Stephen Hunt - Manchester firefighter

[Jonone]

Why isn't he being descibed as a 'hero' ? Why is this term readily attached to military personnel but not people from other uniformed services or civilian occupations ?

[Gentleman]

Why what's silly question to ask! He already has a ready made description for the sun reading Tory voting proles out there to mumble whn referring to him and other public sector workers its either tax sponging public sector employees or those worthless public sector scum with their giant pensions.

Totally agree with you regarding your point about how the term has been diluted and nw is only allowed for military or sports figures.

Just wondering how many firefighters have gotten killed or injured over the same period our "brave boys" have actually been fighting someone rather than being trucked out by the government as strikebreakers.

Also they don't get lovely new hospitals devoted to them and cutting edge medical tech.

[David Johnson]

Fire fighters tend to be in unions and we know how evil, destructive, vile, corrupt unions are, don't we?

They are the enemy within after all. Maybe if fire fighters took a 20% cut in their wages and pension rights whilst de-unionising their profession and were prepared to accept zero hours contracts, they might possibly have a chance of moving into the "hero" category.

Then we could even have a "Firefighters Day" every year.

[Arginald Valleywater]

He was doing the job he was well paid for, well trained and well equiped. Hero is used too easily these days.

[David Johnson]

"He was doing the job he was well paid for, well trained and well equiped. Hero is used too easily these days."

Give me any definition of "hero" from any dictionary which disqualifies people who are "well paid, well trained and well equipped" from having the term, "hero" used to describe their actions. The firefighter risked and lost his life.

Given the Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories, in the world of Arginald Valleywater because these soldiers are "well trained", none of them can be heroes.

After all the soldiers were just doing the job they were paid for?

[Arginald Valleywater]

No DJ. A hero is someone who goes WAY above the call of duty. If you are on the front line and get shot by a sniper you are killed in action. Rescuing a wounded colleague, under fire or while wounded is my definition. Same as other jobs. The press have watereed down true heroism. As for fireman I know 3 personally and all know the risks. They are calm, confident blokes who do a job as a service to the public. None could be called glory seekers.

[David Johnson]

You do not answer my points based on your post.

Instead you come up with a completely different definition i.e. "A hero is someone who goes WAY above the call of duty". Previously you were arguing that the fireman who died could not be deemed heroic because they were well paid and trained etc. and just doing their job.

Both your attempts to define "hero" are incorrect. The typical dictionary definition of a "hero" is someone who is admired for or identified for their courage.

No matter how much "training, well paid, confident" etc. to use your words, it is heroic to enter a burning building when you can never be 100% sure how safe it is and when there are a variety of factors which may result in you losing your life.

As for "As for fireman I know 3 personally and all know the risks. They are calm, confident blokes who do a job as a service to the public. None could be called glory seekers."

This is obviously nothing whatsoever to do with the subject being discussed. Understanding the risks does not make someone any less or more a hero in their actions.

[william]

A year ago I was travelling on the M62 I saw a car accident, the car came off of the road and rolled. It was leaking fuel and then I saw flames, I managed to get two people out of that car an unconcious female and a young child.

Got then to safety and someone called for an ambulance, and they arrived along with the fire brigade, One of the brigade asked why I had been so stupid in going near to the car, world doesnt need dead heros.....

Told him to fuck off. arsehole.

What about the number of dead recently due to the FB doing risk assesments that lass in Scotland that fell down a hole. Yeah the car may have gone up but it didnt. you do what you can when you can dont you. Thats life.

[beutelwolf]

william wrote:

>... One of the brigade
> asked why I had been so stupid in going near to the car, world
> doesnt need dead heros.....
>
> Told him to fuck off. arsehole.

He's right though.

His attitude has probably a lot to do with all those dog owners they have to rescue (or recover dead) from icy waters when their dog falling through the ice sheet triggered a doomed rescue attempt by the owner.

There's a fine line between heroism and stupidity. Many celebrated heroes simply made the wrong decision and then got lucky.

[Brainsinmedick]

I want to hear more about ?Firefighters Day?. Do we spend all day playing pool?