What Makes a Hero?

[Anarchemitis]

Although this may seem like a reply topic to 'Great Villains', this topic word for word is actually the subject of our final english unit. What do you think makes one great? Don't think inside the box of video game protagonists. What about the Red Cross Nurses of World War I, or average you and me, if we donate money for Cancer research?
(Content of this thread may be subject to copy-pasting for Essay)

 

[tiredinnuendo]

Most of what makes a hero is the willingness to do what the situation calls for and the luck to have history shine favorably on your choices.

- J

 

[sammyfreak]

For me a Hero is a person who sacrifices alot for the good of others. Especially someone he doesn't know. Any parent would die for their child, but a stranger? That is the true measurement of a Hero in my eyes.

 

[AboveUp]

Someone who doesn't look like he's supposed to be a legendary hero. Like Gordon Freeman.

Though the occasional Duke Nukem and Serious Sam are nice too.

 

[Anarchemitis]

For me a Hero is a person who sacrifices alot for the good of others. Especially someone he doesn't know. Any parent would die for their child, but a stranger? That is the true measurement of a Hero in my eyes.

But would the children think there parents were Heroes for their efforts?

 

[danimal1384]

Honor, a sense of duty to others, compassion, dedication, selflessness, courage, strength, and wisdom. These are the traits of the greatest of heroes. Some one who is willing to sacrifice their all for the preservation of justice, honor, and those whom are close to him/her. Not everyone can become a hero, but a hero can come from anywhere.

 

[Break]

I don't think the title of "hero" means much on its own. I think of it as a word that's awarded by other people, when you've done something to earn enough of their admiration and respect. The only thing you can actually infer from Person A describing Person B as a "hero", is that Person A holds Person B in high esteem. You learn next to nothing about what kind of person Person B is, or what he's done, without first understanding both Person A, and the culture they live in. Terrorists and freedom fighters.

 

[Credge]

What makes a hero are the actions he takes. Nothing more.

 

[sammyfreak]

For me a Hero is a person who sacrifices alot for the good of others. Especially someone he doesn't know. Any parent would die for their child, but a stranger? That is the true measurement of a Hero in my eyes.

But would the children think there parents were Heroes for their efforts?

Well, naturally, anyone saving anyone becomes their hero, especially in a parent-child relationship.

But when I think Hero I don't think about my dad first (but I do think about him as a Hero), I think about someone like say...Mother Theresa. A person who commited their entire life helping the week and the poor.

 

[HannesPascal]

A hero is someone that makes the world a better place by being nice. That doesn't sound too hard but there's very few that can verify to be a hero according to my statement.

 

[Shajinn]

Someone who doesn't look like he's supposed to be a legendary hero. Like Gordon Freeman.

Huh? So heroism is measured in not looking like one? Is that what you´re saying?

@Anarchemitis:
Problematic, that one. Someone called a hero by some might be considered a villain/madman/idiot by others, depending on their views.

For me, a hero is someone who is willing to sacrifice something for others. It doesn´t even have to be their lives, but anything that would cause real harm to themselves if they lost it. Also, they don´t have to succeed, just being willing to make the effort counts.

 

[Anarchemitis]

A hero is someone that makes the world a better place by being nice. That doesn't sound too hard but there's very few that can verify to be a hero according to my statement.

But can you define "better"? What is good? What is evil?

 

[marfoir(IRL)]

I'm going to go with the whole Terry Pratchett view on heroes as my answer. If you you don't know what I mean then shame on you.

 

[SomeBritishDude]

Someone who helps another, when theres nothing in it for them. I wouldn't think of someone who rescued there girlfriend from a burning building as a hero. They're brave, very brave, but there doing it because they love their girlfriend, not because its the "right thing", its what anyone would do in that situation.

But if you were to see someone being mugged, and were to try and stop it, I would think that would make you a hero. What does the hero get out of it? Not much. Maybe a feeling of "huh...cool, im a good guy" but apart from that it was just about doing what was right, being brave.

I'm not petically bothered in movies, books or games about heroes who are already super, though they are pritty cool ofcoarse. The best heroes are ordinary people in extradinary circumstances.

 

[AboveUp]

Someone who doesn't look like he's supposed to be a legendary hero. Like Gordon Freeman.

Huh? So heroism is measured in not looking like one? Is that what you´re saying?

What I'm saying is that I prefer it when it's anyone who could have become a hero, based on what they decided to do when they are put in a situation were they could have also been labeled "crying NPC #3".
It's easier to connect with someone who seems more normal instead of a trained and drugged up killer who has been waiting for his moment to shine from the day he was born.

It's what I liked about Morrowind. You're not born as the hero, you become the hero. then again, Morrowind also gave you the choice to just say 'screw it, I'm going to kill Caius Cosadus'.

 

[Break]

A hero is someone that makes the world a better place by being nice. That doesn't sound too hard but there's very few that can verify to be a hero according to my statement.

But can you define "better"? What is good? What is evil?

Oh, did you really have to get all cliched about it? If you piss about with questions of morality all damn day, you'd never get anything done. The chances are, he was talking about fighting crime, feeding the hungry, spreading democracy, and all that jazz. Heroes are obviously acclaimed as such based on the moral code of their culture. Like I said, terrorists and freedom fighters. Dude, this is really basic stuff.

 

[Shajinn]

@AboveUp: Point taken, agreement as far as narrative mediums are concerned (which I think was what you meant anyway).

I guess you also have to ask yourself whether the act was really selfless, or whether it was driven by (maybe sub- or only half conscious?) thoughts of getting to heaven/ becoming famous/ being a hero

 

[JhericFury]

This may be because i'm pessimistic, but my view of a true hero who does what is the right course of action for the greatest amount of people (surprise, i'm a consequentialist), regardless of what retribution it may bring or what may be sacrificed in order to do it, this doesn't sound pessimistic but when you are willing to sacrifice everything you have for the greater good, chances are that's exactly what'll be taken, Fate's like that.

Of course, what seperates this true hero from the villian-with-a-cause is that the hero knows where the line is, i.e. doesn't sacrifice more than can be saved.

Oh, and here's where my true pessimism comes out. If it's a story, and there's a true hero, after killing the bad guy/saving the world they should die, alone, in a really depressing end, just to further support the idea that being a good guy will make your life a hell, but at least you'll be able to live with yourself.

..and you saved everyone too.

 

[silentsentinel]

Most of what makes a hero is the willingness to do what the situation calls for and the luck to have history shine favorably on your choices.

- J

That's... an awesome quote.

 

[Highbrow]

Heroes do their own damn homework.