Maintaining your secret identity

[soviet]

It's you.

But how do the rest of us know what wealth-resources-etc Lanefan has access to?

 

[soviet]

In terms of CCTV and so on, one thing that's quite common in the UK is for the police to show (low resolution) images of people of interest in a crime and to ask the public to identify them. Being caught on camera by itself isn't the end of the world if you're not already someone who is well known to the authorities and your friends/family don't turn you in.

 

[Morrus]

In terms of CCTV and so on, one thing that's quite common in the UK is for the police to show (low resolution) images of people of interest in a crime and to ask the public to identify them. Being caught on camera by itself isn't the end of the world if you're not already someone who is well known to the authorities and your friends/family don't turn you in.

I don't imagine it's usually friends/family and more just somebody who recognises you. Acquaintances. They don't even have to know you. A customer or a client, a checkout assistant or the plumber who unblocked your sink. The guy who works in the bakery you like to buy those croissants from, or the postal worker who delivered your eBay package. Unless you're going to go about life as a hermit without interacting with anybody, somebody will recognise you.

 

[soviet]

I don't imagine it's usually friends/family and more just somebody who recognises you. Acquaintances. They don't even have to know you. A customer or a client, a checkout assistant or the plumber who unblocked your sink. The guy who works in the bakery you like to buy those croissants from, or the postal worker who delivered your eBay package. Unless you're going to go about life as a hermit without interacting with anybody, somebody will recognise you.

Well maybe but I believe you are in the UK too. Police quite regularly seem to repeat old images and say 'we're still looking for this person, do you know who they are?'. It doesn't seem to be that great a means of finding people.

If you already are a suspect and they can match you up to an image, then that's different of course.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

It's you.

I live next to a NORAD base so flying at supersonic speed might cause a blip on the radar as I leave the continent. That said, I'm not sure they can find stuff if it's going close to the speed of light.

But then again, I suppose you can just run instead of fly and you won't trigger anything since they're patrolling the skies and not the ground. I just think with that kind of mobility, you have a lot of freedom that disguises don't have to be too elaborate.

The DNA thing mentioned might be an issue - once again- in a peaceful country where they're going to investigate that kind of thing. I'm not sure that'll happen in a war-torn country.

One question not covered in the OP is the level of wealth-resources-etc. the real-world version has, or has access to.

I feel it would be easy to get money. But it depends on your morals, I suppose.

 

[MarkB]

I live next to a NORAD base so flying at supersonic speed might cause a blip on the radar as I leave the continent. That said, I'm not sure they can find stuff if it's going close to the speed of light.

But then again, I suppose you can just run instead of fly and you won't trigger anything since they're patrolling the skies and not the ground. I just think with that kind of mobility, you have a lot of freedom that disguises don't have to be too elaborate.

Unless you're Flash and can access the Speed Force, flying or running at supersonic speeds will generate sonic booms. And while it's not commonly covered in fiction, running that fast is likely to leave a distinctive trail of fractured tarmac.

I feel it would be easy to get money. But it depends on your morals, I suppose.

That can potentially open a new can of worms. Instead of just having people trying to uncover your superheroic identity, you now also have people investigating your criminal identity. Best to try and find ways that your powers can help you earn money legitimately.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I love the idea of a small organization that's like a "reputation.com" but for superheroes instead of really rich people.