What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

What is courage? I've heard the word many times before but it seemed phony so I didn't pay it much attention. It does have a real place to be used though, and is important. Thinking about it now it seems like something that is tough, or scary for a person to do. This is what dictionary.com says:

The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery

The closest I come is my decision to hike on the appalachian trail. A freshmen not liking college too much it would have been easy to keep doing that and stay in next semester and just hang out in my room in the computer, but inspite of that, and the idea of going to Georgia by myself to hike in the woods on my own at the end of winter (my dad said this was dangerous and I needed experience to do it safely, I ignored this and it turned out to be untrue). That was hard for me and besides a couple of other personal things that required small amounts of courage the only thing I can think about. So not much really.

Any thoughts on courage? What have you done that required courage?

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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What is courage? I've heard the word many times before but it seemed phony so I didn't pay it much attention. It does have a real place to be used though, and is important. Thinking about it now it seems like something that is tough, or scary for a person to do. This is what dictionary.com says:

The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery

The closest I come is my decision to hike on the appalachian trail. A freshmen not liking college too much it would have been easy to keep doing that and stay in next semester and just hang out in my room in the computer, but inspite of that, and the idea of going to Georgia by myself to hike in the woods on my own at the end of winter (my dad said this was dangerous and I needed experience to do it safely, I ignored this and it turned out to be untrue). That was hard for me and besides a couple of other personal things that required small amounts of courage the only thing I can think about. So not much really.

Any thoughts on courage? What have you done that required courage?

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Pulled two men out a car (one died and one was missing a leg) after a high speed frontal collision whith gasoline leaking out of the car while the front was on fire.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

I got caught in the ice up at 16,000 feet in a Turbo Seminole at night once. I had a full 1" covering the leading edges, props, tail(!), etc. Basically, everything wrong that could happen DID happen. I had a nasty headwind, at night, over the mountains, with solid IFR covering the whole area below me. There were no precision approaches within 100+ miles of my position either.

Bad planning and execution by me, but I lived.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

[ QUOTE ]
I got caught in the ice up at 16,000 feet in a Turbo Seminole at night once. I had a full 1" covering the leading edges, props, tail(!), etc. Basically, everything wrong that could happen DID happen. I had a nasty headwind, at night, over the mountains, with solid IFR covering the whole area below me. There were no precision approaches within 100+ miles of my position either.

Bad planning and execution by me, but I lived.

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Just curious as to what part of that experience you considered courageous? The fact that you didn't just intentionally fly into a mountain and "end it all"? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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Just curious as to what part of that experience you considered courageous? The fact that you didn't just intentionally fly into a mountain and "end it all"? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Had to get the damn plane on the ground, chief. I guess I kinda HAD to, but doing it without being in a panic is what was courageous to me. *shrugs* [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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Just curious as to what part of that experience you considered courageous? The fact that you didn't just intentionally fly into a mountain and "end it all"? [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Had to get the damn plane on the ground, chief. I guess I kinda HAD to, but doing it without being in a panic is what was courageous to me. *shrugs* [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

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Yeah, that fits the dictionary definition: (courage -
The quality of mind enabling one to face danger or hardship resolutely)

The question is, could you have avoided getting into that situation in the first place?

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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What is courage?

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I am only familiar with Dutch Courage.

Works for me. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Well, this one time I did owe my roommate a favor. He was talking to this chick at the bar, and she had this big fat friend...

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

that requires beer goggles not courage

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/1632/1955dadc9ha.jpg

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

True.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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Well, this one time I did owe my roommate a favor. He was talking to this chick at the bar, and she had this big fat friend...

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Yessir, there's nothing more courageous than being the wingman.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

I joined the army. The rest took care of itself.

Courage, at least in my experience, isn't so much a quality or state of mind as it is a reaction. Most people have it inside...they just need the proper stimulus to get it going.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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The question is, could you have avoided getting into that situation in the first place?

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Oh yeah, I won't deny that. I really should have just stayed on the ground that day. But, hindsight is 20/20.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Doesn't look like anyone else thought it was funny, but I did. I think it has potential, as McFly is a good target.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

well, we didn't have a condom, and she wasn't on the pill, and i was really horny...

