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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 23, 2023 3:18:17 GMT -5
No. For one, I agree with zaku: given today's technology, it would be pert near impossible. For another, I would be far more interested in acting as a rescue worker, a sort of super-lifeguard if you will, than in fighting crime, especially for free. To that end, I would become a government contractor, complete with salary, office, and pension plan, making myself available whenever and wherever my powers would make a difference. And finally, I don't see why having my identity publicly known would put my loved ones in any more danger than a politician's or, say, an FBI agent's.
Cei-U! Yes, I've actually thought about this!
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 3:30:53 GMT -5
No. For one, I agree with zaku: given today's technology, it would be pert near impossible. For another, I would be far more interested in acting as a rescue worker, a sort of super-lifeguard if you will, than in fighting crime, especially for free. To that end, I would become a government contractor, complete with salary, office, and pension plan, making myself available whenever and wherever my powers would make a difference. And finally, I don't see why having my identity publicly known would put my loved ones in any more danger than a politician's or, say, an FBI agent's. Cei-U! Yes, I've actually thought about this! It was talked about in another thread, but actually it is not clear why in the comics those who acquire superpowers have only two options: a) fight criminals b) become a criminal I mean, on a meta level it's clear, it's just one of those tropes of the superhero genre that one implicitly accepts, it's not clear why in the universes these characters live in these are pretty much the only choices. There is always the mantra "With Great Powers Comes Great Responsibilities" but it is not clear why these responsibilities have to do only with the maintenance of law and order (and status quo). And there is a detail of "fighting crime" without being part of an organization. What if my vigilante activities obstruct an official investigation? For example, what if I arrest a small-time drug dealer who was actually being followed by the police to get to his boss? Or if I mess up a crime scene making the work of law enforcement impossible? Obviously these things don't happen in the comics because the writers decided they don't happen. But how long would it take a Spider-Man or a Daredevil to make a mess, making the work of the Police very difficult? Or becoming criminals themselves? Because let's remember, they are not members of the police force and I'm sure that in a very short time they would be violating this or that law by doing their vigilante activity.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 3:31:33 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. Good point, although it’s worth thinking about the fact that people who work for intelligence agencies such as MI5 and MI6 are anonymous. Unless things have changed, the only public faces of those organisations are their Director-Generals.
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 3:33:51 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. Good point, although it’s worth thinking about the fact that people who work for intelligence agencies such as MI5 and MI6 are anonymous. Unless things have changed, the only public faces of those organisations are their Director-Generals. Yes. And being part of an organization has its perks. For example, you'd be sure not to get in the way of some investigation that as a private citizen you wouldn't know anything about. And you would get medical care. And dental. And maybe even a pension!
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 3:44:26 GMT -5
No. For one, I agree with zaku: given today's technology, it would be pert near impossible. For another, I would be far more interested in acting as a rescue worker, a sort of super-lifeguard if you will, than in fighting crime, especially for free. To that end, I would become a government contractor, complete with salary, office, and pension plan, making myself available whenever and wherever my powers would make a difference. And finally, I don't see why having my identity publicly known would put my loved ones in any more danger than a politician's or, say, an FBI agent's. Cei-U! Yes, I've actually thought about this! Incidentally, I was thinking that being a rescue worker at least partially is something I've seen DC heroes do more than Marvel heroes. I mean, saving the kitty from the tree is a Superman classic. How many times have you seen Thor do it?
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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 23, 2023 5:05:11 GMT -5
No. For one, I agree with zaku: given today's technology, it would be pert near impossible. For another, I would be far more interested in acting as a rescue worker, a sort of super-lifeguard if you will, than in fighting crime, especially for free. To that end, I would become a government contractor, complete with salary, office, and pension plan, making myself available whenever and wherever my powers would make a difference. And finally, I don't see why having my identity publicly known would put my loved ones in any more danger than a politician's or, say, an FBI agent's. Cei-U! Yes, I've actually thought about this! Incidentally, I was thinking that being a rescue worker at least partially is something I've seen DC heroes do more than Marvel heroes. I mean, saving the kitty from the tree is a Superman classic. How many times have you seen Thor do it? At least once. There's a scene in an early issue of Journey into Mystery where Thor saves a busload of people that fell from a bridge with nary a villain in sight. Iron Man frequently rescued Stark employees endangered by industrial accidents or acts of sabotage. And even Hulk saved a family from a house fire in his original series. But, yes, it was much more a DC trope than a Marvel one.
Cei-U! I summon the Red Cross!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 6:47:30 GMT -5
Lots of interesting considerations here!
One thought I'd throw out there for those who said they would prefer to join a civilian unit of some sort...what happens if you get the order to stand down when you don't agree and feel like doing so would cost lives? Or vice versa, and told to act, maybe even to take life, and you don't agree with the situation either?
This is an ethical challenge I think that would arise from time to time, and if you had the power to do what you felt was right, would you still "fall in line"?
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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 23, 2023 7:02:04 GMT -5
Lots of interesting considerations here! One thought I'd throw out there for those who said they would prefer to join a civilian unit of some sort...what happens if you get the order to stand down when you don't agree and feel like doing so would cost lives? Or vice versa, and told to act, maybe even to take life, and you don't agree with the situation either? This is an ethical challenge I think that would arise from time to time, and if you had the power to do what you felt was right, would you still "fall in line"? I would state explicitly in my contract that A) I am not an assassin and will not participate in any action that would take a human life; B) I won't perform any assignment that would deprive the non-powered of their livelihood (unless it would result in a substantial savings of taxpayer money), and finally C) I reserve the right to turn down any assignment that results in the oppression of or the circumvention of the constitutional rights of my fellow citizens.
