|
| Thread: Would you be a hero? |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 · NEXT» |
|
Duncan
Famous Hero
The Pathfinder
|
posted February 02, 2009 11:27 AM |
|
|
Would you be a hero?
Say, you drive in the middle of the night crossing over a quiet road and see a hitchhiker needs a lift. Would you pull over to help him?
Nah, that's theoretically too easy... or maybe not. But there are many similar situations like the above, where they tickle your conscience. To help or not to help. You could become a hero (at least in your heart, not the one that will be publicized everywhere), or it could go the other extreme and cost your life.
Another light example: you've read probably hundreds of spam e-mail with "lottery winner" theme. Of course they're fraud. But you can't track them down. Here in my country, lately a great number of similar m.o. takes place, but via telephone. Maybe people here are too dumb, too innocent, or too positive, that they often become victims. "You win a prize of ... but requires to transfer the tax in advance" and they did. Sometimes they say they are hypnotized when that happens.
Another "good" recent m.o. is this, a stranger calls and says they are with the police and having an investigation. They require your phone to be turned off as it's suspected being tapped by a crime org. What happen is, while the phone's off, that stranger also calls your relative (how they got both your numbers often puzzles me) and says that you just had an accident, and your relative is requested to transfer some money for immediate hospital payment, otherwise you can't be saved. Of course your Dad/Mom/bros/sis/whoever can't contact you back because your cell is deliberately put off! So the transfer is made...
I'm not discussing how to avoid that. It should not be quite an issue for educated people. But say that you receive such a phone call, you got the number and realize it's a setup, would you then call the police to report it? Moral wise, you should. But we're living in the fast lane where sometimes things are better off just to be avoided.
Someone rings you and offers a discount to setup a cable TV. The discount is just too fantastic to be missed. Then the person asks for your address and you give it. The next morning you check with the company and they say there's no such discount program. Again you realize it's a possible crime setup to get your address and plan something bad about it. Would you bother to report such a case and set them up instead with the help of the police. Don't just think about morality! Remember, it bears a possibility that you might dearly pay the consequences. After all, you don't know what you're dealing with.
Not quite a dilemma? Check back the hitchhiker example above, or change the case to someone lying down the road, or having a flat tire, but add the experience that the last time you pull over, you had everything bad upon you. Would you still be a hero?
____________
But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it.
|
|
mvassilev
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 02:41 PM |
|
|
You mean "an hero", right? 
Quote:
Say, you drive in the middle of the night crossing over a quiet road and see a hitchhiker needs a lift. Would you pull over to help him?
No, I'd wonder where I got a car.
And if someone tries to scam me, I call the police.
____________
Eccentric Opinion
|
|
Asheera
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Elite Assassin
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 02:47 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Say, you drive in the middle of the night crossing over a quiet road and see a hitchhiker needs a lift. Would you pull over to help him?
Call me selfish but I'm cautious and most probably I wouldn't do it. There are more tricks regarding situations like this than there are real help-needing situations.
There is a small chance that I would help, if it's not night so I could see better, and if I have some kind of 'backup' plan for the current situation if something bad happens. Depends a lot on environment and other factors.
____________
|
|
del_diablo
Legendary Hero
Manifest
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 05:08 PM |
|
|
I would call the police. I would beat the crap out of people who attempted to scam me real good if i got the chance. Heck i would attack a server sending out spam ads and similar with a giantic hammer if i got the chance.
____________
|
|
Ednaguy
Supreme Hero
My water just broke! No, wait.
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 05:20 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Someone rings you and offers a discount to setup a cable TV. The discount is just too fantastic to be missed.
If something sounds too good to be true, it most probably is.
Quote:
Say, you drive in the middle of the night crossing over a quiet road and see a hitchhiker needs a lift. Would you pull over to help him?
Only if I weren't alone, so we'd outnumbered him if anything went wrong.
____________
"Edna, there's a special, tiny, tiny place in hell, waiting just for you... "
|
|
TheDeath
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
with serious business
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 06:00 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Say, you drive in the middle of the night crossing over a quiet road and see a hitchhiker needs a lift. Would you pull over to help him?
Since I have a car in this example, it's not too much to ask to have a loaded shotgun right? So yeah, I'd probably try to help him
____________
The above post is subject to SIRIOUSness.
No jokes were harmed during the making of this signature.
|
|
tnt_addict
Honorable
Supreme Hero
Beautiful Liar
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 06:04 PM |
|
|
|
Xarfax111
Bad-mannered
Supreme Hero
The last hero standing
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 06:11 PM |
|
|
Good topic! Wrong question!
Personally i always wondered why people want to "be brave". I never get the reason, why people risk their live for "their homecountry" or their "ideals". And it is common sense that "man" have to give their lives, while "women" dont have to do it, cause they are getting babies.
So what do men have if they full-fil their "duties" --they are just dead. As simple as that.
