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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 5553527" data-attributes="member: 8835">I think chaochou's definition is mis-connected.  It's trying to hook up to the wrong concept.  I suspect he doesn't want to flag something as Heroic if it was easy for the actor.Heroic action isn't about losing something, it is about the RISK of losing something.  It's about overcoming something that APPEARS greater than you.  Once you beat it, it is obvious it is no longer greater than you.A man rushes into the street to grab a child before she gets hit by a car.  This is considered a heroic action by most of society and fiction.  He risks his own life to save the child.  If he fails, both will die.  If he suceeds, he might only push the child away, getting hit himself.The car weights 1 ton, and will kill him and the child easily.  it is greater and faster than he is.  if he is close enough, and moves fast enough, he still might make it.  If he doesn, he has effectively bested the car.If he suceeds fully, he has lost nothing.  Thereby disproving Chaochou's original definition.A man is buying some snacks at a gas station, when a robber rushes in to hold-up the cashier.  If he tries to stop the robber, he will be considered heroic.The man is no doubt risking his life.  He could get shot.  His actions might induce the robber to shoot everybody, making things worse, not better.  The robber might have every intention to shoot the cashier anyway.  The man doesn't know that.Once again, we've got risk.  If the man was a former Navy Seal, he has extra training to close quickly, and deal with an armed opponent.  So he might very well be "better" than the bad guy.  he might in fact be on leave, and be VERY experienced and good at this kind of thing.In the aftermath, the TV news crew will hail this man a hero. A lone citizen rushing to the aid of stranger.  Even if he died.  The security camera will tell the tale on the 10 o'clock news.  If he succeeds, there will be interviews, and a key to the city.So skill level versus the challenge is not always a key to defining heroism.  The act of stepping up, when others won't/can't is often a key trait to heroism.And since most people look at the threat, and look at themselves (their stats) and decide that they can't risk leaving their wife and kids as widows and orphans.This means, a key trait is heroes step up, where others won't.  And often, they do so because they THINK they have the means to deal with the problem.</blockquote>

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