Why Are You Here?
2008 February 12
I thought I’d take today to see who you are and why you’re here. I truly appreciate everyone who reads and would like to learn the sorts of things you like best on the blog. That way I can make sure I concentrate on providing them. If you’re a new visitor feel free to let me know how you got here today.
If you’re a regular visitor…
- how did you first come to read the blog?
- what brings you back?
- what is your favourite (and least favourite) type of post?
Thanks for your answers in advance. If you have any other feedback please add it to the comments. Let’s hope I actually get some comments… This could be very embarrassing 
)
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Why am I here? While that is an interesting philosophical question in itself I will set that aside and tackle the more immediate meaning posed by the question. I guess first a little about me. I’m 39, married with three kids. I have known Matt for about 13 years or something close to that. I have known him well for about 10 years or so, those first few years I would say we were more of social friends then personal friends but that changed with time.
I first started coming when I learned Matt was going to try to make the Hero Work Shop a full time commitment. I listened to his ideas, offered some advice and started reading the blog. Mostly I listened. Sometimes I would post a comment or two. I tend not to chit chat on the blog so when I’m motivated to say something it usually is more of an essay. That tends to mean that what I have to say I feel is important and the reader has to dig through a pile of my own verbosity to get to the worthwhile nuggets. So partly why I come is out of a sense of loyalty to my friend. I feel that be being somewhat active in his project I can lend a hand in a way.
Secondly I think that it is worthwhile project. I think that Heroism is an extension of ethics and morality and our current society is very devoid of those things. By helping the HWS I am indirectly helping society and creating a better world for my family.
Thirdly (is that a word?), I find the content thought provoking. It makes me think about myself and my own ethos. I also find it interesting to hear about some of the figures people hold as heroes and the roles they play in our lives. For me the most interesting posts are the ones the makes us ask questions, challenge our belief structures, and make us really aware of the yardstick with which we measure heroes.
I don’t read every day; I visit two to three times a week I would guess. It’s time well spent though as it helps both my friend and myself.
Charles Leibrand
Feb. 12, 2008
I am big supporter of the program due to eventual impact on society, much for the same reasons as Chuck. I have also seen how it has affected myself and my general day to day behavior and I am now better off for attempting to do the small things as much as possible.
Matt has been a great support in my life for the last 5 years and I feel it is now my turn to support him in such a valuable endeavor.
I am here because we have too few people in the world who talk about heroes in our world. Your site was the first, and the best!
Thanks for the input everyone. I’m glad you’re here.
I am here for a few reasons. I think what you’re doing and your intentions with this program are great and is something people and this world really need. It seems everyone these days is always looking out for #1 instead of helping with a cause for something good. Another reason is I enjoy reading about the people and subjects you post about because it is interesting. I’m a pretty big super hero fan so reading about real life heroes is amazing to me. I also like that you give people a chance to talk about their own heroes(i.e. my Christopher Reeve and Pat Tillman entries) so it gives me a chance to feel involved in the program and that’s what I like. You make people feel like it isn’t just you doing this program, it is everyone adding their own unique piece to the puzzle. So that’s why I’m here. Keep up the good work.
Hi!
So interesting how one’s life evolves…Zimbardo was the co-author, with my UCSD psych professor, Ebbesen, of the text we used in our introductory psych class and he visited our class a couple of times. This was in 1969 (Yikes!!) and a year before his famous Stanford Prison Study. My daughter is now taking college psych and raved about his studies, going ga-ga when I told her he’d taught my class way back when. Last week we were lucky enough to hear him speak in San Francisco, and he gave me your website.
With my degrees in Chemistry and Psychology, I launched into corporate business for ten years in sales/marketing as the first female manager in a Fortune 500 chemical business. Then had two daughters, the 2nd of whom was ADHD in a big way (as was I!). When she was 14, I went back for a Masters in SPED and an ed. therapy certificate and have taught middle school SPED the last two years in northern California. It’s been incredibly rewarding student-wise, yet incredibly frustrating from a systems standpoint, and I’m debating how best to offer my talents.
Most of the kids who get to me in 7th and 8th grade are misunderstood, demoralized and have abysmal home lives. I try to get them to see that they’ve bought in to someone else’s definition of who they are, and we work a lot on affirmations and an “I can” attitude. We do classroom agreements and all class members have equal right to call other class members (including teachers) on infractions and then we recommit to those agreements. Last year I worked with at-risk Latinos who were in gangs; this year I’m working with affluent white kids with lower cognitive skills. I’ve had remarkable success with all of them, but because of my radical teaching, have butted up against administration. Some of my tough guys and tough parents last year saw Freedom Writers and told me I had to go see it – that it was just like our class. I saw it and later met Erin Gruwell, who was thrilled – until I told her I’d been fired! Approaches like ours, although successful and made into Hollywood movies, are not often embraced or appreciated by administration! Her directive was to leave that district and go to one that welcomed change and risk taking. I think that subscribers to the Gruwell and Zimbardo ideals are trying to support individuals to seize the reins of their lives, adopt the “I can” attitude and be ready for those Hero making moments. I’d love to hear about what you’re doing and perhaps do some work with you.
Debra
I know I am a bit late in commenting to this particular question but I wanted to contribute as well. I visit this website for a few reasons. Initially I came because I wanted to support Matt in his goal. I was impressed by his vision and dedication to this project. I continue to visit this site because it helps me refocus on the positive aspects of life and human nature. So many times we are bombarded by news of all of the evil that happens in the world, with very little attention paid to the good. By reading the hero biographies and acknowledging the conscious choices people make, who have eventually become heroes to others, I rediscover that little things people do each day make the big difference. To me, it is refreshing to pay attention to positive actions and their consequences.
I am here to get inspired. I like the posts that share some wonderful act of humanity because they brighten my world when I otherwise only hear of hate and problems. My favorite post was the one you did on Frederick Banting because I had no idea I had so many more reasons to consider him a hero than I already did. Perhaps you could give small little tips to focus on for living the hero life weekly or something…i often forget i’m supposed to be a hero in my daily grudge at school.