Lets say 3 racists do attack a colored man, which is one of the worst things in my eyes. Would i stand inbetween them, to help him? The answer is no. I wouldnt even make a comment to stop them. You say coward!? You say you would defend him? You are a liar.
Of course if in the past everyone would have thought like me there would be no democratie or human rights. So kudos to them! Still they are just dead, and thats not an option for me.
Thats also a reason why leaders invented think like the bible, koran, thora and other humbug. Such lying books say: "if you give your live for me, you will get another and/or i love you". My guess is those peoples are just dead.
Thats what religions are for: To give permission to kill peeps that are else and to promise a second live if they fail to do so. They are written by humans you can see that if you want, ...
...if not: BELIEVE!!!
____________
|
|
Darkshadow
Legendary Hero
Cerise Princess
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 06:35 PM |
|
|
Depends, do I have my USP with me or not?
____________
|
|
del_diablo
Legendary Hero
Manifest
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 06:44 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Lets say 3 racists do attack a colored man, which is one of the worst things in my eyes. Would i stand inbetween them, to help him? The answer is no. I wouldnt even make a comment to stop them. You say coward!? You say you would defend him? You are a liar.Quote:
Actually, i i would attack them straight up if they where not unarmed nor way to much above my level(bad refferance, i know). I would likely do a proper backstab on them anyway, if i knew it was not just some random fight
____________
|
|
TheDeath
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
with serious business
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 06:46 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Personally i always wondered why people want to "be brave". I never get the reason, why people risk their live for "their homecountry" or their "ideals".
"You have enemies? Good, that means you stood once for something in your life"
"To fight with honor is to experience a glorious death. To fight dirty is to live shamefully."
Quote:
Thats also a reason why leaders invented think like the bible, koran, thora and other humbug. Such lying books say: "if you give your live for me, you will get another and/or i love you". My guess is those peoples are just dead.
You'll be dead too, no one lives forever. The question is, what mark do you have? You see, brave people have left a mark, a good one, and possibly even made people remember them.
What about you?
Future is just an illusion.
____________
The above post is subject to SIRIOUSness.
No jokes were harmed during the making of this signature.
|
|
Darkshadow
Legendary Hero
Cerise Princess
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 07:09 PM |
|
|
Quote:
You'll be dead too, no one lives forever. The question is, what mark do you have? You see, brave people have left a mark, a good one, and possibly even made people remember them.
Now that I think of it, Bad people have left a bigger mark 
____________
|
|
phoenixreborn
Promising
Legendary Hero
Unicorn
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 07:41 PM |
|
|
|
No. I'm not brave and I don't react well in emergency situations.
|
|
Duncan
Famous Hero
The Pathfinder
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 08:15 PM |
|
|
OK, let’s classify the cases:
1. the lottery-winner fraud;
2. the cable TV promotion;
3. the hitchhiker example.
The first one is probably the easiest. Report the phone number and that’s it. Whether or not the police can do something about it is beyond our hand. We’ve done a tiny part to make the world better.
The second case is a bit harder. We could go further than just reporting if we’re so willing. While those scumbags are not aware of our findings, we set them up back. I can sense that people like Del Diablo are willing to take this path  but like I said, we may not have the time. Moreover we don’t know what lies ahead. We could be dealing with common thieves, or worst, the mob.
Now, the hitchhiker.
@Ashie:
Yes, that sounds most rational. But let me tell you my personal experience. One night I drove with my two friends going home from out of town. We had flat tire, but my friend who owned the car didn’t bring a hydraulic jack. It was in the middle of nowhere. So I and my other friend walked for about a couple of hundred meters to find a gas station. There we met a guy and asked if we could borrow his hydraulic jack. He was alone but eventually decided to go and help us, and we’re very thankful that there’s still some noble hearts in this world. Now wouldn’t that make you wonder, suppose you’re on the opposite side and refuse to help?
Fast forward several years, a motorbike crashed into my car and the rider fell. It was his fault, but naturally I pulled over mainly to check his condition and see if he’s okay. Just cut the story short, what happened next was I finally got robbed! What the heck is wrong?!
@Xarfax and TheDeath:
I think we need to draw a line between two scenarios. If we choose to become a soldier or a policeman, it is our duty to defend our country or to help people, at any cost even our life. That’s just it, regardless of beliefs or religion. It is where those terms such as “glorious death” came from, have your name written in history. But a hitchhiker? It’s a random event brought upon you. You need to react just right there, willing or not. The thought of our family back home waiting for us stays on our head throughout the event. Where’s the glory dying in a road rage? Ain’t our fight, ain’t our war. Then again, they say that integrity is keep doing the right thing, when nobody knows, when nobody cares.
Or maybe it’s just very simple, deal with it when you think you’re capable, avoid if you don’t. The older we are, the wiser we become. And with enough experience we’ll be a better judge of our own choices.
____________
But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it.
|
|
TheDeath
Responsible
Undefeatable Hero
with serious business
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 09:18 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Now that I think of it, Bad people have left a bigger mark
And? They weren't cowards
____________
The above post is subject to SIRIOUSness.
