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Has the word "hero" become overused...

radcen

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Has the word "hero" become overused to the point this it doesn't mean anything anymore?

I think it has. I have seen many instances of this, but I will share one anecdote.

Recently a city water department employee in the next town over was killed by a hit-and-run driver fleeing from police. The employee was in his city van, on the job, and in no way whatsoever involved with the chase. He was simply in the wrong place (an intersection) at the wrong time when the chase came by.

The local news referred to him as a hero. I certainly feel for him and his loves ones, but I'm sorry, why is he a "hero"?

Turns out he was considered a nice guy. He lived in a nearby small town and was on that town's volunteer fire department and semi-active in his small community. That's great, and suggests he was probably a good person, but... hero?

A single anecdote does not make a case by itself, but like I said this is just one example to explain the intent of the question.

Discuss.
 
No.

It's not become that, it always has been.
 
Fire fighters arent heroes?
 


Heya Radcen. :2wave: I would agree with you about that it is highly overused. But, I would disagree that it doesn't mean anything anymore.

There are no Super Heroes.....and while I am glad that there are some Heroes that have lived and survived. There are many many more that did not.....and don't.
 
I don't mean to suggest that it never has meaning. It does, at least still in many cases. Actually what I fear is that if we keep overusing it then it's true intended meaning will eventually be lost.
 
When it's used to describe Hollywood actors portraying various roles, then yes it's overused.
 
radcen said:
Being a hero for simply being a firefighter is the same as getting a trophy for simply being on the T-Ball team.

You post suggests you buy into the "everybody deserves a trophy" mindset.
Click to expand...

Just for point of reference, how many burning buildings have you been inside trying to get someone out?
 
radcen said:
I don't mean to suggest that it never has meaning. It does, at least still in many cases. Actually what I fear is that if we keep overusing it then it's true intended meaning will eventually be lost.
Click to expand...

Well in truth.....I use to tell my kids to think of Firemen for civilians. Not many will break their way into a blazing fire to save others. Some may try.....but if the fire is to hot. That's where they end.

But I did remind them of those who did work within Fire Depts that don't put their lives on the line.

One can have courage and yet never be a Hero.

Btw.....couldn't resist. :2razz:

 
Crovax said:
Just for point of reference, how many burning buildings have you been inside trying to get someone out?
Click to expand...
So, essentially, you cannot refute my point, so you have to resort to moving the goalposts to distract and save face.
Please be intellectually honest and stick to the point at hand: Do you or do you not consider that a person is a hero for simply being a firefighter? It's a 'yes' or 'no' question.

If 'yes', then you fall into the "everyone deserves a trophy" mindset.
 

Yeah, it probably is over-used. Still, I'd rather use it too much than not enough.
 
A hero is someone who does something heroic. Of course there are many people who would/could be heroes but never have the chance because the "opportunity" never comes up, just as their are many heroes who step up out of nowhere and surprise everybody.

And on the flip side, there are also many who think they are willing to step up, maybe even have the job, then they shrink away when the need actually arises. This is why heroism needs to be defined by legitimate action and not simply being there.
 

I was only a volunteer firefighter for a couple of years and I only had to go into one burning building. That was one too many, anyone who has the stones to strap on a SCBA and go into a burning building is a hero in my book
 
I agree with the OP. We use the word way too freely. If someone says "He is MY hero" instead of "He is A hero" I will let it go.

First of all, nobody in sports is a hero for being a great athlete. That is a no-brainer. Also, someone isn't a hero just because they signed up for the military, police, or fire department.

To me, a hero is someone who puts their own life and limb in probable danger to save another person. "Probable" is a key word there. It means likely. Yes, it is possible you can lose your life as a soldier, cop, or fire fighter. But it isn't probable. Firefighters, military, and police all have procedures they follow to minimize their risk. Now, occasionally someone will ignore those procedures in order to save someone. And some of THOSE people are heroes.

