Our culture glorifies heroism, does it not? It's been ingrained upon us from the time we are small children that to sacrifice one's own short term self interest for the good of a larger group - especially helpless individuals - is a good thing and will generally be rewarded.
You are seriously arguing that "I'm going to be on TV if this looks good, so I'll risk death" is a more likely motive than "My God, those people will die if I don't do something, I better act." I know, Gautam risked his life to save another...do you want to ask him if it was a bid for glory?
Read what I wrote, Dan. It is ingrained upon us by our culture that saving others is a good thing. If I were a goat or a chicken, sensed danger and saw a way out (and none of my offspring were threatened), I'd bag ass because nothing in my upbringing taught me that I should help the other chickens, or that it was a good thing. Indeed, many humans (most?) fall back upon these instincts when their life is threatened.
Why does he say "My God, those people will die if I don't do something, I better act."? Would the stories he's been told from youth about the good guy saving lives - the television shows, the movies, the real life stories on the news at least be a factor? We're taught, hell, _trained_ that to be the hero is the right thing to do and has its rewards.
Doug
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