(For more articles on heroism:
https://www.philosocom.com/post/the-flawed-philosophy-of-the-hero
The relations between heroism and villain-ism is more often than not problematic when it comes to issues such as politics and war. freedom fighters can be seen as terrorists, founding fathers as tyrants and military generals as "butchers".
Because of that, at least in those fields, it is often difficult to objectively determine whether one is a hero or a villain, because as long as there is violence against a side that isn't seen as absolute evil (like the nazis), such description will not be favored by everyone, or at least most.
However, as long as you don't fight or shoot people for a living, you too can get the chance to be considered a hero, as long as you fulfill the following criteria:
Be significant. You do not have to be globally famous like a celebrity, but you do need to be known enough in order for your deeds to be recognized by someone. Some are recognized during their lives, some after their deaths. Nonetheless, a person who, on a daily basis, feeds pigeons isn't necessarily a hero. Your significance can come from many sources, such as a certain position, certain deeds you have done throughout your life, your goals in life, and so on.
Promote a noble cause -- do or work in a field that is considered highly appreciated, but it doesn't have to be luxurious. Being a kindergarten teacher for the autistic can technically make you a hero, at least in the eyes of those whose subject of autism is very important to them. Volunteering in certain places, such as third world countries, is also possible and even encouraged.
Present an example -- Be a model for whatever is considered good and valued. People will not only remember you for the deeds you have done, but also for who you were. Be polite, listen more, and appreciate the existence of others in your life. As long as you're a decent person and not a jerk, this should be the least of your worries when becoming a hero.
Why should one become a hero? Because those who are considered heroes have a chance to be remembered not only for the rest of their lives but also far after their deaths. With such remembering, one can leave a great impact on the world, and if you care for both your own image and for your contribution to humanity, the hero's path should be considered regularly.
I had one "friend" throughout my childhood and early teen years; his name was Lazlo and he was a video game character, that I literarily used to identify him with me (even though, of course, I knew I am not him). To this day I consider him to be a role model for me.
One that is brave, kind and gets the job done. That is the ultimate way of becoming a true hero -- by becoming a role model for others to study and follow after his or her image and example. One, therefore, doesn't have to have superpowers, or strength or even high intelligence -- all a hero needs is to do good and to serve as a proper example to follow by.
A hero is also one that serves a greater purpose other than themselves; their inner sense of duty has to multiply itself and be within other people as well; they serve as triggers for good that spread throughout the planet. Because of that, a hero must be an "authority" of some sort, one that people would look at, admire and respect his intentions.
Without a sense of servitude, a hero can fall into the pit of narcissism. Thus, he or she is both a "master" and a servant. -- the "master" of those who follow them, and the servant of whatever is good -- justice, altruism, equality, freedom and so on. And the more serving they are, the less they would prioritize themselves. That is if they are willing to be more heroic.
Finally, there is a great obstacle in the path of heroism, related to the issue of reputation. Those who want to preserve their good name after their deaths, must make sure that they won't do anything that is greatly frowned upon, such as sexual harassment, and other crimes that involve abuse.
Michael Jackson, while not necessarily a hero, got his name stained by his p****philic intentions. Because of that, his reputation will probably never be the same, despite his contributions to music. If you're a politician, make sure you won't take bribes or do anything corrupt . Your corruption can be both discovered and forever stained by your legacy as a public servant.
In conclusion, we can say that once one achieves the status of a hero or any other grand status, achievement is insufficient. After achieving much, you now need to preserve it through your deeds and decisions throughout your life. Even if you're to die like a hero, your secrets might be ultimately discovered, and there's nothing you can do other than not committing these secrets in the first place. A heo may be more honest, as honesty is a virtue.
As for myself, I don't view myself as a hero, but I do aspire to do good in this world, even if I won't necessarily get something in return. Because I basically have all I'll ever need to live, I don't really seek compensation for my work on this site, be that monetary or something else.
I was merely taught to be a good human being and to avoid the exact opposite. If I ever wanted to be a parent, I'd try to teach my children to do the same. I was also inspired by that character, Lazlo, to be good, as he has never done a bad deed (canon-wise, of course).
