Misuse of the word 'hero'

It's really frustrating me lately, and has done for a long time.

Sporting identities being called heroes.

Disaster survivors being called heroes.

Sick or dead celebrities being called heroes.


It makes ME sick.

Sporting people and celebrities aren't heroes. They might be icons and role models, but with very few exceptions, they have done nothing heroic.

Disaster survivors, in my opinion, aren't heroes either. Unless they saved others during that disaster at the risk of their own lives, they are simply survivors. Having a strong will to live isn't being a hero.

A real hero is someone that puts aside any thought of themselves to help someone else.

Whether it is a soldier leaving a trench to bring back a fallen comrade, to an average joe off the street who crawls through a burning building to save a child.

These are heroes.

reply to post by fooffstarr


The word hero gets overused, especially by politicians. Many people can be considered heroes, like doctors and nurses who save lives every day and still show up to their highly stressful jobs (medical workers have a high burnout rate).

Sports celebrities get paid a huge amount of money doing something they love. They may be good at it, but they are not heroes.

You are right.
It's about time somebody took a stand against the misuse of the word.
Awfully selfless of you.

You're my hero.