"Do you consider yourself a hero?"
I just saw a female reporter ask a man this within the past week. He used
a bulldozer to clear some land of brush/trees/growth away from his neighbors'
properties as fires were a threat in the area and/or were advancing to them at
the time.
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The question makes me think of these opposing scenarios.
Scenario One
----------------------
Reporter: "Do you consider yourself a hero?"
Person: "No, I was just doing my job."
Reporter: "Well, just doing your job sounds like you were playing it safe.
Can you point me to someone who will admit to going above and
beyond their job? We need a hero for our report."
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Scenario Two
----------------------
Reporter: "Do you consider yourself a hero?"
Person: "You're d a r n e d straight I'm a hero!"
Reporter: "Whoa there, buddy! Real heroes are humble."
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It's stupid to ask someone that question.
The question can put the person on the defensive, and it's insulting. It questions
the motives behind the action, in my opinion. It's a lose/lose situation to give a
"yes" or "no."
If I could think clearly and quickly enough on my feet at the time, I would like to
tell the reporter that it is inappropriate to ask someone that question.
I just saw a female reporter ask a man this within the past week. He used
a bulldozer to clear some land of brush/trees/growth away from his neighbors'
properties as fires were a threat in the area and/or were advancing to them at
the time.
----------------------------------------------------------
The question makes me think of these opposing scenarios.
Scenario One
----------------------
Reporter: "Do you consider yourself a hero?"
Person: "No, I was just doing my job."
Reporter: "Well, just doing your job sounds like you were playing it safe.
Can you point me to someone who will admit to going above and
beyond their job? We need a hero for our report."
------------------------------------------------------
Scenario Two
----------------------
Reporter: "Do you consider yourself a hero?"
Person: "You're d a r n e d straight I'm a hero!"
Reporter: "Whoa there, buddy! Real heroes are humble."
---------------------------
It's stupid to ask someone that question.
The question can put the person on the defensive, and it's insulting. It questions
the motives behind the action, in my opinion. It's a lose/lose situation to give a
"yes" or "no."
If I could think clearly and quickly enough on my feet at the time, I would like to
tell the reporter that it is inappropriate to ask someone that question.
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