Whether it's a single person, a group of people, an unreal person (such as a movie or video game character), or even a non-human being; who is your hero, and why?

I'm going to say Master Chief (*gasp*).

I gotta say Waylander the slayer from the gemmell books. I fkin love to read his adventures, and his crossbow is made of awesome.

My biggest hero is my grandfather. The man is eighty-six years old and he's more spry than me, my mom, and my dad all put together. He's one of the friendliest people you would ever meet. He knows everyone in the town he lives in. He actually goes to the retirement home to help people twenty years younger than him.

I went to visit my grandparents on the weekend because he was in the hospital with a blood clot in his leg. It really showed him that he's not really as young as he thinks he is. Everyone in our family has been trying to convince them to move to the closest major city to where they live for a number of reasons, and I think this may finally change his mind.

Leather Face: the kicker of hippie ass

I admire my Latin Teacher. In his youth he was a soccer-player and played for Austria's national team, but he quit and studied latin and history, became professor and started teaching. The man is 62 years and is still physically and mentally fit, he still plays soccer quite well and is the smartest person I know. He has not only mastered the latin language to the degree of a walking dictionary, but he knows everything about roman and greek history and mythology, he speaks 4 languages fluently ( not counting latin and ancient greek) and has at least rudimentary knowledge of several more. He organizes our schools trips to rome, which are infamous because you visit all important sights plus about 40 churches in a week and in the end he's the only one whose feet don't hurt and who is not tired. Even though I don't want to lead my life exactly the way he did, I at least hope that I will become that smart and keep it that way until a high age.

Stev Peat

He's basically the God of Mounatin Biking, currently ranked number 2 or 3 (i forget) in the world. He took his first championship in 1993, been World cup champion 3 times, won the Lisboa downhill, the Mega Avalanche, the British Championship 7 times and the British NPS 7 times too. He's won titles in Cross country, downhill and 4-cross, making him one of the best all round riders to have ever lived.

On top of that he's done it all despite one of his best friends (Jason McCroy) being killed just as the two of them made it big. He's also responsile for getting most of the current Pro-downhillers in the uk sponsorship, training and advice, as well as leading the Orange MTB team to a whole bunch of championships. He's also a really, really nice bloke.

All in all a good person for a role model.

Issac Kleiner: Holy Crap that guy's a genius! Being a master of mechanical engineering and Revolutionary of Quantum Physics, who wouldn't? He even made the cover of 'Popular Scientist' once, back when he had hair.

And I've always thought awesome of Rev. David Wilkerson.

Melody Carlson.

More specifically, her characters she creates in her books.

Chloe Miller, Caitlyn Gregory Miller, Kim Peterson. :)

Yeah, I know I'm a guy, but it's not bad to have female heros.

I'd have to say my grandfather. The dude just has it all put together it seems.

Stammer:
My biggest hero is my grandfather...

Spinwhiz:
I'd have to say my grandfather. The dude just has it all put together it seems.

Mine too. So wise and awesome and good at welding. May he rest in peace.

Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Karl Marx, RATM, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Be Your Own Pet, Beck, We Are Scientists, Bloc Party...from the deep to the shallow :D

Steve Albini

Steve Irwin
Say what you want, but if there was one guy the most dedicated to the preservation of nature and wildlife, it would be him.

My high school Drama teacher- not only has she spurred my love of Theatre, she also gave me the chance to teach as her Student Aide, taught me to drive while we worked at the Boy Scout Day Camp together, and was a close friend when I thought I had none. She's definitely the reason I am who I am today.

She also help a lot of kids in the high school with personal and academic problems; she's set a few kids back on track after they'd strayed far from it. She can barely even write legibly, but the difference shes made in other peoples' lives has been absolutely astounding.

I would have to say Martin Luther King. I should think that that is(hopefully)every young black persons hero. Obviously not their only hero but without him I doubt I nor my parents would have the lives we do now, they ain't perfect but they're far better off than what they could have been had it not been for him.

Seasick Steve

What that guy can do with a guitar with three strings is bloody brilliant.

EDIT: only because I wish I could play guitar like him. I do not have any heroes I would like to emulate in their entirety.

Spiderman. Nuff said.

Also, Che Guevera was a total Bar-Steward.

Bill Hicks. Probably the most honest comedian on earth with some of the most intelligent and thought provoking comedy I've ever heard.

"You know, I was playing a gig in the South one time and just after I'd finished my set this bunch of hillbillies came up to me and said-

'Hey Buddy, C'mere! We're Christians and we don't like all those things that you said in there!'

So I said 'Well, forgive me!'

RIP Bill.

Doctors Without Borders

Charles Darwin

or the arbiter, depends what type of mood Im in

Jesus - I could go on for ages about this guy, but to sum it all up His example is a neverending challenge for betterment, not just for me personally but for the whole human race.

