In reply to Justin Tadlock.

Try reading that again, Justin. I didn't say that someone must risk this or her life to be considered a hero. Indeed, earlier in this thread, I said that that was true "often." (By the way, my OED confirms that interpreation. It was published in 1995. So it really is time you caught up.)

But I can spell it out this way:

What would you call someone who risked their life for the benefit of others?

Now what would you call someone who writes good code for WordPress? (I'd certainly agree that someone like Alan Turing is a hero. But a WordPress developer?)

Maybe you are happy to apply the same label to both.

I see application of the same label as a demeaning trivialization of the former's conduct, and an unjustified aggrandizement of the latter's.