Hero of the year: Mohamed Bouazizi

The man who set fire to himself, and in so doing started the Arab Spring. That is true self-sacrifice, and although of course not the only factor behind the various uprisings, I think he deserves to be remembered as the man who acted as the catalyst.
(anvil, Thu 29 Dec 2011, 21:34, 11 replies)

Although
his intention was not to start a revolution - so your definition of heroism seems to extend to actions with unintended, unforeseen, but fortunately desirable* outcomes. Which is spreading it a bit thin, to be honest.

*Maybe. It's a bit early to tell, isn't it?
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Thu 29 Dec 2011, 21:51, closed)

Perhaps spreading it a bit thin, true. But nonetheless, I do feel that willingly suffering one of the most painful deaths imaginable as a way of protest surely fits the bill, regardless of the subsequent consequences further down the line.

As to the fortunately desirable outcomes, too early to tell I think, but arguably promising.
(anvil, Fri 30 Dec 2011, 1:44, closed)

I'd say he acted as the fuel too
And probably provided the ignition source
( Snappyuk gets BIGGER with free sample., Thu 29 Dec 2011, 22:32, closed)

Let this be a lesson to all despots - get a fire detector.
(roysin, Thu 29 Dec 2011, 22:35, closed)

Arab spring...pfffft
Imagine calling a popular uprising a name that sounds like a sex aid.
Imagine that eh.
( Infidel , shit and wrong, Thu 29 Dec 2011, 23:37, closed)

True
That guy really moved the world more than he could have possibly imagined.
(spinoza, Thu 29 Dec 2011, 23:51, closed)

technically it was the petrol that was the catalyst, so let's all big it up for BP
(strongp, Fri 30 Dec 2011, 9:09, closed)

ive been thinking about this whole "what started the arab spring" thing, and everybody seems to have forgotten about the protests in iran which were before the self immolation in tunisia, i think anyway. they also helped with the tactics, they just werent successful cos nobody cares about iran. oh and everybody is scared of them cos of their possible nuclear threat.
(bruxia, Fri 30 Dec 2011, 9:35, closed)

I heard
it was when a bloke called Archie Duke shot an ostrich because he was hungry.


But I could be wrong.
( Infidel , shit and wrong, Fri 30 Dec 2011, 13:11, closed)

I heard

some guy got shot in the knee by a bow and arrow and then fell down sever flights of stairs.
( Turquoise Hexagon Sun has just dropped acid on, Fri 30 Dec 2011, 13:36, closed)

I bought
one of those counterfeit Zippos he was flogging and couldn't get the fucking thing to light once.
(Rsoles, Fri 30 Dec 2011, 19:03, closed)