Who Is A Real Hero?

leggo · 30-10-2012 10:41AM #1

"Back against the wall and odds
With the strength of a will and a cause
Your pursuits are called outstanding
You're emotionally complex
Against the grain of dystopic claims
Not the thoughts your actions entertain
And you, have proved, to be
A real human being, and a real hero"

Aside from Ryan Gosling, of course.

I think this as I'm watching footage of FDNY putting in another heroic shift on Sky News and wonder is there any more heroic job?

You always hear the US bandy on about how their soldiers are fighting for their freedom and, while that isn't to say that the US army does no good work, I find it a bit hard to marry the idea of someone unquestionably administering the political force of another person, regardless of their own personal views, with the idea of a hero. Heroic work can be done within the line of duty, sure. But just being a soldier? Nah, sorry, you're not instantly a hero for me. Maybe brave...but then again, one could also substitute the word 'brave' there with 'dumb' depending on the context. You don't get your automatic hero badge just by signing up to the reserves. Must try harder.

So what walks of life make you deserved of Ryan Gosling-style, hero status?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DSVDcw6iW8

saiint · 30-10-2012 10:46AM

so i became a chef in the army for nothing

i risk my life everyday
i might leave a gas cooker on
i might get food poison
come to think of it
the whole irish army are heros if their brave enough to eat my food :L

krudler · 30-10-2012 10:49AM

is there really a need to quote the OP when you're the first post?

Gummy Panda · 30-10-2012 10:51AM

In before all ladies with their snail trails saying Ryan Gosling is dreamy.

LeeHoffmann · 30-10-2012 10:57AM

to me, somebody is a hero if they continue to live their life according to their principles in the face of pressure from loved ones, friends, strangers and laws, because they know they´re right. Somebody once said to me that you know you´re doing the right thing if it´s difficult. Most heroes, imo, are ordinary people. They have quiet struggles and are rarely thanked for their sacrifices. I think you can recognise heroes by their selflessness - what they do, they do for others.

Which walks of life? There are so many. The first that comes to mind is single parents who work hard/make sacrifices to give their children a better life.

saiint · 30-10-2012 10:58AM

krudler wrote: »

is there really a need to quote the OP when you're the first post?

that ok for you now ?

30-10-2012 10:59AM

I am. Don't tell anyone, though.

juan.kerr · 30-10-2012 11:03AM

krudler wrote: »

is there really a need to quote the OP when you're the first post?

:mad: That's one of my pet hates. Makes no sense why someone would do it.

Duggy747 · 30-10-2012 11:04AM

I hear this Enrique Iglesias fella is a hero, has some special talent of kissing pain away or something.

I dunno, sounds like a charlatan to me.

WoollyRedHat · 30-10-2012 11:06AM

One who lives outside the image and for the greater picture.

I hope that sounds wise and enlightening to you.

RikkFlair · 30-10-2012 11:07AM

Your man who landed the plane in the Hudson River, cool as a breeze.

(He wouldn't do it today!)

bluecode · 30-10-2012 12:11PM

The word hero is bandied around too much. The word is cheapened by overuse. Mostly it's just ordinary people doing their job often in difficult circumstances. They are usually baffled at being termed a hero quite rightly.

Anyone who begins to think of themselves as a hero stops being one immediately. I can think of several professions who are called heroes way too often. To the point where some of them begin to believe it themselves and begin to expect special treatment.

I'm not naming names because I'm no hero!

A famous American pilot once said: 'Show me a hero and I'll show you a bum'.

karma_ · 30-10-2012 12:11PM

RikkFlair wrote: »

Your man who landed the plane in the Hudson River, cool as a breeze.

(He wouldn't do it today!)

That's who this song is about, Chesley Sullenberger.

Callan57 · 30-10-2012 12:18PM

The thing about hero's is ..... they are mostly dead

kowloon · 30-10-2012 12:43PM

GAA All-star Heroes. Mighty men.

Wacker The Attacker · 30-10-2012 12:51PM

Your ma's my hero

somefeen · 30-10-2012 12:56PM

I think generally the difference between a hero and a normal person is simply a hero was in the right place at the right time.

I don't consider most soldiers to be heroes (apart from those that might have made massive sacrifices in the name of peace).
If you see the help for heroes campaigns etc in the UK, IMO you are just looking at the only way they can keep young men willing to go to war and get blown to bits. Call them a hero for stepping on a landmine and the consequences are outweighed in a young man's mind with the fact that he'll be a hero to his country.
Since I live in the UK now I never air this thought since its bound to make me incredibly unpopular!

not yet · 30-10-2012 01:10PM

My Dad is my hero. Always has been.

2ndcoming · 30-10-2012 01:16PM

Hulk Hogan, circa 1990.

/end thread

Big Nasty · 30-10-2012 01:22PM

bluewolf wrote: »

I am. Don't tell anyone, though.

Can you talk about it though or is it all hush-hush?;)

cableguy.ie · 30-10-2012 01:36PM

G.I Joe

MJ23 · 30-10-2012 01:39PM

kowloon wrote: »

GAA All-star Heroes. Mighty men.

A great bunch of lads.

My hero is Al Bundy.

WindSock · 30-10-2012 01:40PM

Anyone who sacrifices themselves or part of themselves for the betterment of other people. Be it saving lives in a crisis or adopting / fostering disabled or unwanted chillren.

juan.kerr · 30-10-2012 01:47PM

somefeen wrote: »

I think generally the difference between a hero and a normal person is simply a hero was in the right place at the right time.

It's a bit more than that, surely? Not everyone will shine if put in a life or death scenario or will choose to put themselves in a life or death scenario.

juan.kerr · 30-10-2012 01:48PM

Heroes in a half shell...TURTLE POWER!!!!!

griffdaddy · 30-10-2012 01:51PM

Batman's a real hero. He wasn't gifted radioactive super powers or from another planet or any of this shít. He puts in hard training and good planning into everything he does, and when he gets hit he feels it the same as anyone else.

Seaneh · 30-10-2012 01:52PM

saiint wrote: »

so i became a chef in the army for nothing
i risk my life everyday
i might leave a gas cooker on
i might get food poison
come to think of it
the whole irish army are heros if their brave enough to eat my food :L

my dad is a retired NCO and he always said there were only two types of trained killers in the Irish Army.
Medics and cooks.

funny. stories of a few lads breaking into the officers mess at night to cook steak because were sick of chicken and pork everyday while over seas.

WindSock · 30-10-2012 01:58PM

griffdaddy wrote: »

Batman's a real hero. He wasn't gifted radioactive super powers or from another planet or any of this shít. He puts in hard training and good planning into everything he does, and when he gets hit he feels it the same as anyone else.

His superpower is his bottomless cave of batcash.

griffdaddy · 30-10-2012 02:04PM

WindSock wrote: »

His superpower is his bottomless cave of batcash.

That's one thing to consider. But he doesn't have to spend his money on helping people, he could just as easily have a batcave full of coke and hookers. Plus all the batcash in Gotham won't make the pain of getting his face smashed in by Bane any less real.

sink_or_swim · 30-10-2012 02:05PM

that austrian guy who jumped from space to earth

WindSock · 30-10-2012 02:07PM

Glory hunters are not heroes.

Who Is A Real Hero?

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