Those who have earned the Medal of Honor? Heroes

Someone who jumps on a grenade to save his battle buddies? Hero

A firefighter who runs into a burning building, that has been declared too dangerous to enter by his Captain because its collapse is imminent, in order to save someone? Hero

A police officer who sheds his utility belt and jumps off a bridge into ice-cold water to save a drowning victim? Hero

A commuter who jumps down onto a subway track to retrieve a drunk who fell in as the train quickly approaches? Hero

A teacher who sneaks up and tackles a school shooter? Hero

A teacher who talks a school shooter into dropping his gun? Hero

A young child who hits, and scratches, and bites at the man trying to abduct his or her sibling? Hero

A man who spends all of his free time handing out blankets to the homeless?......Honorable.


Honorable is not lesser than hero. It is just applied to different circumstances.

Anyway, that is how I see it.
 
Crovax said:
I was only a volunteer firefighter for a couple of years and I only had to go into one burning building. That was one too many, anyone who has the stones to strap on a SCBA and go into a burning building is a hero in my book
Click to expand...

That's great, but you're still avoiding the question. The question is about a firefighter who never has the chance to go into a burning building. They trained for it (controlled training is not the same as uncontrolled actual events). They say they will. They probably honestly believe they will. But, some will shrink when it actually happens. This is not overly common, but it is not uncommon, either. Not to mention that for many the chance never even presents itself.

Now, can you answer the question, or not? Is a firefighter a hero for simply being a firefighter? Yes or no.
 
Excellent post.

I agree with your first point, as well. I'm fine with things like "My mom/dad is my hero." That's an individual thing, and outside what my intent is here with this thread.
 

if you are a firefighter long enough you will be put into that situation not to mention the many other life and death situations you deal with everyday as a first responder, so yes all firemen are heroes thats not giving a trophy to everyone they have all earned it.
 

You're wrong, but thank you for your answer. There are many firefighters (and cops and soldiers) who never face a single incident of legitimate danger in their entire careers*. Hence, it is the same as giving a trophy to everyone.

*- Doesn't mean they wouldn't step up if needed, just means it never came to that for them.
 

That simply is not true firefighters and to a lesser extent cops face legitimate danger on most calls. Which is why I asked you the first question. You dont have a clue what you are talking about
 
I have a relative who was injured on the job as a firefighter. They would tell you there was nothing heroic about it. They just happened to be in the wrong place when the floor above them came crashing down. He will gladly tell you that he was stupid to even still be where he was when it happened because he knew better.

If you want to call him a hero because it makes you feel better about yourself to pay respect to those who do what you do not, then that is your prerogative. If you want other people to consider you a hero because of what you do that they do not, then that is your prerogative as well. Yes it is an overused term, but it is really effectively meaningless in the broader scope of things.
 

I wholeheartedly believe the word has become overused. I have said that several times on here. Unfortunately, when a word is overused too much, it loses it's true meaning.
 
radcen said:
Being a hero for simply being a firefighter is the same as getting a trophy for simply being on the T-Ball team.

You post suggests you buy into the "everybody deserves a trophy" mindset.
Click to expand...

I will probably get a lot of knocks for this, but I don't think all fire fighters are heroes, any more than all cops are heroes, or all military are heroes. They choose those jobs, and just because they chose those jobs don't make them heroes. What they choose to do with those jobs - that make them heroes. Fire fighters that run into burning buildings saving people are heroes. Cops who chase down the bad guys who just beat up an old lady for her SSI check are heroes. Soldiers who throw themselves on a grenade to save others are heroes. If you put your life at risk to save others, that's heroic.

Just because you put on a uniform doesn't make you a hero. It's what you do that makes you a hero.

Edited to add: Guess I should have read the thread first LOL. I have repeated a lot of what others have said.
 
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Bull. They chose that job. They didn't have to do it. Just because they put on the uniform doesn't make them heroic.
 

I don't think I have ever heard of a real hero calling themselves a hero. If someone calls themself a hero, it is a safe bet they aren't.
 
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