Have you ever been called a Hero?

Question

When I was in my 20s, (30 yrs ago) my friend and I were fishing on opposite sides of a small river. I heard him yell and then a big splash. I started laughing and waited for the cursing and complaining to start. It stayed silent and I ran down yelling his name. I saw the log he had been on but he was no where around. The river got very shallow down stream so I would have seen him if he had floated down. I looked back at the log and caught a faint outline of his face flash about 6 inches under it where the current was pushing him back into a washed out hole. He had knocked himself out on the log. I jumped in and when I got to him, I grabbed him and threw him over the log face down. The force made him cough out the water and start breathing. Later, our friends started calling me a hero and it kind of made me upset because I was the only one there! There was no "choice"! I had to do what I did and I wasn't risking my life to do it. I just don't think that's what being a "Hero" is about.
Has anyone had an experience like this? How did you feel about it?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yep, I have. I rescued a toddler from the deep end of an apartment swimming pool. She'd been inching around the perimeter, holding onto the edge and lost her grip. Her mother & aunt suddenly appeared, frantic & concerned, though the little girl was fine... just shaken up. They thanked me profusely, but I didn't think it was any heroic feat-- just a natural reaction. The mom kept saying, "I thank God you were watching."  I had to bite my lip from asking, "Why weren't YOU watching?"

? · Answer

the traditional olde world definition of hero was "a demi-god" who performed great acts of bravery and helped others.
by modern definitions, a hero is:
a person who, in the opinion of others, has special achievements, abilities, or personal qualities and is regarded as a role model or ideal.
also, there WAS a choice there. you could have used the opportunity to run off with his things, or if he was an enemy, could have let him die, or many other things. the fact that you THOUGHT there was no other option was what made people call you a hero.
your "personal qualities" made them "regard you as a role model or ideal".

All hat · Answer

I saved an infant's life once - and all I felt was horror that the poor thing's life was in the capricious hands of fate - that an EMT just happened to be passing by.  I never did feel good about that.

? · Answer

yes   I don't think I was

? · Answer

Ah ha your far to modest to accept the

Hero title, please reconsider perhaps

Considering for a moment that you, yes you

Are a hero because you saved your friends

Life, and he is alive right now due to your

Intervention, thanks for helping him!

Thanks

Very best wishes

Mars

Source:) Study.

Ender772 · Answer

it doesnt matter if you were the only one there..and it does not matter that you did not have to risk anything...you acted fast, did not doubt yourself and with a clear head...Anyone could have been that hero true...but it revealed to everyone around you, that you have the traits I listed above.

Anonymous · Answer

You were first love in a list of my regrets

Anonymous · Answer

So not so much a question as a very long-winded brag with some poorly feigned humility thrown in at the end to try and make it seem otherwise.  Good luck not having this post deleted.

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Have you ever been called a Hero?

8 Answers