What is a hero? What is a villain?

[Mu No Hito]

Hello.

I would like to know people's opinion on what a hero is, and what a villain is.

What does a hero represent to you? What kind of attributes do they have? Why are they special and why do you look up to them?

The same Q for villains as well.

The feedback would be much appreciated.

Regards.

[ZephyrusX]

To be honest, I don’t care for either term. I think the terms are used in society as a means of communicating what is moral and valued in society and what is not. A hero’s attributes or a villain’s attributes are often exaggerated beyond human form. There are no true heroes and there are no true villains. There are only human beings. I’d prefer to look at people for who the really are, which involves acknowledging the good and bad in people. So, I don't feel overly inclined to answer your question the way you seem to expect us to.

What is your idea of hero or a villain?

[James81]

I don't really have an answer for your questions, but this thread reminded me of one of my favorite movie quotes:

He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that, saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.--Aunt May, Spiderman 2

[ZephyrusX]

Originally Posted by James81

I don't really have an answer for your questions, but this thread reminded me of one of my favorite movie quotes:

He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that, saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero. Courageous, self-sacrificing people. Setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. And years later, they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them how to hold on a second longer. I believe there's a hero in all of us, that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady, and give up the thing we want the most. Even our dreams.--Aunt May, Spiderman 2

That is interesting. Do you see a hero more in terms of a role model or someone that you can look up to and believe in? I feel more comfortable with such a conception of a hero as it is down to earth. Otherwise, I keep thinking of Nancy Grace - ‘American Hero’… argh…

[Federer]

Hero loves to act like god and villain misses only one thing. Excellent intentions!

[Bricona]

A hero is the guy who wants to help others.

A villian is the totally awesome cool guy who wants to teach people a different perspective.

[James81]

Originally Posted by Bricona

A hero is the guy who wants to help others.

A villian is the totally awesome cool guy who wants to teach people a different perspective.

I never really thought of myself as the villain before.

Perhaps this is why I love the Joker so much. Maybe I'm the Joker of Personal Development.

[givejonadollar]

I prefer the villians.

I mean, afterall, in all of human history, who has told Satan's side of the story?

[TimDineen]

To me, a hero is someone who sacrifices some aspect of his personal life for the betterment of others. A villain is someone who sacrifices others for the betterment of his personal life.

[Servina]

There are no heroes or villains. Just people who fit society and those who don't. Having written that I need to contradict myself by saying that there are certain people who are without a doubt massive villains however you look at it.

[180]

A hero in one country

is a villain in another country.

[Mounds]

Originally Posted by 180

A hero in one country

is a villain in another country.

Now that's a perspective to think about.

[Jarrod]

I agree that the difference between a hero and a villain at a certain level of perspective is non-existent.

My hero definition is around: Doing, creating or achieving something that is beyond the imagination of 'common' people (taking themselves to the 'next' level) and then using that knowledge to inspire and/or educate other people.

You can see how with this definition a villain can be seen by someone of the same belief structure as a hero.

[ginkgo]

Hero is someone like you. Villian is someone unlike you. The Muslim terrorists feel that other Muslim terrorists are heroes. To them if you are not one then you are a villian. The Nazis feel that other Nazis are the heros. The KKK feel that white Christians are the heroes.

[Bricona]

Originally Posted by James81

I never really thought of myself as the villain before.

Perhaps this is why I love the Joker so much. Maybe I'm the Joker of Personal Development.

You do know that people who say they resemble a fictional character aren't heroes or villians.

. . . they're pretty much just losers.



It might sound funny, but I'm not lying.

[Mounds]

Originally Posted by Bricona

You do know that people who say they resemble a fictional character aren't heroes or villians.

. . . they're pretty much just losers.

It might sound funny, but I'm not lying.

<action>

*vomits in garbage can beside computer... again*

</action>

<Smartass yet making a good point>

Was there some kind of a study done to prove this? I constantly say I resemble Superman and I'm nothing but successful.
How do you even determine who is a loser? Is there some sort of a standard?

</Smartass yet making a good point>

<joking>

I've got this great idea... yesterday, I claimed to be The Riddler and James claimed to be The Joker. I propose we have a duel. You can be Batman. James and I will throw crafty conundrums your way and you can solve them as you follow our trail of crime. Just for the sake of being fair, we will make sure that if you manage to crack our hilarious riddles, you'll be rewarded with information that will result in our inevitable downfall.

</joking>

Edit: <What the people of this board are thinking...>

YouTube - Bonnie Tyler - I Need a Hero (Lyrics)

</What the people of this board are thinking...>

[Bricona]

Originally Posted by Mounds

<action>

*vomits in garbage can beside computer... again*

</action>

<Smartass yet making a good point>

Was there some kind of a study done to prove this? I constantly say I resemble Superman and I'm nothing but successful.
How do you even determine who is a loser? Is there some sort of a standard?

</Smartass yet making a good point>

<joking>

I've got this great idea... yesterday, I claimed to be The Riddler and James claimed to be The Joker. I propose we have a duel. You can be Batman. James and I will throw crafty conundrums your way and you can solve them as you follow our trail of crime. Just for the sake of being fair, we will make sure that if you manage to crack our hilarious riddles, you'll be rewarded with information that will result in our inevitable downfall.

</joking>

Edit: <What the people of this board are thinking...>

YouTube - Bonnie Tyler - I Need a Hero (Lyrics)

</What the people of this board are thinking...>

yeah, i did a bunch of hokus pokus through my computer and scientific research shows that I'm indeed correct.

Batman's not that cool. I'm waaay cooler than that guy.