text; filtered away from Newton Geiszler

[mathemagier]

Hero
[heer-oh]

noun, plural heroes;

1. a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their 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.

There are a great many heroic types among the imPort population, and this is probably a rather tired question, but indulge my curiosity if you would.

What is it the elevates a person from simply well-intentioned, to someone worthy of such a distinguished title?

Deeds? Bravery? Strength? Capability? Righteousness? Nobility? All of the above, or some combination thereof?

Or is it simply that there's one person in the world that believes it?

Comments

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[iamtetsuo]

people believe anything f theyre stupid enough

you buy this hero shit?

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[mathemagier]

There are some that I feel may deserve that title, but it's difficult to say for certain. It's not exactly an objective scale.

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[crapbearer]

Still trying to figure that out, myself.

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[mathemagier]

Not the simplest of tasks, despite how it may seem so on the surface. I suppose we'll just have to hope for some enlightening responses.

text; ID reads wild tiger

[earnedmystripes]

a hero is someone who helps people
and yeah, you can totally be a hero to just one person

[When he'd first made the decision to retire in his world, hadn't he decided on that as a way to still keep his promise to Tomoe? That he would carry it on by becoming Kaede's hero instead?]

it doesnt have to be your lifes work or anything
protecting just one person means something, yknow?
it means a hell of a lot to them and the people they wont hafta leave behind

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[mathemagier]

Personally helps people, or incidentally helps people?

And if you're protecting that one person at the expense of others?

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[matadorable]

i always thought of people
who are like my good friend
Joaquin

i still do
but

i think a hero is someone
who is willimg to sacrifice something
for other people

especially when it is the more difficult thing
to do

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[mathemagier]

That may not be a bad way of looking at it. Very insightful, actually. I wonder if that is accurate.

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[aviate]

you're being pedantic go outside and get some air and stop overthinking it

[They sound like a nerd and nerds always have a problem where they spend too much time indoors.]

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[mathemagier]

Perhaps. Easier said than done, as ever. Two weeks is a long time to have spent in idle contemplation. But as our community seems to have considerable experience with the subject matter, it seemed prudent to pose such a query. I've gained some rather unique insight to the matter so far.

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[youbastard]

I think the big difference is intention. A hero doesn't expect anything from what they're doing. Some of them even go into a situation expecting the opposite of praise but they do it anyway because it's what has to be done.

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[mathemagier]

Taking the ego out of their accomplishments, that seems fair. I've admired many people like that in recent years.

permatext

[hypnotherapy]

Sacrifice. Though I wouldn't go as far as to say that sacrifice is all a hero needs. The definitions of hero vary from person to person, but they generally involve the person in question having given up something of great importance.

Heroes are sources of strength for those who need them. Living, dead or truth lost to time.

permatext

[mathemagier]

Small wonder those that give their lives are regaled as heroes.

But I wonder, what of those lives that are given unwillingly, yet still advance an important cause? Or perhaps are taken for that greater cause.

permavideo; c-c-c-combo breaker, my bad, sorry

[manofmanylegends]

[There's this big guy on the screen. He looks a little wide-eyed because he still isn't used to these sorts of things, but he wants to get a better handle of technology because it could be helpful in looking after Mighty Max.]

I agree with what others have said about sacrifice, and that heroes often don't expect to be rewarded for their accomplishments.

permatext; wow how rude

[mathemagier]

[Wow. How do you people exist?]

It's good to have a general consensus so far. I take it you have experience with such matters?

[private, unencrypted]

[medalsome]

A true hero gives protection to others selflessly, in whatever capacity they can.

[private, unencrypted]

[mathemagier]

Admirable, to be sure. But is that the extent of heroism?

[ text ] [ ID: Ms. Marvel ]

[bestversion]

you're probably going to get a lot of different answers. But for me, since I have the power to help people, isn't it my responsibility to do that? I love heroes and I have always wanted to be one.

but I think you also kind of . . . owe it to others if you have the power.

[ text ]

[mathemagier]

A difficult moral inquiry. Not all of us possess such bravery, or hold such ideals. Do all heroes wish to save others? Or are there those that only do so out of a sense of obligation?

video

[bad_in_latin]

Can't say as I've found it's one've those in particular. More like ordinary folk, refusin' to bend the knee.

