Are you a hero?

Are you a hero?

  • No way. Those people are on their own.

  • Yes, I would put others before myself. For the greater good.


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I would love to say I would be a hero, but truth is we never really know. And while I believe I would put certain people's safety above my own, not everyone though. Maybe I will get the opportunity to prove myself wrong. But I think true heroism like that is rare, and I can't say that I possess it.
 
Well, I can honestly say that there's no way I'd sacrifice myself for people I don't know. In fact, even people I do know are on their own. I'm not trying to be funny, I am completely serious.

The only exception: if a car ran a red light and a child or a kitteh was in its path, I WOULD do my best to save them. The rest of you are screwed. 😉
 
Of course I would go out of my way to save them dear women, friends or not, I'd save everyone I could, well maybe, but if the mans name was Spanky - jeez I hope you can swim mate.
What we do for a laugh or have to put up with?
 
I think a lot of it's reaction rather than a conscious choice. My partner reckons I pushed her behind me / out of the way of a car that tried to run us over years ago. I don't remember it, maybe I reacted or she got it wrong.

I do think I'm the type who might get myself in trouble one day by sticking up for strangers. I've done it before on public transport, again just a reaction, trouble is you don't know before joining in if there's actual danger or just loud morons.
 
I really think that it depends on the situation at the time, however I am one of those that if I have to brake suddenly I fling my arm across the passenger seat, even if the passenger is just my bag!
 
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I don't class myself as a hero at all. But, yes I do put others before myself most of the time and especially in a crisis (ie the other person wants to die). I like to think most people would. It's not about being a hero it's just being compassionate towards others needs.
 
I guess considering my line of work it is part of what I do, so yes. If you consider my time and the amount of stress and at time the lack of 'good' wages a sacrifice, then yes. I sacrifice everyday to save lives of strangers.
 
DeepBlueJoy
DeepBlueJoy
if first responder means hero, then I guess i'm one... or used to be... but truthfully, it needs done, so i do it. don't really think it makes me a hero.
I guess it depends - would I sacrifice myself to save a group of innocent children - yes. Would I sacrifice myself to save a group of bigoted racist homophobic misogynists - no.
 
ILLYRIAN
ILLYRIAN
What if they were bigoted racist homophobic misogynists in the good sense?
I guess it depends - would I sacrifice myself to save a group of innocent children - yes. Would I sacrifice myself to save a group of bigoted racist homophobic misogynists - no.

That would depend on of you knew the people, if a stranger was in danger most people wouldn't stop to question their beliefs first!
 
I would save the bigoted racist homophobic misogynists, and when questioned about it, I would say, "It was more merciful to let those children pass on before the world could corrupt them."
 
There are different levels of hero there. I'm definitely altruistic, and I'm not that big with physical fear compared to many women and I'm not squeamish, but I don't consider myself a hero. People who abuse children or animals or anyone helpless had better watch out, however, as I have a strong desire to hurt people like that, though I'd try for the law first... at least, I hope I would.
 
To quote an actual hero 'you never know until you've been tested.'
I honestly don't know what I would do, especially without knowing specifics. Is it people in danger and rescuing them would risk my safety but not necessarily end my life, like when those Thai boys were trapped in the cave and divers went down to save them? I guess it would depend on the danger - I couldn't go underground, in a cave, to do it ... but I might be able to edge out somewhere high and help people get back to safety. And do I have time to consider the options - or am I acting on instinct? are the emergency services on their way? Will I actually do more harm than good?

Or is it more like someone aiming a gun at someone and I get in the way? Again - massive chance that I will do more harm than good - I'm not trained to talk people down, so I probably shouldn't try it. And if they were pointing a gun at my mum ... of course I'd be willing to die for her but she wouldn't be willing for me to die for her. I know she would much prefer to die instead of me, so me being a hero to save her would actually be a selfish act in which I got to die feeling all proud of myself, and she lived the rest of her life with the misery, guilt and loss ... not very heroic, when you put it like that, is it?
As a teacher, I would be expected to shield my pupils from a mad man with a gun and follow emergency protocols to keep everyone safe. I would - because it was my job - but I wouldn't necessarily save lives, because I'm a teacher and he's a mad gun man - what can I do? All I can do is die first, which is not the same as sacrificing yourself for the good of others. I certainly wouldn't tackle a mad gun man - that's not heroism, that's idiocy.

There is an actual mental illness linked to the desire to be a hero - they engineer emergency situations (like burning down buildings on purpose) so they can run in and save everyone. Have a go heroes are not always a good thing, and it is a problem in our society that we have glorified the every man turned action hero in films so much that people actually think that in any emergency situation they can be the person to do the rescuing, that this is some kind of expectation on them, and that simply waiting and letting the experts come in and handle it is the coward's way out.
 
A hero is someone who does something extraordinary in the service of others because it's necessary. Few actual heroes consider themselves heroes. It is the nature of true heroes not to count the cost of what they do, particularly, not at the moment they're doing it. Most of them aren't looking to die or take stupid risks for glory. Most (at least those who are first responders) tend to have a very strong sense of duty. When the rubber hits the road, they do whatever is required. Most times, fire/rescue people do thankless work. Occasionally, they do dangerous work. I haven't met a single one who was hoping for an ugly accident or a fire so they could 'be a hero'. Human suffering is not a game.

People like that and anyone who fetishizes being a hero can put others at risk. In extreme situations, they can become unbalanced enough to exhibit 'hero syndrome' -- and try to cause emergencies in order to seem heroic. By definition, of course, such people are the opposite or heroes.
 
No.
I’m the one who won’t even notice that someone needs help...
Either that or I will think too much about what to do, if I should do something at all or something like that.
If I finally decide to do something it will most likely be to late anyway.

/SK
 
Skanky Vamp
Skanky Vamp
Then you can live with the guilt of not acting fast enough. Hardening your heart to those that do take action, thus starting your first steps toward villainy.
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