Resenting superheroes, and the real world

[Tetsubo]

I don't think I'd resent superheroes any more than the "priviledged" class that we have now. People born into wealth and fame. People who's lives will be made much smoother by virtue of who their parents are. I lost that lottery...

 

[Staffan]

They always made a point of showing how much property damage The Tick was causing when he and Arthur were traveling about The City. When he went to Europe on an exchange program they got quite upset with him over that.

I have a vague memory of an old Fantastic Four comic (probably mid-to-late 80s), when the Gladiator (really powerful alien working for the Shi'ar empire - sort of the Marvel version of Superman) fought the Fantastic Four for some reason I can't recall. The last panel of the comic was a full-page shot showing the devastation caused by the battle, with the Thing asking "So, who's gonna clean up this mess?"

 

[ecliptic]

If I had super powers screw being the hero.

 

[Ranger REG]

I don't think I'd resent superheroes any more than the "priviledged" class that we have now. People born into wealth and fame. People who's lives will be made much smoother by virtue of who their parents are. I lost that lottery...

You make it sounds like you wish you had rich parents.

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

Then you aren't paying much attention, are you.

Not an attack, just saying that I see people (usually brain dead Hollywood types) raking politicians over the coals nearly every day because they haven't wiped out poverty, eliminated disease, stopped all wars, etc.

Yes, because it is physically possible to do all this and more. However our societies have degenerated to a point of systematically beating down all efforts because that would also alter the status-quo, which just so happens to favour these elites.

Usually as a smoke screen we hear "it's too hard" or "it's human nature".

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

I would think that there would be a general consensus to not allow any of this vigilante superhero capers in anything resembling real life. You would run into problems of accountability, due process & universality before the law. If superman wanted to fight crime he could, by joining a police force.

Superpowers by themself would be completely unsatisfactory. Perhaps if they were accompanied by PhDs in the religious, history, legal, social, psychology, criminology, geography, environmental, political/international relations, media, & economics disciplines they could have some measure of trust. The thing with all the superheroes are that their physical powers dwarf their moral & rational powers, they are still emotive creatures not removed at all from humanity in many regards. With a UN mandate, the superhero might be able to operate but they would be following a strategic plan & giving progress reports. Of course they would draw a handsome salary to do what ever they privately chose.

However are they even human? How can they empathise with people that are not what they are? Perhaps the most superpowerful of their abilities is the mental & moral fortitude necessary to resist the temptation to exploit others with their powers. It may well be possible that this abstination would be their leading form of credibility.

 

[Ranger REG]

I would think that there would be a general consensus to not allow any of this vigilante superhero capers in anything resembling real life. You would run into problems of accountability, due process & universality before the law. If superman wanted to fight crime he could, by joining a police force.

Batman fights crime. He should join the police and Commisioner Gordon should have been replace for letting that costumed freak to operate outside law enforcement.

Superman rescues people. He should join a multipurpose rescue unit.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

IIRC, many of the major heroes in both DC and Marvel universes are accredited, sponsored, or otherwise acknowledged as having some legal enforcement authority. For example, the Avengers have had government liaisons, and I recall Superman visiting the White House a few times. Not all do, though...the X-Men and Spider-Man are outlaws (even if the latter happens to be so popular the police don't bother with him), and Batman's cooperation with Commissioner Gordon seems to be something of an extracurricular activity on G's part.

I wonder, though...how many people, if they had superpowers, would turn to vigilantism? Or supervillainy? I suspect most would try and convert their abilities into some form of earning power as fast as they could.

Brad

 

[FreeTheSlaves]

If I had superman powers I'd act outside the law until the system wasn't morally bankrupt. I'd levee a dollar for dollar tax on "defence" forces & an additional dollar for dollar tax on all countries participating in global nuclear terrorism. This would go into a UN fund to speed economic development in 3rd world countries, & generally redistribute wealth. Failure to comply would mean I wipe out the 100 wealthiest members of the offending nation. Rinse & repest.

 

[Ranger REG]

I wonder, though...how many people, if they had superpowers, would turn to vigilantism? Or supervillainy? I suspect most would try and convert their abilities into some form of earning power as fast as they could.

Forget it! Personal gain all the way!

Besides, in this world of "[file-]sharing," I'd rather profit from my service.

"Hey, I just saved you from walking off a cliff. Now, cash or charge?"