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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Morphing "hero"
I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in the line of duty, is a true hero. The news reader said it several times that this cop is not only a hero, but a true hero.
A police department spokesman then came on and confirmed my suspicion about the current meaning of the word "hero". He said that the cop in question was "just doing his duty", and was "carrying out his everyday mission, just as he was supposed to do," when the shooting occurred.
I believe it is within the past couple of years that the word "hero" has come to mean the exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.).
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
\\P. Schultz
A police department spokesman then came on and confirmed my suspicion about the current meaning of the word "hero". He said that the cop in question was "just doing his duty", and was "carrying out his everyday mission, just as he was supposed to do," when the shooting occurred.
I believe it is within the past couple of years that the word "hero" has come to mean the exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.).
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
\\P. Schultz
Top answer
Schultz (Email Removed) burbled [nq:1]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in ... [/nq] It's always meant a poor boy ("a sandwich made of a loaf of French bread split lengthwise, buttered, and filled with one or more meats") or Audie Murphy to me. [/nq] Nope.
- Schultz (Email Removed) burbled [nq:1]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in ...
- [/nq] It's always meant a poor boy ("a sandwich made of a loaf of French bread split lengthwise, buttered, and filled with one or more meats") or Audie Murphy to me.
- [/nq] Nope.
- That's how the language is used, init.
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43 Answers
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Schultz (Email Removed) burbled
[nq:1]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in ... that the word "hero" has come to mean the exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.).[/nq]
It's always meant a poor boy ("a sandwich made of a loaf of French bread split lengthwise, buttered, and filled with one or more meat
[nq:1]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in ... that the word "hero" has come to mean the exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.).[/nq]
It's always meant a poor boy ("a sandwich made of a loaf of French bread split lengthwise, buttered, and filled with one or more meat
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[nq:1]I believe it is within the past couple of years that the word "hero" has come to mean the exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.).[/nq]
It isn't within the "past couple of years". It's within the last twenty or so and like most such weakening actions on the language it's a yank thing, and only now catching on here.
I brought this issue up a year or
It isn't within the "past couple of years". It's within the last twenty or so and like most such weakening actions on the language it's a yank thing, and only now catching on here.
I brought this issue up a year or
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[nq:1]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in ... mean the exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.). Not that there's anything wrong with that.[/nq]
There is a lot wrong with it if we have no word to replace "hero".
Charles Riggs
For email, take the air out of aircom
and replace with eir
There is a lot wrong with it if we have no word to replace "hero".
Charles Riggs
For email, take the air out of aircom
and replace with eir
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[nq:1]... like most such weakening actions on the language it's a yank thing, and only now catching on here.[/nq]
Well, over here in the US "*** off" still means approximately what it meant when we first borrowed it.
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.tripod.com
Well, over here in the US "*** off" still means approximately what it meant when we first borrowed it.
Good luck and good sailing.
s/v Kerry Deare of Barnegat
http://kerrydeare.tripod.com
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[nq:1]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, who was shot and paralyzed from the chest down in ... exact opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.). Not that there's anything wrong with that. \\P. Schultz[/nq]I don't think it's intended to mean the opposite. Rather, there is a tradition of the 'hero' (both sexes) as a dashing individual, conspicuous by his actions an
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[nq:2]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, ... (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.). Not that there's anything wrong with that.[/nq]
[nq:1]There is a lot wrong with it if we have no word to replace "hero".[/nq]
The ideological question of whether or not there's anything wrong with the cheapening of a word without the simultaneous arrival of a replacement is one thing: personally, I c
[nq:1]There is a lot wrong with it if we have no word to replace "hero".[/nq]
The ideological question of whether or not there's anything wrong with the cheapening of a word without the simultaneous arrival of a replacement is one thing: personally, I c
00
[nq:2]... like most such weakening actions on the language it's a yank thing, and only now catching on here.[/nq]
[nq:1]Well, over here in the US "*** off" still means approximately what it meant when we first borrowed it.[/nq]
Aww diddums. Did I hurt your ever so red white and blue feelings? Aww, bless.
[nq:1]Well, over here in the US "*** off" still means approximately what it meant when we first borrowed it.[/nq]
Aww diddums. Did I hurt your ever so red white and blue feelings? Aww, bless.
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[nq:2]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, ... (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.). Not that there's anything wrong with that.[/nq]
[nq:1]There is a lot wrong with it if we have no word to replace "hero".[/nq]
Well, there is that "true hero", but it seems even less deserved than "hero" by those so labeled.
I think I'm being heroic by responding in this thread.
Skitt (in SF
[nq:1]There is a lot wrong with it if we have no word to replace "hero".[/nq]
Well, there is that "true hero", but it seems even less deserved than "hero" by those so labeled.
I think I'm being heroic by responding in this thread.
Skitt (in SF
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[nq:2]I just heard on the radio that a local cop, ... opposite of what it used to mean (extraordinary bravery/effort etc.).[/nq]
What I object to is the use of the word "hero" to describe a victim. There is no heroism necessarily involved when, say, a soldier is shot by a terrorist. There is heroism if the soldier knowingly put himself in a dangerous situation in order to do what he thought wa
What I object to is the use of the word "hero" to describe a victim. There is no heroism necessarily involved when, say, a soldier is shot by a terrorist. There is heroism if the soldier knowingly put himself in a dangerous situation in order to do what he thought wa
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[nq:1]What I object to is the use of the word "hero" to describe a victim. There is no heroism necessarily ... knowingly put himself in a dangerous situation in order to do what he thought was the right thing; otherwise, no.[/nq]
I completely agree, hence my example of the astronauts in the two shuttles that blew up.
I completely agree, hence my example of the astronauts in the two shuttles that blew up.
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