My grandmother - born and raised in the Australian outback. A tougher, kinder, more generous and grounded person you have not met. Not only was she mentally and physically strong but she had a keen mind as well. The stuff she endured growing up miles from anywhere makes me realise how soft our generations have become. She passed on over a decade ago but I still miss her. One of the few people who genuinely loved me for who I am.

Henry Rollins - Not only is he a legendary musician with an insane work ethic, but he is also an actor, author, TV show host, stand up "comic" and really nice guy. When I was going through some rough times growing up his music and spoken word really hit me with its primal rage tempered with introspection and honesty. He set me straight and showed me that (to quote the man himself) "muscle mass does not always equal strength. Strength is kindness and sensitivity. Strength is understanding that your power is both physical and emotional. That it comes from the body and the mind. And the heart."

I'm gonna go with Bruce Dickinson, as he's simply the most awesome human being who has ever lived. He's simultaneously a pilot, a world class fencer, a DJ, an author, and singer for his own band and the worlds greatest band.

And to those who will say Jesus is better, Jesus is not really human, is he?

Yeah Steve Irwin would have to be mine were it not for my husky who died 2 years ago. He was completely blind for 2 years at the end thank you glaucolma (sp?). Blind, he still pulled me on my rollerblades and you would not have known he was blind. The dog didn't change a bit except for sewer grates which he stepped into once and which I had to watch out for. On the depressing note, we thought he had an enlarged heart, but it was a tumor slightly above his heart and it was cancerous. Hardest thing I ever had to deal with and even after 2 years, it still hurts, but we never heal from the death of a loved one, only learn to deal with them not being there anymore. He's my hero in the end cuz I don't think I could deal with what he did near as well as he did.

Ayn Rand for coming up with such a briliant idea.

I've always had a problem with personal heroes (idolatry? :) ). There are many people I respect for their beliefs, actions, and so on, but I don't know whether I'd put them on a pedestal. That said, my parents are some of the most caring, understanding people I've met, which is something I admire.

I do find it interesting how few world leaders have cropped up so far. For the most part we've put these people into roles which should be national heroes, yet how infrequently do they turn out to be so.

Among all the seriousness, there needs to be some funniness in here.

I would have to say the Necromancer from Diablo II, I mean seriously, someone so dark and "evil" wants to banish evil itself? I dunno wither that is hypocrisy or dedication.

Also, my own personal hero from Fable. He stands eight feet tall and has muscles the size of a small car. He also killed a dragon without breaking a Resurrection Phial, that is skill in many genres of games.

Joe

My hero in fiction would have to be the Master Chief, if only because in his universe he was a symbol bigger than any superhero has ever been a symbol, he was the hero that dragged humanity from the brink of extinction, he fought and lost all of his friends and family yet he still fought on, now he waits for a time when he is needed again.

My hero in the real world would probably have to be the founding fathers of the U.S. sure it's not a single person but I find a lack of truly inspirational heroes.

Indigo_Dingo:
I'm gonna go with Bruce Dickinson, as he's simply the most awesome human being who has ever lived. He's simultaneously a pilot, a world class fencer, a DJ, an author, and singer for his own band and the worlds greatest band.

BLAM! Couldn't agree more.
However, I have to counter with Captain Falcon. Awesome physique, and in the far off future, he still sounds like a stoned surfer.
Not to mention Spandex. Hell's yes.

My Hero is definitely my dad, hes always been there when I need him and he has a really cool life story he is a survivor in every sense of the word.

probably my dad, for far to many reasons to number.

also, the direct of my university honors program. Incredibly briliant and nice guy, but realizes that he doesn't have all the answers and never stops learning.

in fiction.... probably Salvor Hardin, from Foundation by Isaac Asimov (mostly because that is what i'm currently reading). I LOVE his favorite saying; "Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

Larry Claxton Flynt Jr

He is and always be the first person I think of when I hear "Freedom of speech" or "Freedom of expression", a pioneer for the adult entertainment industry and the downfall of prudish christian morality. This man went toe to toe with the church and the state, and beat both.

TheNecroswanson:

Indigo_Dingo:
I'm gonna go with Bruce Dickinson, as he's simply the most awesome human being who has ever lived. He's simultaneously a pilot, a world class fencer, a DJ, an author, and singer for his own band and the worlds greatest band.

BLAM! Couldn't agree more.
However, I have to counter with Captain Falcon. Awesome physique, and in the far off future, he still sounds like a stoned surfer.
Not to mention Spandex. Hell's yes.

Yes, but Bruce is nearly 50, but in as good a shape and wearing Spandex (well, for some of the songs).

Justin Pierra. He's just so fucking awesome.