Unselfish acts are, what I think, what makes a hero. A hero does what NEEDS TO BE DONE.
Personal experience: I was in a bus, in the back of it. I always read in public transportation, cuz my thoughts usually piss me off. I don't much pay attention to my fellow commuters, unless there's a babe or something equally interresting there.
One day my concentration was broken by a loudmouth (drunken) old man who kept yelling his stupored opinions about the Finnish government and so forth.
Now, I lack that little part of the brain, that prevents me to keep my mouth shut when someone totally moronic does something that pisses a general Joe Schmoe off. After listening that guy blabbing for a while and noticing that the busdriver was a pussy for not saying anything, I yelled at the man "Shut up!". That shut him up for a while, after a moment he continued.
I put my book down and walked to the man. Luckily we were at a random busstop so I told him to get the fuck out or I'll throw his ass out, cuz he harrassed fellow passengers. That go tthe busdriver off his seat, too, and he joined me telling the bum to get off the bus. (I personally have no problem to be rude to idiots, when they're acting like idiots)
The geezer finally got off the bus. After we continued our ride and I had returned back to my seat a woman thanked me and told me that I am "an everyday hero".
Sounded odd. I didn't think of my self a "hero", I just was pissed off that I was the only "Man" in the bus to verbally taunt and remove an old distubing alcoholic.
All I needed was Balls. (metaphysical, I mean
So; if you have balls and are not afraid to use them, you are a "hero"?
(in Finland you don't need to fear to get shot by telling someone to "Shut the fuck up!")