Depends on the person possessing the powers, really. Those who would tend toward the classic superhero concept usually also tend to believe that most people with powers would do what they would. On the flipside, most people who would use their powers to abuse and subjugate others seem to believe that everyone else would be just like that, given the opportunity.
As I noted in another conversation earlier, there's a certain film producer popular with a near-fanatical crowd who's made some supers movies. And he doesn't seem to believe in superheroes - his credo appears to be, "With great power comes great bullying." The Seven is based on a similar concept. On the other hand, there was the Real movement a few years back, in which the guys dressing up in funny costumes and running around at night were actually trying to do good for others. (Part of the reason it fell apart, aside from fairly obvious legal questions, was the disagreement in the community about what exactly they were supposed to be doing. One faction, represented publicly by Portland's Zetaman and Phoenix's Citizen Prime, would go around in costume helping the homeless with things like food and filling out forms; they were extremely critical of more activist Reals like Seattle's Phoenix Jones and his group, who sought to combat low-level crime in areas that had inadequate police coverage.)
(OTOH, Jones' group did give us a wonderful tweet from the Seattle PD during the May Day protests a few years back. A group of violent anarchists had chosen to wear clown costumes that year, and the PD was called to break up "a fight in progress between superheroes and clowns." They also managed to get the PD to change the emphasis areas of their patrols, so places like Capitol Hill and Rainier Beach are a little less scary at night than they were - still not exactly recommended for moonlight strolls, but the body count is back down to the single digits annually.)
"Science teaches us to expect -- demand -- more than just eerie mysteries. What use is a puzzle that can't be solved? Patience is fine, but I'm not going to stop asking the universe to make sense!"
I mean honestly, things don't get real until some hyperactive teenage girl obsessed with anime gets super powers. When she's on main street replicating the satsui no hado in response to a fairly mundane mugging, that's when the real implications of super powers hits you.
Ryu from Street Fighter has this dark evil energy in him and whenever he gets mad or panics it makes him go into like Rage Mode and he's like stupidly strong but also loses control and tends to kill whoever he's fighting. It lets you do stuff like this:
"I can do whatever the f..k I want" is pretty much the motto of every supervillain. If these Seven actually have that attitude, they're running a con on the general populace, like corrupt politicians or businessmen who maintain a respectable image. Whether their power is financial, political, or paranormal, they believe it insulates them from censure. Corrupt supers who had their facade exposed would face whatever level of force society needed to bring them in line, up to full military. The only supers who could laugh at consequences are those truly immune to that force, i.e. at Superman's level.
But in most superhero settings there are actual superheroes who believe in the rule of law and using their powers responsibly, who keep the villains in check. That's one of the things so appealing about them, the example that you can be strong and still be good, that power doesn't have to corrupt.
It's like really bad fanfiction, but...somehow an official product.
That describes it pretty much. Frank West, the main character of Dead Rising who is just some reporter, is involved in major aspects of the story and fights enemies who should just smush him like a bug, beside other characters like Thor.
Which, sadly, is very unfortunate in today's society. Who would be there to protect them from those who abuse their power for whatever reason they have? Who will risk their lives protecting the weak from the strong? Is this why many superhero teams fight supercrime in the first place?
Which, sadly, is very unfortunate in today's society. Who would be there to protect them from those who abuse their power for whatever reason they have? Who will risk their lives protecting the weak from the strong? Is this why many superhero teams fight supercrime in the first place?
That's easy, you just write a story where the hero comes back from the dead.
Here in the real world, there actually are quite a few people who, given superhuman powers, would indeed use them to defend those unable to defend themselves from aggressors. (See the Real movement for examples; none of them have superpowers, of course, but neither does anyone else.) It's just that people who find themselves tempted by ultimate power don't seem to understand the altruistic mindset, and can't believe that not everyone would use their power to take over the world.
"Science teaches us to expect -- demand -- more than just eerie mysteries. What use is a puzzle that can't be solved? Patience is fine, but I'm not going to stop asking the universe to make sense!"
Bla, bla, bla.. 20k posts... Bla, bla, bla - hot air and autism.
Blah blah blah... 183 posts... blah blah blah - no air and bigotry.
"Science teaches us to expect -- demand -- more than just eerie mysteries. What use is a puzzle that can't be solved? Patience is fine, but I'm not going to stop asking the universe to make sense!"
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My super cool CC build and how to use it.
As I noted in another conversation earlier, there's a certain film producer popular with a near-fanatical crowd who's made some supers movies. And he doesn't seem to believe in superheroes - his credo appears to be, "With great power comes great bullying." The Seven is based on a similar concept. On the other hand, there was the Real movement a few years back, in which the guys dressing up in funny costumes and running around at night were actually trying to do good for others. (Part of the reason it fell apart, aside from fairly obvious legal questions, was the disagreement in the community about what exactly they were supposed to be doing. One faction, represented publicly by Portland's Zetaman and Phoenix's Citizen Prime, would go around in costume helping the homeless with things like food and filling out forms; they were extremely critical of more activist Reals like Seattle's Phoenix Jones and his group, who sought to combat low-level crime in areas that had inadequate police coverage.)
(OTOH, Jones' group did give us a wonderful tweet from the Seattle PD during the May Day protests a few years back. A group of violent anarchists had chosen to wear clown costumes that year, and the PD was called to break up "a fight in progress between superheroes and clowns." They also managed to get the PD to change the emphasis areas of their patrols, so places like Capitol Hill and Rainier Beach are a little less scary at night than they were - still not exactly recommended for moonlight strolls, but the body count is back down to the single digits annually.)
- David Brin, "Those Eyes"
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My super cool CC build and how to use it.
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iCei659yp4
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Ryu from Street Fighter has this dark evil energy in him and whenever he gets mad or panics it makes him go into like Rage Mode and he's like stupidly strong but also loses control and tends to kill whoever he's fighting. It lets you do stuff like this:
https://youtu.be/MtCdQtbHJiY
In Marvel vs Capcom Infinite, Thanos steals it from Ryu and uses it to try to destroy Death.
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
There it is, the stupidest thing I'll read.
It's pretty dumb, but also pretty cool
https://youtu.be/dIFjlBu3RU0
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
Doctor Manhattan all the way.
Whoever you are, be that person one hundred percent. Don't compromise on your identity.
But in most superhero settings there are actual superheroes who believe in the rule of law and using their powers responsibly, who keep the villains in check. That's one of the things so appealing about them, the example that you can be strong and still be good, that power doesn't have to corrupt.
Wow that was like...super dorky. It's like really bad fanfiction, but...somehow an official product. Nice.
Edit: Not gonna lie, I was watching for Sonic to make an appearance somewhere.
That describes it pretty much. Frank West, the main character of Dead Rising who is just some reporter, is involved in major aspects of the story and fights enemies who should just smush him like a bug, beside other characters like Thor.
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
That's easy, you just write a story where the hero comes back from the dead.
My super cool CC build and how to use it.
- David Brin, "Those Eyes"
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My super cool CC build and how to use it.
Blah blah blah... 183 posts... blah blah blah - no air and bigotry.
- David Brin, "Those Eyes"
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