[text]

[mathemagier]

[w h a t. it's a good thing this isn't video, because he'd just be staring for an uncomfortably long time.

right. focus?? what is that. come on Hermann, you're 36 years old and have a phd, you can handle your teenage hero talking to you]

Facing the odds and refusing the accept defeat. Yes, I can see why that could be considered heroism.

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[resipiscent]

I've been wondering this myself. So far, I can't really tell. The definition is a little... nebulous.

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[mathemagier]

Yes, the input so far has been widely varied. As expected, I suppose. So far, sacrifice and a lack of expectation seem to be the predominant criteria.

[acclimatized]

It's difficult to say, but I'm going for the latter. Heroes can have none of those traits and still be considered a hero by the people who care about them.

[mathemagier]

Does that simply mean they're biased?

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[quaerit]

[ Gansey hears that question, and he thinks Glendower. Then he thinks about what Glendower means to him, and answers on those terms. ]

It's all of that. It's their ability to rise above the norm and become something that inspires others. There's no one quality that makes someone a hero. It's not a name that you can give yourself, not if you want it to have any meaning. It has to be bestowed by others, by the people you lead.

I don't think that you do that without being brave, or strong, or righteous or noble. Those things in themselves might make someone a good man, but they won't make him a hero. That takes something more, something not easily defined. A hero leaves a legacy that's effective long after they're gone.

Answer for yourself. Name someone that you consider to be a hero. What qualities do they have that inspire you?

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[mathemagier]

That's likely a good way of looking at it. Although a culmination of all those traits is rather a tall order to fill, so is the title itself. There's much to consider in that.

[text]

[timecapture]

I think it comes down to what people do, myself.

[text]

[mathemagier]

Deeds that serve the greater good, then? What of the motivations behind them?

[askedtobe]

Pretty sure no matter how many people you ask, you're not going to get a definitive answer. But I think it's at least in part as to how other people see you. You can be a hero to someone just by being there when no one else is.

Or you can be one by doing more than what's expected of you, as an average citizen, say. Going beyond what it really means to help other people.

[mathemagier]

Yes, I suppose that is very true. Perhaps even small scale heroes are just as important to those that look up to them.

video;

[helpline]

[ because man, fuck texting. ]

I suppose it's intention over anything else. No matter what you think about yourself, if someone else thinks that you're a hero, you're considered a hero.

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[mathemagier]

[Doctor, hello there]

That's a deceptively simple definition, but no less true perhaps.

[ text ]

[enucleation]

Someone's perspective is what usually elevates someone.

[ text ]

[mathemagier]

That does seem to be the ruling notion so far.

[incendere]

While it's true that the qualities you listed are generally thought of as heroic traits, what qualifies a person as a "hero" would depend on who you ask. I doubt there are many here who would actually identify themselves as one, even if others believed it to be the case.

[mathemagier]

Yes, that has been my experience with it so far. An unexpected bit of overarching data.

[mightthinkthat]

[ Since the question has been pretty comprehensively answered... ] Why does it worry you?

[mathemagier]

There are a great many heroic types in this world. I'd wondered if there existed some standard that heroes feel they must live up to.

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[superposition]

Good heavens, there are a lot of opinions on this, aren't there?

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[mathemagier]

Far more than I expected.

Also if Newton asks, we're involved in a lengthy discussion about the technical specifics of automotives.

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[flowerette]

I would say the latter. You aren't necessarily defined as a hero by your actions, but by the beliefs of others.

What is your take on it? Do you view yourself as a hero, Mr. Gottlieb?

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[mathemagier]

I never did. But there seems to be one person that believes as much.

[thelimitdoesnotexist]

someone whose goes beyond their human flaws.

[mathemagier]

Human flaws.. That could mean any number of things, but it is a fair point.

[shuckit]

i think it's something other people assign you. don't think it matters how many believe it, and i don't think it has to do with everything about you. maybe just one thing you did.

but giving up something of yourself to help someone else. seems like a pretty good way to put it.

[mathemagier]

Can't say as I disagree with you there.