discussion. I think it boils down to someone who either sacrifices them self to help others or puts themselves at great risk to help others... and does so willingly. A Good Samaritan may or may not be a hero, depending on the circumstances. Personally, I think there are many degrees of heroism. Nurses and doctors working in the field where there is great risk of infection to themselves would be heroes in my mind. Not everyone who does a brave deed would be a hero. Some people are just natural born risk takers and don't necessarily become heroes..

It's all pretty subjective isn't it? Take this guy for example, hero or nutjob?

I guess that would depend on your political/social perspective.

Philosophically speaking, yes I'd have to agree with that but one also needs to investigate the later ramifications of theact. That brave "Tank Man" is a martyr as far as I'm concerned, but he also served as justification for further purges.

That brave "Tank Man" is a martyr as far as I'm concerned...

Me too. Brave is an understatement.

They've gone nutz in the Philippines

Brutal blotty MARCOS has been installed in the Heroes Hall of Fame.

Yeah, next Thaksin-Shinawatra ??????????

for me anyone who stands on their own 2 feet and provides for themselves and their family without feeling entitled to some form of govt assistance is a hero to me.