A Hero Meme

[kokopelle]

Yesterday I was thinking about the extents that the people will go to in defense of themselves. Action movies present an "acceptable" picture of carnage and mayhem. How much would you be willing to go through?

Background... you have an enemy who just does not like you. He's rather pissed that you exist and have decided to do something about it.

Situation 1
Your enemy sends five goons to "teach you a lesson". With luck and a bit of skill, you put the five in the hospital. You have no injuries.

Situation 2
Your enemy sets up a marvelous death trap. You manage to detect the nefarious device. You prematurely trip the switch. Ten of the enemy's henchmen are killed in their own death trap.

Situation 3
Your enemy is getting really serious. He puts one hundred of his best soldiers in an air transport. You sabotage the plane. It crashes, killing all aboard.

Situation 4
You face your enemy face-to-face. He is at your mercy. He begs for mercy. You have the option of handing your enemy over to the authorities, banging him around a bit, or just killing him.


Each of the henchmen crippled or killed had fathers and mothers. Many had children and other loved ones. While some were really bad asses, others were doing a job to support their families.

Given who you are now, would you be able to embrace each situation? Could you carry all the way through to the end situation? How would you resolve situation 4?

Comments

[valkyriur.livejournal.com]

1. I'd have to say that more than likely, I would not be able to do this; however, the need for survival can override most rules a person has.

2. Are you asking would I prematurely trip the death trap? I'm not sure. By accident more than likely. I'm not as perceptive when it comes to that kind of stuff. Social awareness is a better strength for me.

3. Would I sabotage the plane? Why would I need to sabotage the plane? If somebody's really that pissed off at me, maybe I deserve it.

4. More than likely, it would not even come to this. If I were to kill him, it would be in the heat of the moment. More than likely, however, he would be handed over to the authorities.

Of course, all of this is hypothetical. Not to mention that I don't recall ever being in any physical fights. From what I'm told, I used to get into fights with 6th graders in Kindergarten. My mom insists some of them were physical, but I don't remember a thing. I do know that it usually had to do with some form of justice, such as "give them the stupid ball back!".

[gradieval.livejournal.com]

Ohh, this is very interesting! *thinking*
{I was also interested in the situation of making a choise between the fair thing to do and friends, who seem to be going to resolve the sutiation, using the incorrect way (as you see it, of course - but they hold it as the right way to do it)}

1. I quess, if i really could fight that good... I would probably accept such consequence as hospital for them.

2. No, i wouldn't do that! Killing is a worst thing for me to imagine - taking away the life of another human being... No, it would be too much for me to bear. (i quess that makes me a bad character for action movies, yup)

3. No, the number of people is growing - it's terrible! I heard somewhere that "Death of one - is a tragedy, death of a million - is a statistics"... I disagree. It's still a murder. Life of one human being (me right now) isn't worth THAT much.
And after that *deed* - it wouldn't even be a life anymore. An endless nightmare, as i see it - guilt, regrets, black endless despair - that's more like it...

4. Hang him to the authorities, no doubt about that. If the fight will resolve this way, of course, i agree with the pesron above.
Everyone deserves a second chance, plus, how can i decide: to let him live or to destroy him?! I haven't gave him this life, for starters. And he has a mission here, his destiny. The fact that he started to hate me means that i am probably was wrong somewhere - or maybe he just dislike me. Whatever!
Ohh, and some more of nice qoutes here (don't know the English interpritation, so let it be like that): "Live not to turn your friends into your enemies, but to make your enemies your friends" (i'm a terrible interpreter x)
That is what i think.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

You are not alone. I am seeing a disconnection between the "popular media" and what the common person would do. It is not a coincidence that the action "heroes" are often an ex-solider or such. This excuses them from the societal norms of blood-letting.

I heard a saying recently that I think was Russian in origin. I believe it refers to Stalin.

Kill one man, you are a murderer
Kill a dozen men, you are a soldier
Kill a ten thousand men, you are a general
Kill a nation, you are the top leader

[iskender.livejournal.com]

It's a mystery to me why I should have any sympathy for people who were "just doing their job" of committing violence and mayhem.

Don't get me wrong--most action films are exceedingly amoral, if not immoral in their depiction of stylized and lionized violence. But most of the deception lies in the treatment of the enemy and depiction of that enemy as uniform, monolithic, and relentless. This mechanization of the enemy allows the mechanization of the hero, and the whole thing stinks of delusion and propaganda. But once you accept the basic premise, then most of the violence itself is incidental.

I hate to pull this, because the Internet's full of bullshit tough-talk and macho morons, but I can say quite frankly that I have little sympathy for others when I or loved ones are in danger. After the fact, I may reflect and regret, if I have cause. That's what's lacking in most heroes--any sense of questioning, of doubt. If, in order to protect my life, I had to kill a thousand people, I would second-guess myself. I would wonder if there was some path that I could have taken to avoid the conflict. But in the moment, I don't think my actions would change, because I'd be acting without extensive consideration. I don't, however, go as far as the action film, and ask "Wouldn't it be great if we were in panic mode all the time, and never questioned our hasty decisions made in such panic?"

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I was hoping you would put in your $.02! Thanks and kudos.

[iskender.livejournal.com]

Well do you agree? I need to hear your thoughts on my thoughts.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

I always agree with your comments. Well, sometimes I agree to disagree. More often than not, you speak enough of the truth that I can agree with some part of what is said. In this case I believe that you present an incredibly valid commentary. I presented these questions with the full knowledge that there was no "right" answer. Your thoughts were indicative of a person who has thought much on the topic. I especially liked your comments about chaos. It is so true that popular media presents the hero with no alternative but to fight and fight more. Kind of like the present situation in Iraq. Spooky...

[the-earth-path.livejournal.com]

Aww, do I have to have an enemy? I mean, couldn't I have avoided these situations in the first place? Darn.

[greensh.livejournal.com]

That's an option too!

Unrealistic Scenario

[jaguarmen.livejournal.com]

To bring an Abrahamic slant to your question, if my personal vibration was in its correct vibrational match to joy, this situation would not exist in my reality. And should I find myself in this situation or one similar (however unlikely), I would work on following my joy and leaving this behind in my lower vibrational life.

I do not qualify as an action hero. :-}

Re: Unrealistic Scenario

[greensh.livejournal.com]

(smile)

you're not the only person who said something like, "this is not me. I wouldn't be in this situation". This is a wonderful answer. Kudos.