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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well, we didn't have a condom, and she wasn't on the pill, and i was really horny...

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He said courage, not stupidity. Although I admit there's sometimes a fine line between the two.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Just curious Bruiser, you don't consider playing 50/100$ NL to be courageous?

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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I joined the army. The rest took care of itself.

Courage, at least in my experience, isn't so much a quality or state of mind as it is a reaction. Most people have it inside...they just need the proper stimulus to get it going.

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Great point...I was basically going to post 'Nothing, I haven't had the opportunity' or something of that nature...

And I hope I never have that opportunity.

The only thing else I could think of was also hiking related. I've hopped some rocks hiking with a pack on that had I missed, could easily have killed me in the resulting fall. But thats stupidity.

We need a stupidity thread too

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

I think it's courageous to save a fair maiden from a fire breathing dragon.

Lawrence

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

First of all, none of your "jokes" are funny. Second, and more importantly, this is supposed to be a serious thread.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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that requires beer goggles not courage

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deerrr.. you know beer = liquid courage right?

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

If getting in a hot tub with a bunch of dudes that you met on the internet isn't courageous, I don't know what is.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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[ QUOTE ]
What is courage? I've heard the word many times before but it seemed phony so I didn't pay it much attention. It does have a real place to be used though, and is important. Thinking about it now it seems like something that is tough, or scary for a person to do. This is what dictionary.com says:

The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery

The closest I come is my decision to hike on the appalachian trail. A freshmen not liking college too much it would have been easy to keep doing that and stay in next semester and just hang out in my room in the computer, but inspite of that, and the idea of going to Georgia by myself to hike in the woods on my own at the end of winter (my dad said this was dangerous and I needed experience to do it safely, I ignored this and it turned out to be untrue). That was hard for me and besides a couple of other personal things that required small amounts of courage the only thing I can think about. So not much really.

Any thoughts on courage? What have you done that required courage?

[/ QUOTE ]

Pulled two men out a car (one died and one was missing a leg) after a high speed frontal collision whith gasoline leaking out of the car while the front was on fire.

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Jesus Christ.

We have a winner and we've barely even gotten started.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Courage in the sense that my life &limb was in danger...nothing, but I have displayed courage in the moral sense.

Many

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Why has no one posted any real stories? Are you guys embarrased? Have you never done anything that requires courage?

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

out for a jog on a summer day when 2 german shepards came running at me. both were clearly full grown, angry and wanted a piece of me. i stopped running (obviously!), turned to them and shouted "xxxx off! xxxx off you piece of xxxx dogs! xxxx you!!" they both stood there barking and growling, so i took two steps toward them, motion my arms like a crazy man and continued with the shouting/barking match...as i moved toward the dogs, they stepped back. i showed them who was boss, 60 seconds later their owner came out and called them.

i called the cops, they gave the owner a slap on the wrist.

stepping towards the dogs took courage on my part, i was scared xxxxless but i could not show it.

*edit* some call me courageous for moving 2200 miles away from home for a job opportunity here in oklahoma city...away from everything and everyone i know.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

I had a big gambling debt for 20k to a local loanshark. He eventually gave me a deadline of one week. After that week, he said he would hurt my family. I didn't have 20k, so he made me another offer. I could fight a pitbull to the death.

I won.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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Doesn't look like anyone else thought it was funny, but I did. I think it has potential, as McFly is a good target.

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It's a great account, but he chose the wrong picture. I can't find the "right" picture on google images, but it'd be right before he punched Biff.

~D

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Two things popped into my head.

When I was 11, my family was visiting England. We were watching tennis at wimbledon, when I got seperated. I found my way back to where we were staying (across the city) by myself. I was scared, but kept my wits about me.

The second was about 8 years ago. I checked myself into a mental hospital, when I was feeling suicidal. Sounds easy, but it wasn't.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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The second was about 8 years ago. I checked myself into a mental hospital, when I was feeling suicidal. Sounds easy, but it wasn't.

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I think this is they exactly the type of thing bruiser was looking for. Nice post...

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

I can give you one I've witnessed, I believe I've had my life saved twice, both times by my mother (and probably several others when she restrained herself from killing me), but the one that is vivid, is...

