I don't get the emails, but I peek into the group occasionally. And, yes, I search from my nom de plume to see if anything of mine's been recced lately.

Yes, I am shallow.

I think I have the site bookmarked somewhere, I may have to go check this out. Not like I have anything better to do.

Jacquelyn Mitchard had a column in the paper this weekend about how calling the shuttle astronauts and basically everyone else who dies tragically a "hero" is stripping the word of any meaning whatsoever. The last few posts brought this to mind for some reason. Heh.

calling the shuttle astronauts and basically everyone else who dies tragically a "hero" is stripping the word of any meaning whatsoever.

Yep."Hero" or "courage" should indicate choice, which is why I didn't think Bill Maher was entirely wrong when he was being pilloried after 9/11.

It's like how at one point, survivor meant someone who had been through a genuinely life-threatening experience, like a POW camp. Now anyone who's had a career lasting more than five years or gotten through a difficulty more severe than a hangnail is a survivor.

Athletes are not heroes. Athletes can be incredibly gifted, honestly humble, and sterling examples of good citizens, but there's nothing heroic about playing basketball, jumping over a vaulting horse, or hitting a baseball. Firemen and policemen and other folks who risk their lives for others are heroes.

(Hubby was a fireman, please do not lump him in with Michael Jordan. How many lives has MJ saved, hm? /end rant)

With, of course, the obvious caveat that some athletes are heroes.

And, I wonder, if I look up at someone, anyone, and see in them an example that helps me change my life for the better, does that make them a hero?

What ita said. There are many many ways people can be heroes. While fireman may be braver, I think the amount of good MJ does and the impact he can have makes him somewhat heroic too, and one should not negate the other.

Amount of good he does for Nike or for the Vegas economy?

I was thinking for Hanes, actually.

t memememe I frequently write on the bus, then post stories with only a basic run through for grammar, punctuation, spelling, and typos. I think I've only really had three stories beta'd. Not sure what that makes me. t /memememe

Alison, I never thought that your stuff was bad. Far from it. It has always been interesting, well-written stuff. Your first drafts, as you well know, just need organisation. And they pull together beautifully.

He's also donated millions to charity.

I dunno. I don't think I've ever inspired anyone to be achieve, or change their circumstances for the better. And I don't think that should be disregarded as a positive effect on the world.

There's lots of ways to affect people.