Cei-U! I summon the morality clause!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 7:05:34 GMT -5
Lots of interesting considerations here! One thought I'd throw out there for those who said they would prefer to join a civilian unit of some sort...what happens if you get the order to stand down when you don't agree and feel like doing so would cost lives? Or vice versa, and told to act, maybe even to take life, and you don't agree with the situation either? This is an ethical challenge I think that would arise from time to time, and if you had the power to do what you felt was right, would you still "fall in line"? I would state explicitly in my contract that A) I am not an assassin and will not participate in any action that would take a human life; B) I won't perform any assignment that would deprive the non-powered of their livelihood (unless it would result in a substantial savings of taxpayer money), and finally C) I reserve the right to turn down any assignment that results in the oppression of or the circumvention of the constitutional rights of my fellow citizens.
Cei-U! I summon the morality clause!
Nothing smarter than putting it in writing up front...and if any of that is going to be a problem, then you both know whether it will work out or not before getting started. Really like this thought.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 7:13:42 GMT -5
Sorry, but you are all weak, those advocating being open about your identities. You should follow the example of wrestling legend Mr. Wrestling II (1934-2020). When Jimmy Carter was elected President, he invited Mr. Wrestling II to his inauguration at the White House (Carter’s mother was a wrestling fan). The Secret Service wanted Mr. Wrestling II to appear unmasked in the White House, but he refused, so was denied entry. If a wrestler could protect his identity and forego a trip to the White House, you should all be willing to protect your identities!
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Post by kirby101 on Mar 23, 2023 7:19:00 GMT -5
I would not go into the hero business. As has been discussed, fighting crime is a poor options for super powers.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 7:31:14 GMT -5
I would not go into the hero business. As has been discussed, fighting crime is a poor options for super powers. It would be a personal decision of course, and obviously this is all fantasy. But I'll say this much...I watched 9/11 unfold first hand looking down from Midtown Manhattan with my wife, and if I had the powers of Superman that day, I would absolutely have taken action. I might not have gotten to the first plane in time since the warning wasn't there, but I would have been on the spot to help after the first impact and done everything in my power to intercept the second one.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 7:45:44 GMT -5
I would not go into the hero business. As has been discussed, fighting crime is a poor options for super powers. It would be a personal decision of course, and obviously this is all fantasy. But I'll say this much...I watched 9/11 unfold first hand looking down from Midtown Manhattan with my wife, and if I had the powers of Superman that day, I would absolutely have taken action. I might not have gotten to the first plane in time since the warning wasn't there, but I would have been on the spot to help after the first impact and done everything in my power to intercept the second one. I understand that mindset, about 9/11. When the 2005 bombings happened in London, I think it was natural for people, myself included, to wish we had powers. One tough thing about having powers is justifying off-time to yourself. In the Superman movie, Jor-El told Superman that he was a “resource” of sorts and that he would need some down time - or words to that effect (was this a deleted scene?). How would we handle that in real life? Could you possibly attend to every global disaster? Do you pick and choose? How? Would you feel guilty to wake up and realise that an earthquake occurred in Pakistan while you slept? You may have saved lots of lives during an earthquake in Turkey the week before, but would you kick yourself for going to bed an hour before the earthquake in Pakistan hit? Would you feel guilty if you went on holiday for a week and returned to find that there’d been two bank robberies in your city, that your powers could have dealt with? It’s a tough one.
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 7:56:23 GMT -5
Lots of interesting considerations here! One thought I'd throw out there for those who said they would prefer to join a civilian unit of some sort...what happens if you get the order to stand down when you don't agree and feel like doing so would cost lives? Or vice versa, and told to act, maybe even to take life, and you don't agree with the situation either? This is an ethical challenge I think that would arise from time to time, and if you had the power to do what you felt was right, would you still "fall in line"? Isn't it literally the same dilemma which face everyone who's working in Law Enforcement (in a democratic country anyway)? Unless one works in a dictatorship, it's a little difficult to receive orders against ethical principles, and even if it happens, usually people who disobey orders which go against their principles are protected by law. Often people overlook the perks of living in a democracy :-) And this is another reason why vigilante superheroes don't make sense.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 7:57:29 GMT -5
It would be a personal decision of course, and obviously this is all fantasy. But I'll say this much...I watched 9/11 unfold first hand looking down from Midtown Manhattan with my wife, and if I had the powers of Superman that day, I would absolutely have taken action. I might not have gotten to the first plane in time since the warning wasn't there, but I would have been on the spot to help after the first impact and done everything in my power to intercept the second one. I understand that mindset, about 9/11. When the 2005 bombings happened in London, I think it was natural for people, myself included, to wish we had powers. One tough thing about having powers is justifying off-time to yourself. In the Superman movie, Jor-El told Superman that he was a “resource” of sorts and that he would need some down time - or words to that effect (was this a deleted scene?). How would we handle that in real life? Could you possibly attend to every global disaster? Do you pick and choose? How? Would you feel guilty to wake up and realise that an earthquake occurred in Pakistan while you slept? You may have saved lots of lives during an earthquake in Turkey the week before, but would you kick yourself for going to bed an hour before the earthquake in Pakistan hit? Would you feel guilty if you went on holiday for a week and returned to find that there’d been two bank robberies in your city, that your powers could have dealt with? It’s a tough one. I think you nailed the reality of it. You either become like Samaritan in Astro City trying to get to everything you can, or you live with the weight that every time you choose "down time" for yourself there's a cost. And just having the powers themselves would create this weight, it's not as simple to me as a "choice" like becoming an accountant or coffee barista or whatever for a living. In my mind, that's the bigger significance to the well worn Spidey "with great powers..." line, it's not so much just making a good choice, but the pressure of responsibility has already been thrust upon you whether you like it or not. And you can choose not to go that path, but it may very likely haunt you anyways knowing the implications of your decision.
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