No jokes were harmed during the making of this signature.
|
|
Asheera
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
Elite Assassin
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 09:30 PM |
|
|
@Duncan: Indeed, of course I wouldn't like if someone wouldn't help me when I need a lift. But I wouldn't blame that guy/gal either, because I would probably do the same in that situation. Helping others is a noble and good goal, I agree, but often it turns into a trap. As I said I would sometimes help, depends on a lot of factors (at night I would most certainly not help though).
Hmm, until I experience that situation I don't think I can say whether I would really help or not. In fact, even after experiencing such a thing I would probably not be able to give an accurate answer if I'll do it again, because it simply depends on a lot of factors that can't be calculated from advance (everything is based on the current moment when I see someone needs help)
The important thing is to not be too naive either, because the thieves
always exploit people's goodness unfortunately  So I would most certainly not just run and help that guy immediately, I would keep my distance at first (if I decide to help, that is)
____________
|
|
Seraphim
Supreme Hero
Knowledge Reaper
|
|
posted February 02, 2009 11:07 PM |
|
Edited by Seraphim at 23:19, 02 Feb 2009.
|
These days everything comes to lies,treachery,mistrust and so on.
I feel like I should not trust my own mind cuz all of this.Helping is good but meh depends on how and I heard about a statistic in GB and it says that every 2nd individual(younger than 25) has been robbed walking in the main streets of London.All that only with less than 25 yrs olds?
Seen all this in a BBC documentary.
____________
"Science is not fun without cyanide"
|
|
Trogdor
Legendary Hero
Words in a custom title
|
|
posted February 03, 2009 06:39 AM |
|
|
Quote:
Say, you drive in the middle of the night crossing over a quiet road and see a hitchhiker needs a lift. Would you pull over to help him?[/url]
Hitchhikers? I'll have to ask the hitchhiker/s some questions about their plans. You have to understand body language before you can obtain trust.
Quote:
Another light example: you've read probably hundreds of spam e-mail with "lottery winner" theme. Of course they're fraud. But you can't track them down. Here in my country, lately a great number of similar m.o. takes place, but via telephone. Maybe people here are too dumb, too innocent, or too positive, that they often become victims. "You win a prize of ... but requires to transfer the tax in advance" and they did. Sometimes they say they are hypnotized when that happens.
I once received a chain mail letter which had a 5 cent coin attached to it. I thought it was a scam and figured that I'd get more profit by not sending the letter back (in other words keep the 5 cents).
Quote:
Another "good" recent m.o. is this, a stranger calls and says they are with the police and having an investigation. They require your phone to be turned off as it's suspected being tapped by a crime org. What happen is, while the phone's off, that stranger also calls your relative (how they got both your numbers often puzzles me) and says that you just had an accident, and your relative is requested to transfer some money for immediate hospital payment, otherwise you can't be saved. Of course your Dad/Mom/bros/sis/whoever can't contact you back because your cell is deliberately put off! So the transfer is made...
It sounds like a scam to me.
Quote:
Someone rings you and offers a discount to setup a cable TV. The discount is just too fantastic to be missed. Then the person asks for your address and you give it. The next morning you check with the company and they say there's no such discount program. Again you realize it's a possible crime setup to get your address and plan something bad about it. Would you bother to report such a case and set them up instead with the help of the police. Don't just think about morality! Remember, it bears a possibility that you might dearly pay the consequences. After all, you don't know what you're dealing with.
It's also a setup. Why this still happens I have no idea.
____________
"Through the power of the dollar you can communicate with the dead." - Artu
|
|
Duncan
Famous Hero
The Pathfinder
|
|
posted February 03, 2009 10:23 AM |
|
|
Forgot to respond this one:
Quote:
If something sounds too good to be true, it most probably is.
My friend told me he has a habit rejecting a phone call if the number is not listed in his phone book. If you work as an employee, that's fine, but if you work as a businessman, it's like refusing a potential new business. A decent businessman would explore as many new things as possible, even if they're too good to be true
Quote:
Hmm, until I experience that situation I don't think I can say whether I would really help or not.
Well said. When I was young and had no related experience, I used to think I'd always respond and help people in situations like these, do the noble things. Of course back then I had no responsibility to anybody else but myself. Now with family and some unwanted experience, I would think twice or even more
____________
But now I have come to believe that the whole world is an enigma, a harmless enigma that is made terrible by our own mad attempt to interpret it.
|
|
angelito
Honorable
Undefeatable Hero
proud father of a princess
|
|
posted February 03, 2009 01:11 PM |
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Now that I think of it, Bad people have left a bigger mark
And? They weren't cowards
I disagree!
Giving out orders without threatening own life is not brave. To prevent getting caught in the end and committing suicide instead IS an act of cowardness (Hitler)
____________
Better judged by 12 than carried by 6.
|
| |
|
|
