On the subject of heroes

[darksideofthemoon]

What do you consider a hero is?

and

Who do you consider is a hero?

[azureline**]

Similar to the nurse who set fire to the nursing home? He obviously saw himself as a hero.

[purple_haize]

Iza.......you only see heros in the mental health systerm.

that is your choice.

We were asked by the OP who WE thought............and I think it is the volunteer firefighters, who risk their own lives to help others, and dont get paid for it.

That is MY CHOICE!!

[catsnknots]

To me it shows that people are motivated by many things.

imo a true hero is not motivated by self interest but the interest of others.

lol..

many people that we see as heroes do what they do out of self interest.... 

people that go out and care for others often do so because it makes them feel good to care and support those less fortunate. 

No matter what a person does they do not do it because they hate what they do but want to be heroic. They do it because it gives them pleasure and is a passion. 

Some are accidental heroes .. like the ones that see a house on fire while passing and runs in and helps save a life... 

[azureline**]

Some are accidental heroes .. like the ones that see a house on fire while passing and runs in and helps save a life...

That's a hero, not really accidental though, they choose to do it.

[izabsmiling]

Similar to the nurse who set fire to the nursing home? He obviously saw himself as a hero.

yes.He did come to mind.

[izabsmiling]

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_makes_a_hero

What Makes a Hero?By Philip Zimbardo | January 18, 2011 | 12 comments

We all have an inner hero, argues Philip Zimbardo. Here's how to find it.

 This month, Greater Good features videos of a presentation by Philip Zimbardo, the world-renowned psychologist perhaps best known for ...

What makes us good? What makes us evil?
Research has uncovered many answers to the second question: Evil can be fostered by dehumanization, diffusion of responsibility, obedience to authority, unjust systems, group pressure, moral disengagement, and anonymity, to name a few.
But when we ask why people become heroic, research doesn’t yet have an answer. It could be that heroes have more compassion or empathy; maybe there’s a hero gene; maybe it’s because of their levels of oxytocin—research by neuroeconomist Paul Zak has shown that this “love hormone” in the brain increases the likelihood you’ll demonstrate altruism. We don’t know for sure.
I believe that heroism is different than altruism and compassion. For the last five years, my colleagues and I have been exploring the nature and roots of heroism, studying exemplary cases of heroism and surveying thousands of people about their choices to act (or not act) heroically. In that time, we’ve come to define heroism as an activity with several parts.read more;http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_makes_a_hero

It seems to be a question that some are giving a lot of thought and time to.

[monman12]

PH: "I'm gonna come from left field. I don't think firefighters, soldiers are heros. They are merely doing their job."

I agree (as ex military) the civilian use of the term in many cases is inappropriate, however, in the military just being in it does not make you a "hero", there has to be some degree of valour in order that you could be termed a "hero"

"hero is someone who has performed an act or service above and beyond the call of duty... which is doing more than what was expected under the existing conditions the act was performed."

"someone who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty"

[jdsenterprises74]

I think a hero is a person who risks life and limb in order to save another persons life. 

Accidental or otherwise.

[chinchuckchick]

The definition of a hero is subjective, there are no right or wrong answers.

Personally I don't think the average volunteer firefighter is a heroe, they are trained for the job they will be doing. A passerby who runs into a burning house with no thought for their own safety, no training or protective gear is a hero.

A police officer who goes into a dangerous situation is not a hero (IMO) but a civilian who puts his/her life in danger in the same situation is.

[rose*petals]

I consider anyone who puts their own life in danger in order to save someone else is a hero.  Who I don't think of as a hero are sportsmen etc. who are often referred to as heroes.  Footballers, cricketers etc. are doing a paid job.