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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 17:28:04 GMT -5
In the comic book hero business, the potential implications of hiding your true identity versus making it public have been explored countless times, and in fan circles debated countless times more.
But if you yourself gained powers in the real world and decided to go into the hero business (making the world better to the best of your judgement), would you actually attempt to keep a secret identity? And why or why not?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 17:43:43 GMT -5
Of course.
I don't want to be harassed at home while I'm a mum and wife.
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Post by tarkintino on Mar 22, 2023 17:53:30 GMT -5
Yed, I would maintain a secret identity. Some of the most horrific losses of life in superhero comics happened because the hero's secret ID was known to the villain. Who would want to risk the lives of loved ones like that?
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 22, 2023 17:53:52 GMT -5
Of course. This  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 17:59:15 GMT -5
With the current state of voice recognition and facial recognition programs, you would need a full face mask a la Spidey and voice modulation for your secret identity to last beyond your first public appearance. You would also have to have oodles of cash available to you that you don't get form a bank (large cash withdrawals are monitored since 9/11) in order to finance your efforts without leaving a paper trail to your true identity. Vehicle-going to be traced to your true identity. Don't have a personal medical provider on your payroll-any weapon injuries treated at a hospital will be linked to your insurance and thus your true identity.
So if you would have one, good luck. Especially if you do anything around anyone with a camera (which is everybody essentially) as your every move will be analyzed for clues to your identity, and all of the above will come into play. I would put the over/under of how long a secret identity lasts if someone tried in in today's world at 1 day and I would take the under.
-M
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 18:10:25 GMT -5
I'm of a similar mindset of "how could I expose family/loved ones to danger", and always thought the notion of say the Fantastic Four seemed really neat in fiction in one sense, but would be a nightmare in real life (and look how many times even in the comics Franklin or even Alicia been in terrible danger, injured, abducted, etc.)
But I've also thought about exactly what you said @mrp , I don't see how you could really pull it off in the modern world.
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Post by badwolf on Mar 22, 2023 18:39:13 GMT -5
Absolutely. I value my privacy. In fact, I wish I had one now!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 18:46:29 GMT -5
I was reflecting as well on how Spider-Man revealed his identity in the comic book Civil War storyline to support Stark and the Super-Human Registration Act, and how that put Aunt May and Mary Jane right into danger and he moved them to Stark Tower to protect them.
I wonder if it wouldn't play out like that no matter what, that eventually you would need to hide/sequester your loved ones. And then what type of life would that be for them.
Perhaps a related question...would you tell your family of your secret identity? Feels like keeping secrets and a trust issue on one hand, but then you burden them with also having to protect your identity and always being worried about the danger you are in.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 18:47:57 GMT -5
With the current state of voice recognition and facial recognition programs, you would need a full face mask a la Spidey and voice modulation for your secret identity to last beyond your first public appearance. You would also have to have oodles of cash available to you that you don't get form a bank (large cash withdrawals are monitored since 9/11) in order to finance your efforts without leaving a paper trail to your true identity. Vehicle-going to be traced to your true identity. Don't have a personal medical provider on your payroll-any weapon injuries treated at a hospital will be linked to your insurance and thus your true identity. So if you would have one, good luck. Especially if you do anything around anyone with a camera (which is everybody essentially) as your every move will be analyzed for clues to your identity, and all of the above will come into play. I would put the over/under of how long a secret identity lasts if someone tried in in today's world at 1 day and I would take the under. -M I have often wondered about car insurance for the likes of the Batmobile. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2023 18:57:10 GMT -5
With the current state of voice recognition and facial recognition programs, you would need a full face mask a la Spidey and voice modulation for your secret identity to last beyond your first public appearance. You would also have to have oodles of cash available to you that you don't get form a bank (large cash withdrawals are monitored since 9/11) in order to finance your efforts without leaving a paper trail to your true identity. Vehicle-going to be traced to your true identity. Don't have a personal medical provider on your payroll-any weapon injuries treated at a hospital will be linked to your insurance and thus your true identity. So if you would have one, good luck. Especially if you do anything around anyone with a camera (which is everybody essentially) as your every move will be analyzed for clues to your identity, and all of the above will come into play. I would put the over/under of how long a secret identity lasts if someone tried in in today's world at 1 day and I would take the under. -M I have often wondered about car insurance for the likes of the Batmobile. I picture Bruce sitting in the Batcave with the Progressive car insurance site up saying "enter VIN number? the heck?". |
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 22, 2023 23:05:02 GMT -5
Who says I don't already have a secret identity? The picture for my avatar might have come from a Google search......I might be using a legend that was created by a counter-intelligence agency, in the 60s....... I have the high tech spy car.....  Or, I could be an alien, hiding among the masses, disguised as a mild mannered retail manager, for a Near Great Metropolitan Printing & Shipping Company, cleverly disguised by eyeglasses, a receding hairline and a big gut. I could be the lone survivor of the destruction of the planet Haveagood, whose only weakness is the radioactive emissions from pieces of the planet, known as Haveagoodnite. I might secretly fight crime, from my hidden lair, with my faithful animal sidekick Ace the Cat-Hound......  Well....in fact, I am none of those. I am actually a British nobleman with a network of agents, who rescues doomed aristocrats from the forces of Robespierre. That's right; I am......... Richard E. Grant......  Though I might be Anthony Andrews.....  or Leslie Howard....  I might be, but I am not. I am, in fact, The Scarlet Pumpernickel!  |
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 1:20:55 GMT -5
In today world, it would simply impossible to maintain a secret identity. The best choice would be to not engage in any vigilante activity and live a quiet life.
If you sense of justice or whatever doesn't permit that, well, enlist in the police or similar. I mean, they fight criminals every day without mask or secret identities.
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Post by EdoBosnar on Mar 23, 2023 3:00:57 GMT -5
(...) Or, I could be an alien, hiding among the masses (...) Ha, ha, ha. What a preposterous notion. There are no such thing as aliens from other planets. There are just human people, from Earth. Like me, a typical human man, from Earth. Nothing out of the ordinary about me. I am just an average human, from Earth. |
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 3:02:24 GMT -5
(...) Or, I could be an alien, hiding among the masses (...) Ha, ha, ha. What a preposterous notion. There are no such thing as aliens from other planets. There are just human people, from Earth. Like me, a typical human man, from Earth. Nothing out of the ordinary about me. I am just an average human, from Earth. Right?? It must be some kind of human joke.  |
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 3:11:19 GMT -5
I think the only compromise I would accept would be some privacy about the activities I do, like certain people who work in intelligence services or law enforcement. So neighbors and acquaintances don't know exactly what I do, my close family members do but they don't know the details. What I would NOT do is handle my secret identity kind of like Pre-Crisis Superman did, i.e. spend half my time convincing others that I'm NOT that hero there, all the while doing bodily harm and probably permanent damage to hide the truth instead of, not I know, help others?   (Please note that in those situations he could have found dozens of ways to leave, but he just likes to hurt people.  ) |
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