Promoting Relationships With the Public
This post discusses how to promote a healthy relationship with the public by understanding the distance between public and private, what society expects from a hero, and how this aligns with the expectations of heroes. The goal is to offer insight on techniques that heroes can use in order to create a sustainable relationship with their communities.
We live in an age where celebrities are idolized for their accomplishments or personalities even if it's on accident or due to someone else's fame. However, there is an important distinction between celebrities and heroes: while they're both well known or famous people that can receive praise from the public, these two groups have distinctly different requirements for interacting with them. Due to the status celebrity status is built on, most of the time we are better off not interacting with them, but in an ideal world we would be able to meet these people. While being in the public eye can be seen as a blessing among some, it feels like a curse to others who have been taunted by their actions or called out by those they've wronged.
Perfectionism has been said to be a trait of some celebrities and it's hard to imagine someone who operates with such high expectations and demands being anything less that perfect. However, as they're well known people usually don't have a problem admitting when they've made mistakes or even apologizing for them if it's within their power. The main difference between celebrities and heroes is that the latter are more likely to take criticism and shame instead of trying to please everyone.
It's important that someone who has the ability to make a positive impact on the world is willing (and able) to engage with those around them. Heroes should be aware of society's expectations of them, their audience, and themselves. It's through statements like this one from Ben Carson about his use of funding for his medical research: "I had decided I was going to do it myself because I didn't want anybody saying ‘Look at this idiot, he can't manage $100 million.' That would be tragic because we need every dollar we can get. I would need $200 million to do it properly." that can help lead them to make better decisions and in turn improve their popularity with the public.
This important role that society places on heroes is one they must be prepared to fulfill, especially if they are not rich or from a rich family. Since people often win money through competitions or competitions award money for these feats, it is common for people to become famous for winning prizes in games. These people will often gain thousands of new followers (or "fans") because of it. This is a common trait among celebrities and has even been used by advertisers for years as a way to create hype around products and movies. Heroes, however, are not programmed to only think about their own needs or desires and this can be beneficial for society. The following quote from a high school teacher to a student illustrates this point: "As a student you need to realize that you've achieved something that every other student in the world has not, and in order to make sure you're properly appreciated, you need to reach out and show that you care about what they have achieved too."
It's important for someone who is an active hero to avoid alienating people. When we talk about heroes we're usually referring to people who perform great feats while they're protecting others or helping those in distress. During these incidents, people have to sacrifice time, energy, resources, or even their own safety for the greater good. In these scenarios, it's easy to miss the fact that there are people that are directly affected by what they do. The following quote from a young woman who had been sexually abused by her uncle to get justice for herself shows that those affected need help: "Every time I see a man in uniform I feel safe and protected. Because I know he can protect me and bring my abusers to justice."
Another aspect of heroes is their relationship with their audience. Heroes popular for their heroic deeds tend to have a dedicated fan base that supports them. However, having a fanbase does not necessarily make someone a hero as it can be seen with various popstars, actors, and actors. The following quote from an unidentified source suggests that these people are also popular: "The more I try to become famous the less I seem to do things to make my fans happy."
People come into contact with celebrities on a daily basis whether they're aware of it or not. We typically have a chance to interact with people we know in a nonthreatening way, but we can't ignore them in public so it's important to not be rude to celebrities. The following example shows that there is a difference between celebrities and heroes in regards to public interactions: "I said hello again, and she said something like ‘Hi, I want to be friends on Facebook.'"
When interacting with other people it's important that we not be critical of what others do. If someone is out of work or struggling it can be upsetting for us which might make us lash out at them by saying things like: "You're slacking? You should have done better. I got fired because I couldn't get that job. I didn't want to get that job, but my boss told me to do it and I did." If we are critical of others, it can be extremely hard for them to achieve their potential and the following example shows how this can affect someone's career: "I knew he was stronger than I was. It's hard when you find out that you're not as strong as you thought you were."
It can be dangerous for people who are disabled or sick to travel out in public. Even people who are healthy can have a bad time if they are traveling with strangers or with someone else who is unstable. While it's hard to give up our freedom, it might be better than the following quote: "He was saying inappropriate things and I was like ‘You've got to go now.' He was a bit wasted, I mean he had had a few drinks."
Some people who are sick or disabled want to interact with others. If they're frustrated because they aren't getting any attention or they're tired of being in pain all the time then we need to show that we care about them and help them out as much as we can. The following quote from a woman who has trouble getting to work because of her illness says it best: "Some days I get tired of thinking that I'm being a nuisance. People are always saying, ‘I'm sorry for your loss.' That's not my loss."
People in distress might not be able to get themselves out of a bad situation without the help of others. While we should never assume that someone else needs help or is in distress, it's important that we check on these people and make sure they're healthy and safe.
Conclusion:
The above quotes show that the public needs to be prepared to help out people in distress. While we might not learn how to do it right, we can always try to make a difference by being compassionate, empathetic, and respectful of others.
In terms of heroism and social responsibility, there is an important distinction between having a general sense of morality versus actively helping others in need. If someone thinks that doing something immoral is wrong then they are more likely to act on their beliefs (which can turn into actions). It is also easier for someone with this mindset to help someone else when they know how risky it can be for them.