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i was just thinking about the general idea of heroism

is selflessness important to heroism or does it ruin it? lets say someone wants to have a statue made of him because he did a good deed? or to take superheroes as an example, look at iron man and superman for example. superman is like the goody-goody, I-am-so-pure classic hero, acts all selfless but also wears a suit that in no way people could forget. then you got Iron man who wants fame, who is a total self-centered egomaniac but when it matters will risk his life to save lives. maybe ironman IS the real hero, maybe he projects this image of imperfection and and moral flaw because really he is too humble to even assume by his attitude that he is morally perfect. while superman is just trying so hard to be recognized as selfless and pure that it might hide a gigantic ego. like people in moments of tragedy who say : "i will send prayers for you" like really ??? you have to apropriate yourself this tragic moment to be the hero of the story. to me "I'll send a prayer" means " i want to be recognized as a good person but I wont actually do anything for it". they pray for starving people but never actually go out and feed people. the real superhero for me would dress different every time, do good needs, and never actually talk about it and no one would even know that all these good deeds are from the same person. what do you think ?
SW-User
I always took "I'll pray for you" as giving the situation over when one feels powerless. To someone who believes in gods, a god could do more than a person ever could. Their hearts are in the right place.
For stories of heroes, though, I always liked the ones with guilt and backstories that made them just like everyone else.
reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M
@SW-User i see your point and I'm sure they many sincerely mean well but intentions can be like icebergs and a large portion is hidden. like if someone feels powerless they should just say so. there are many things implied in this simple sentence. that somehow god is flawed and needs to be reminded of what's most important right now ? hey, don't forget to help this kid. or that because someone prays go will lean more towards them, doesnt seem like a god of love one who would first help those that pray him. if there is a god everything is actually exactly how its intended to be.
SW-User
@reflectingmonkey That's a good point.
HearTheRhythm · 46-50, F
I agree with so much of your lovely ramblings here. To me a hero needs not be named or awarded or have perfect hair. Heroes make a difference, change for the better, because it's right.
Peppa · 31-35, F
I like how analytical you are and i see where you are coming from butttt i have to ask this.
Isn't a hero a hero regardless of the motivation.
When you think about life iron man was a man and he understood the value of placing a price on the "good" deeds he did, i mean we don't live for free.
Where as superman is an alien nothing on earth really has real value to him except for love, he survived on a humble man's salary as it served as a cover and to help him integrate into society and be less alien. He also needed an in with Louis Lane.
Perspective is a good thing...
Thanks for this. Let me know your thoughts.
Ozdharma · 61-69, M
Heroes are ordinary people who care about others. I once saw an incident and went to see what had happened. I advised the people that they really needed an ambulance. They took my advice luckily for the injured guy. He rang me 5 days latter he had been in intensive care for 5 days and told me had I not gone to look he would have died.
xixgun · M
I think you're reading too much into fictional characters
reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M
@xixgun no, actually fictional characters, especially super-heroes, are like personifications of Jungian archetypes, like a look into our collective unconscious to see the shapes of our values in a easy-to-visualize, personified form, a bit like Hindu gods but easier to understand.
xixgun · M
@reflectingmonkey Well, Batman, who is selfless; continually berates Superman, referring to him as a “Boy Scout”.

Batman’s only interest is justice. He is unconcerned with fame or statues or accolades. If anything, he would rather be feared than admired.
reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M
@xixgun that's an interesting example, its true , maybe batman is the real concept of the real-life hero. like ironman his suit is more for actual practical reasons but he has no clame to fame whatsoever. he did create this character of Batman and spread the myth around but ,like you mentioned, more in the form of a fear and in a way it has, again , nothing to do with him but with making his fight more efficient and more peaceful ( fear can actually help to avoid violent conflicts sometimes).
SW-User
Superman is an alien. Iron man does not have any superpowers,he is rich af from selling weapons.they are both fictional characters
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
Are you talking about real life heroes or comic book type heroes?
reflectingmonkey · 51-55, M
@SimplyTracie real life, in a sense but using superheroes as a archetype for the general concept of what it means to be a hero, what do we actually mean by that. superheros are an interesting way to examine our societies idea of heroism.
SimplyTracie · 26-30, F
@reflectingmonkey
I don’t compare comic book heroes to real life heroes. I posted this about 10 days ago.
https://similarworlds.com/4332983-I-Wtk-Who-Is-Your-Hero-Or-Heroine-and-Why/2977799-This-is-my-newest-hero
MartinTheFirst · 22-25, M
You need to be selfless but self centered. Look at disney hercules. He wanted nothing but to be adored.. pretty self centered, yet he ended up being selfless to achieve it.

 
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