Which One Is Correct ?

[Canary42]

According to our mucky media the following have this week been described as heroes.

* Tennis player who get through the first round at Wimbledon

* Man who gets seriously injured protecting his girlfriend from assassin's bullets.

Only one is a real hero in my book, no prizes for guessing which one.

This debasement of our language by the media is deplorable IMHO. Not to mention extremely tasteless and disrespective of the genuine hero.

[Buenchico]

If it's a debasement of the English language then such debasement has been going on for over four hundred years!

The OED's definitions of 'hero' include
"A man (or occas. a woman) distinguished by the performance of courageous or noble actions, esp. in battle; a brave or illustrious warrior, soldier, etc"
AND
"A man (or occas. a woman) generally admired or acclaimed for great qualities or achievements in any field"

The earliest recorded use of the second form is from 1592.

[Old_Geezer]

One should be qualified as a "sporting hero".
Maybe the other as a "real hero" ?

[Gromit]

Everything is awesome!

[Gromit]

I don't have much luck posting YouTube links from iOS6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StTqXEQ2l-Y

[ichkeria]

Unless there was a direct comparison made in the same article then I don't see what the issue is.

[Fibonacci]

Bonnie's still holding out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVtaVrUAPK0

[youngmafbog]

I dont really get your point. Two different interpretations of the word hero.

[jno]

//"A man (or occas. a woman) generally admired or acclaimed for great qualities or achievements in any field" //

that'd be the one who got through the first round at Wimbledon, then? I suspect it wasn't even being used ironically.

You're right, words do lose their power when stretched that far.

[Zacs-Master]

Another reason I don't sullie my fingers even picking up a newspaper.

[Svejk]

Does thee not change table-cloth now and then, then zacs lad?

[hc4361]

On a thread discussing the use of the English language, Zacs, you should be especially careful.

Sullie - sexy girl
Sully - to soil or make dirty

[Retrochic]

What about victims that get called 'hero' for the simple reason they have been killed (and not in battle obviously)? Such as ' 'john, killed in the plane crash -a hero' Makes no sense to me.

[gingejbee]

canary....."debasement of our language"...."disrespective" ?

[ukbod2015]

Its like the term celebrity - the latest trend is being related to someone well known, ie Chloe Madeley, Andy Murrays Mum, Pippa Middleton - anyone with the name Kardashian

[stuey]

Well, like it's, you know what I mean, "whatever", init?

[sevenOP]

"...debasement of the English language then such debasement has been going on for over four hundred years!"

Still completely missing the problem, viz foisting values on others.

[thesecondlaw]

Why is everything 'amazing' these days? What an amazing goal, what an amazing meal, what an amazing photograph. No, no, no. Finding a cure for cancer would be amazing, running a marathon in under two hours would be amazing. Grrrrrrrr!!

[Tilly2]

There are so many hackneyed words and phrases used in the media. It is difficult to pick out the most irritating.

[Canary42]

gingejbee:"canary....."debasement of our language"...."disrespective" ?"

Funnily enough I was a bit uncomfortable when I typed it, and after hitting send I realised it should have been disrespectful. Well spotted. I feel suitably chastened.