kporte

Is there any such thing? You can give to charity, but less face it, it will salve your conscience and make you feel better. Does every act we carry out as humans have a root in what we want or need as individuals?

moneypenny20

I don't think there is. Whilst you may think you are doing a selfless act, at some deep point you are doing it for altruistic reasons however good they may be. In my opinion obviously. Whilst you have the Mother Theresa's of this world, even they are doing things because a) god has asked them to or b) because helping others also helps them. I'm sure Mother Theresa was a very special person but for the vast majority of people, selfless doesn't exist.

Does that make me bitter and twisted?

Brav

Throwing yourself on a live grenade to shield the blast from others.

You are more than likely going to die. You will probably get medals/awards and be well known...but you're dead.

kporte

But what is your impetus for doing it? Insanity or a desire to be regarded a hero? That type of act is impulsive and no one can know what is going through the head of the person involved.....I think the heat of battle is an exceptional circumstance, possibly excluding it from normal behaviour?

moneypenny20

Is it common practice though or more of a 'Hollywood' scenario?

iamthecreaturefromuranus

To my knowledge its only happened once in the British Army. WWI and the man was awarded the VC. Regretfully I cannot remember the mans name.

Kingseat

Its happened more than once in Iraq and Afghanistan.

kporte

Seriously, I am in awe of the camaraderie and bravery that makes people do this but surely you have to have something missing in your make-up? Is it the intensity of the bond in training or some misguided notion of honour?
I am not putting down the brave men who go to fight, my father fought in WW2, I just can't comprehend.....

Sally Simpson

I think that sometimes we do things for our own sense of self-worth but when we make spur of the moment good gestures I think these are more selfless good acts.

moneypenny20

But then you feel good for having done the act so does that negate the selflessness?

Edit: SC, Moi? Cutting? I'm beyond hurt

kporte

I've thought back through my life and surprised myself that I have performed many acts of kindness. On reflection, all made me feel good about myself with one exception. I was going home from a good night out in Edinburgh and I passed one of the many groups of homeless around, outside the Playhouse at Picardy Place. One guy looked so cold and hungry, I went to the chippy across the road and bought him a fish and chips. I took it back and handed it to him and he threw it in my face shouting, " You could have given me the 5 quid you c***!!"

iamthecreaturefromuranus

It's because most soldiers are young and 'indestructible'. We cannot comprehend are own mortality, even if we see death around us. It will always be 'somebody else'. After a while that belief fades... you know it could be you.. that's when it becomes harder to go out to fight.

How men in major conflicts, WWI in particular, handled that is difficult to understand without actually being there. My guess would be that you either struggle with it, a lot, to the extent that it impacts on your abilities... or you become blase about it... you put it to one side.

ABCDiamond

Lance Corporal Matt Croucher did it recently, but survived. Good uniforms these days.

William Frederick McFadzean was one in WW1

There was another in similar circumstances in NI in the 1970's, from where the poem/song "Soldier" came from.

Sally Simpson

Yes of course you are!
You could have returned the karma you know!

moneypenny20

I'd have had to spread too much and there's little out there worthy and by someone I can hit