I was around 12. We were in a jet boat on some lake I forget the name of. She was shotgun, I was in the back seat directly behind her and some ass munch she was dateing at the time was driving.

Ass munch decides that he is going to buzz the cove we where all camping in that weekend and spray everyone with water in what can only be described as a mammouth momment of stupidity.

Ass munch enters the cove at about 40 or so, who knows, he was haulin ass either way, cuts it hard right and proceeds to spray...

Right at apex, we spin.

I'll never forget that momment. I was midair, a good 2 feet out of my seat with no chance of coming down anytime soon. I made eye contact with my mother just in time to see the look of horror...and her hand coming my way. She somehow managed to snatch an arm, stay in her seat, and return me to mine...just as we hit shore.

I don't recall seeing ass munch after that day.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Every time you stand up to a bully, whether a punk, bureaucrat, or authority figure overstepping his bounds,

it is an act of courage.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

This is a very difficult question.

If you're not afraid of doing it, then doing it takes no courage. But then, a lot of times you'll just go and do something without taking the time to realize that you should be really afraid.

I don't even recall specific instances, but there have been times when I did things, and afterward I couldn't stop shaking. I think there's a difference between courage, and having the ability to do what needs doing despite the danger, and worrying about that afterward.

If there were a dangerous situation, I'd rather have me than anyone I know making the tough choices and doing what needed doing under pressure. However, if there were something that I was really afraid of doing, and I wanted to do it anyhow, I couldn't count on myself to follow through with it and take those steps.

Unless I really had to.

~D

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

I had cancer. Surgery and chemo. I don't know about 'courage' per se, because I had a light dose compared to others I know; but I did have to consider the possibility of my own death. I had to make decisions to try to save my life.

Nothing compared to the average day our soldiers are facing in Iraq as far as courage goes, I'm sure.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

[ QUOTE ]
What is courage? I've heard the word many times before but it seemed phony so I didn't pay it much attention. It does have a real place to be used though, and is important. Thinking about it now it seems like something that is tough, or scary for a person to do. This is what dictionary.com says:

The state or quality of mind or spirit that enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery

The closest I come is my decision to hike on the appalachian trail. A freshmen not liking college too much it would have been easy to keep doing that and stay in next semester and just hang out in my room in the computer, but inspite of that, and the idea of going to Georgia by myself to hike in the woods on my own at the end of winter (my dad said this was dangerous and I needed experience to do it safely, I ignored this and it turned out to be untrue). That was hard for me and besides a couple of other personal things that required small amounts of courage the only thing I can think about. So not much really.

Any thoughts on courage? What have you done that required courage?

[/ QUOTE ]

I hate to bring it up again, but it took a hell of a lot of courage to pull the trigger and kill a man who was about to pull a gun on me in my garage. I am just glad I had the training to have a split second reaction time, and do what had to be done.

Big Steve [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

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I hate to bring it up again, but it took a hell of a lot of courage to pull the trigger and kill a man who was about to pull a gun on me in my garage. I am just glad I had the training to have a split second reaction time, and do what had to be done.

Big Steve [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

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I'm not sure that that's courage, since you're the type that's capable of doing what needs to be done without constantly worrying about the consequences. You did it, and worried about it afterward. If that is courage, then yeah that shows it. I'm just thinking that courage is something where you're scared as [censored] every step of the way and keep taking the next one anyhow, fully aware at all times of the danger you're putting yourself into. This is when a perfectly viable option is to not take the next step. It wasn't an option for you, unless you wanted to get dead.

Maybe I'm wrong and that ability to ignore consequences so you can do what you have to actually is courage, but it sure as hell doesn't feel courageous. It just feels like not being crippled by fear.

Is there a difference? I don't know.

~D

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Archie Gates: You're scared, right?
Conrad Vig: Maybe.
Archie Gates: The way it works is, you do the thing you're scared shitless of, and you get the courage AFTER you do it, not before you do it.
Conrad Vig: That's a dumbass way to work. It should be the other way around.
Archie Gates: I know. That's the way it works.

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

Care to answer the question yourself, chud?

If the answer is yes, mind sharing the story?

Re: What Have You Done That Needed Courage?
 

courage: the ability to do something that one wants to do anyway....


Nice work.

peace

john nickle