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Post by Deleted on Mar 23, 2023 11:15:28 GMT -5
Slam_Bradley and zaku, those are counter-hypotheticals. If the answer is, there is no scenario where you could know you would be able to use your powers to save lives and therefore my hypothetical is false, that's one answer. But if the answer is, I phrased my hypothetical in a way that you might have an exit clause, that does not address the true spirit of the question (which was again that you had certainty). And honestly, that's fine if you are not down with the whole "superheroes in the real world" thing. But again attempting to get back on topic, this is about IF you were to entertain the notion of being a hero in the very literal crimefighting sense from comic book tradition (and we ALL know what that means), would you or would you not keep your identity a secret. Not a WOULD you entertain the notion of being a hero (which is of course a very interesting topic in itself).
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Post by zaku on Mar 23, 2023 11:19:16 GMT -5
Slam_Bradley and zaku , those are counter-hypotheticals. If the answer is, there is no scenario where you could know you would be able to use your powers to save lives and therefore my hypothetical is false, that's one answer. But if the answer is, I phrased my hypothetical in a way that you might have an exit clause, that does not address the true spirit of the question (which was again that you had certainty). And honestly, that's fine if you are not down with the whole "superheroes in the real world" thing. But again attempting to get back on topic, this is about IF you were to entertain the notion of being a hero in the very literal crimefighting sense from comic book tradition (and we ALL know what that means), would you or would you not keep your identity a secret. Not a WOULD you entertain the notion of being a hero (which is of course a very interesting topic in itself). Well, there are a lot of "if" in this question, but like I said, a secret identity would be just a wast of time today. I mean:
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Mar 23, 2023 11:30:40 GMT -5
Slam_Bradley and zaku , those are counter-hypotheticals. If the answer is, there is no scenario where you could know you would be able to use your powers to save lives and therefore my hypothetical is false, that's one answer. But if the answer is, I phrased my hypothetical in a way that you might have an exit clause, that does not address the true spirit of the question (which was again that you had certainty). And honestly, that's fine if you are not down with the whole "superheroes in the real world" thing. But again attempting to get back on topic, this is about IF you were to entertain the notion of being a hero in the very literal crimefighting sense from comic book tradition (and we ALL know what that means), would you or would you not keep your identity a secret. Not a WOULD you entertain the notion of being a hero (which is of course a very interesting topic in itself). Thread drift is a thing. My answer is that under any circumstance in the real world a secret identity is simply not going to work with the modern world. The invasive technology available to the government and the 24-hour new cycle that has to be fed means that your secret identity wouldn't last as long as the fascination with fidget spinners. So IF I had super powers...and IF I somehow decided to fight crime (whatever that means)...I still wouldn't see any sense in a secret identity that wouldn't last long enough to make it worth the effort.
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Post by MWGallaher on Mar 23, 2023 11:36:24 GMT -5
I would not go into the hero business. As has been discussed, fighting crime is a poor options for super powers. Well, there's Banksy, an example of someone who's maintained a secret identity in the real world. Hey, wait a second, isn't there some forum member here known for painting on big flat surfaces in urban environments? Fortunately, if there were ever a community whose members would be a Pete Ross to a Clark Kent, that's this one!
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Post by codystarbuck on Mar 23, 2023 13:02:41 GMT -5
Getting back to the responsibility thing; a citizen has a responsibility to society, as a whole...the "civic duty." In the mundane world, it's carried out by paying taxes, voting, serving on juries, etc. However, it is also a citizen's responsibility to do their part in taking care of their society, whether it is properly disposing of trash, not blocking the way of emergency vehicles on a call, assisting law enforcement with eyewitness statements, etc. If you extend that further, then you have a responsibility to assist someone in trouble. You are not expected to help every person in trouble, especially if not in your presence; but, you see a stranded motorist and you drive by, without at least checking if they are well or need an emergency service called; then, in my book, you are shirking a responsibility. If someone is being mugged and you have the ability to help them escape the mugger and don't, then you are shirking a responsibility to that person.
It's a situational responsibility, not a global; one. With Spider-Man, he failed to stop a criminal, when he could, because no one was paying him. Not an atypical response. However, said criminal kills a person he loves and by taking responsibility for stopping the criminal, when he could, he could have also saved his loved one. Spider-Man carries that guilt, which drives his actions. His powers give him a greater responsibility to the world around because he is capable of helping more than the average person and even emergency services, in some cases. Heroism is situational, usually. A hero is merely someone who takes the responsibility to help someone in need, without regard to danger to themselves or possibility of reward.
If you are a weightlifter, and someone is trapped under a heavy weight, then, in my book, you do have a responsibility to try to help them because you are physically able to assist and your skills are needed.
A doctor cannot save every patient; but, if someone in front of him/her has a medical emergency and they do nothing, because they are off-duty, then they have shirked their responsibility. They bear no responsibility in developing a cure for cancer, if they are a GP and lack the specialist skills; however, if they come across a situation with a patient that could greatly improve the chances of finding a cure for cancer, then they have a responsibility to share that information with colleagues and researchers.
