I posted a video of a real life superhero called Thanatos a while ago; well here's a broader insight into the world of masked adventure spastics. Thanks to Danny for showing me Phantom Zero's call into the wilderness of injustice. Enjoy now, because these people will get killed by big scary men with knives if they actually try and do anything on their safety patrols.
However 'Super-Hero' is on some other level, with his friends 'master legend' and 'team justice'. Good production value.
6 comments:
I can remember that Thanatos commented on a video of a girl singing 'somewhere over the rainbow' that gave her some useful tips on singing the song.
Not really Batman-like behavior really.
This is Phantom Zero.
I think there is a misunderstanding of what most of us do.
Most Real Life Superheroes are pro-social, and we serve a pro-social missions.
Most Real Life Superheroes have no aspirations to be vigilantes. Vigilantism is an anti-social act. Vigilantism is also against the law--and the majority of us encourage all Real Life Superheroes to work with the law.
The majority of us dissuade others among our ranks from attempting vigilante behavior.
Real Life Superheroes merely model their appearance to resemble that of superheroes. Most of us do it to bring awareness to various causes we care about.
Superheroes are recognized by global culture as icons of good. We've decided to tap into that. We don't think we are "heroes" in the literary sense.
Among our ranks we have people in the medical profession (EMTs), social workers, fire fighters, and people who are serving or have served in the military--people I'd wager have done a great deal of good in their civilian identities.
And we have average people, too. From all walks of life. Home makers and blue collar workers. People with husbands or wives. People who are established and respected members of the community with families of their own.
...and a lot of comic book fans.
Many of us do volunteer work, collect for charities, and actively try to improve the communities we live in though public service and acts of altruism.
The closest the majority of us come to crime fighting is establishing and joining neighborhood patrols (out of costume), handing out crime alerts or wanted posters, and participating in local programs, such as drug prevention talks at local schools or participating in special mandated events--like marches against violence.
All these people use free time out of their lives to try and do good for others.
In the experience of myself and a number of others, going out late at night on what I like to dub "weird walks" usually yields nothing.
Crime happens randomly, sporadically, and out of the public eye. Any criminal with a brain in his head isn't going to do a drug deal when a man in day-glo orange spandex is across the street trying to look inconspicuous.
The police are effective because they are a trained network with equipment, vehicles, and legal powers. They are also governed by rules and procedures which act as checks and balances.... which is why most of us defer to them.
Any Real Life Superhero who comes across a crime would do what any sane and rational person would hopefully do: call the cops on a cell phone and try to help, if they could.
There are a few people in our community who are screwballs, wackos, or otherwise embarrassments, but that is par for the course in any internet community.
The greatest lesson that any one of the RLSH community can, and eventually, does learn is not to be too full of themselves, and never to take themselves too seriously.
I hope this was helpful. Feel free to comment to my YouTube thread with any questions.
Thank you for your time.
PZ
I really would have thought that most of you guys are only comic fanboys/girls.
Interesting that you all come from other backgrounds and professions.
"Crime happens randomly, sporadically, and out of the public eye. Any criminal with a brain in his head isn't going to do a drug deal when a man in day-glo orange spandex is across the street trying to look inconspicuous."
I think the OP believed that most of you guys would never admit that.
Best of luck with the superheroing.
This is The Thick Repeater.
Thank you for your reply. It's interesting how realistic and modest the goals of RLSH's are, however the theatrics of the youtube videos suggested a more fantastical approach. I thought it was as Videotime said, fanboys thinking they were the next guardian angels - riding subway trains and tackling criminals head on, but Phantom you seem more sensible than that. It's like you're community support officers with panache. That's great, but as you can see from my post, it's hard to understand your message first time when confronted with a fully grown man in an outfit (espcially Thanatos), it is somewhat distracting. But if you're going to be anonymous - you may as well do it with flair. Good Luck Phantom, and maybe Keep us updated with future RLSH activity?
best.
TTR
Everyone likes to talk a big game, but when it comes down to brass tacks, pretending every night is Halloween so you can beat up career criminals is dumb.
People in the RLSH community either know that coming in, find out in short order, or are living on a level of self-delusion it's funny. (...and, good sirs, I've had quite the good chuckles in my year or so run as a RLSH).
Most people learn that the only way you can truly make a difference is by doing good deeds most citizens can do, adding in some theatrics garners public interest. A few RLSH have folded the local level celebrity they have into promoting events, like Zetman of Portland working to raise funds for PHLUSH Operation: Treehouse, which helps get toys for orphans during the holidays.
But, like I said, not all goals of RLSH are realistic or modest.
There is a small contingent of screwballs, wackos, and otherwise embarrassments. People who claim they want to be serious vigilantes, people who think they have powers or supernatural abilities of some kind, people who want glory, fame, or wealth from being a Real Life Superhero (...and I didn't say these people were smart).
I made up Phantom Zero so I could be anonymous with stuff I had around so I could learn more about the RLSH community. I was curious how they operated. I wanted to also learn if people in the community could actually teach me hot to do some good.
Hindsight is 20/20. Being a guy in a black mask and hood makes me look more like a villain than a hero. Hard assed, black wearing, skull faced heroes don't tend to do as well in the public arena as more archetypal heroes in bright colors, or patriotic heroes with star and stripe motifs--which is why I do things like book drops sans costume.
I use the RLSH identity to figure out what good guys and screwballs alike are up to.
Just as a note, Thanatos, while looking a great deal like a traditional Golden Age vigilante, has done a lot for charity, raising over $900 for Easter Seals. He's currently collecting bundles he plans on personally handing out to the homeless.
Find out about Real Life Superheroes at www.RealLifeSuperheroes.org
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