Getting back to the secret identity thing, one thing that comics seem to ignore is that in most of the literary ancestors to comic book superheroes, their identities are discovered, by both friend and foe. Sir Percy Blakeny, the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, is discovered by his wife, Margueritte, and greatly suspected by his enemy, Chauvelin. Fantomas uses disguises, but his identity is uncovered by Inspector Juve and the journalist, Fandor. In most versions of Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega is exposed as the hero, before his climactic fight with the villain (or during).
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 23, 2023 19:15:14 GMT -5
Cops don’t have secret identities. Although these days they seem to be getting gunned down more than in the past.
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Post by Dizzy D on Mar 24, 2023 3:13:39 GMT -5
Cops don’t have secret identities. Although these days they seem to be getting gunned down more than in the past.
As far as I know, police officers getting shot down during duty is way down since the 70s. 2020 had a spike in police officer deaths during duty, but it was not from gun violence, it was from Covid.
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Post by Icctrombone on Mar 24, 2023 4:30:28 GMT -5
Cops don’t have secret identities. Although these days they seem to be getting gunned down more than in the past.
As far as I know, police officers getting shot down during duty is way down since the 70s. 2020 had a spike in police officer deaths during duty, but it was not from gun violence, it was from Covid.
Maybe , but instances where cops are being ambushed seem to be up.
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Post by pinkfloydsound17 on Mar 24, 2023 7:42:28 GMT -5
I feel like realistically, in the world today, a secret identity would be IMPOSSIBLE to keep. Unless you were someone very obscure with no connections, the world would find out about you very quickly.
I have often thought (and surely it has been done, I just have not read it) what would happen if someone wrote such a story. A story right now, with someone somehow obtaining powers (like flight and super strength). How would the world legitimately react? What would actually happen? And would said person even think to try and "fight crime" or would they just be freaked out and trying to get medical help to correct the newfound powers? Something I would read for sure if it has been already been done.
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Post by zaku on Mar 24, 2023 7:57:05 GMT -5
I feel like realistically, in the world today, a secret identity would be IMPOSSIBLE to keep. Unless you were someone very obscure with no connections, the world would find out about you very quickly. I have often thought (and surely it has been done, I just have not read it) what would happen if someone wrote such a story. A story right now, with someone somehow obtaining powers (like flight and super strength). How would the world legitimately react? What would actually happen? And would said person even think to try and "fight crime" or would they just be freaked out and trying to get medical help to correct the newfound powers? Something I would read for sure if it has been already been done. You mean a world like ours? With superhero comics books and so on? Good question. Well, perhaps like Millar's Superior?
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Post by Cei-U! on Mar 24, 2023 8:18:01 GMT -5
I feel like realistically, in the world today, a secret identity would be IMPOSSIBLE to keep. Unless you were someone very obscure with no connections, the world would find out about you very quickly. I have often thought (and surely it has been done, I just have not read it) what would happen if someone wrote such a story. A story right now, with someone somehow obtaining powers (like flight and super strength). How would the world legitimately react? What would actually happen? And would said person even think to try and "fight crime" or would they just be freaked out and trying to get medical help to correct the newfound powers? Something I would read for sure if it has been already been done. I've contemplated writing such a novel more than once.
Cei-U! I summon the scary prospect!
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Mar 24, 2023 9:30:48 GMT -5
As far as I know, police officers getting shot down during duty is way down since the 70s. 2020 had a spike in police officer deaths during duty, but it was not from gun violence, it was from Covid.
Maybe , but instances where cops are being ambushed seem to be up. There are literally no statistics about police being "ambushed" because it's such an amorphous word that it has no actual meaning. There was an uptick in felonious police deaths in 2021, mostly in the South (huh...those law & order states). Police are generally equally or more likely to be killed in traffic accidents. I mean if you want a really dangerous job you can become a commercial fisherman. Or a logger. Or a roofer. Or...
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Post by zaku on Mar 24, 2023 9:32:05 GMT -5
I feel like realistically, in the world today, a secret identity would be IMPOSSIBLE to keep. Unless you were someone very obscure with no connections, the world would find out about you very quickly. I have often thought (and surely it has been done, I just have not read it) what would happen if someone wrote such a story. A story right now, with someone somehow obtaining powers (like flight and super strength). How would the world legitimately react? What would actually happen? And would said person even think to try and "fight crime" or would they just be freaked out and trying to get medical help to correct the newfound powers? Something I would read for sure if it has been already been done. Wait! It isn't the plot of Miracleman???
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Post by zaku on Mar 24, 2023 9:37:43 GMT -5
Or this one
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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2023 9:49:38 GMT -5
Maybe , but instances where cops are being ambushed seem to be up. There are literally no statistics about police being "ambushed" because it's such an amorphous word that it has no actual meaning. There was an uptick in felonious police deaths in 2021, mostly in the South (huh...those law & order states). Police are generally equally or more likely to be killed in traffic accidents. I mean if you want a really dangerous job you can become a commercial fisherman. Or a logger. Or a roofer. Or... You should try being a NYC cop for a year.
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