When you look at things from several different angles things always look off balanced. The Alter ego in the RLSH world is a fascinating subject.. one of mystery and awe.
In the fantasy and reality world of heroes, the alter ego is the insignificant side of a loosing coin. Who would rather be Erotica Jones when they could be Stripperella? Ok that might have been a bad example.. who would rather be Clark Kent over his alter ego Super Man?
The RLSH in persona is a powerful tool used to what ever desire and whims the operator wishes. In taking part in a charity event to bring attention to the cause. In fighting crime to make an impact in those that do wrong. When making statements to represent themselves and what ever organizations they belong to in an appropriate and respectful manner.
If a RLSH makes an impact at any level, and continues to do so, it is only a matter of time before they are communally recognized and their public identity will become known. It seems the majority of "unmasked" RLSH members have already gone that route and are doing very well.
It again comes down to representation. What should be and should not be believed when reading an online real life super hero tale? Did Zetaman march for the Walk of Dimes? Does Master Legend go out and battle drug dealers? I am not sure what is real and what is comic book pretend... oh wait Zetaman uses his real name and is unmasked I can look that up.
Another fine example would be the back story or "origin" as it is used in the lingo. When you read the back story of Dragon Heart you can very much tell this is a fun and fantasy tale of a person that has created a hero persona. Then when you look at Master Legends beginnings of.. death at birth, parental abuse, voodoo magic, more parental abuse, human fly comic books, crack head beat down's, dead sidekicks, bottled water being handed out, crack head beat down's, giving blood, mental death thought's to Italy, holiday toy drive, perceptions of being an Arch Angel.. ect.
I think I can pick out what is real and what is pretend but gosh darn it.. I just do not know.
The blur between reality and fantasy is a difficult one. But our branch is not the only one. Where does American fantasy end and global reality begin? Everyday, we go through our lives accepting certain fantasies as reality. Some of us choose to draw attention to this via masks and capes.
ReplyDeleteIn the ultimate scheme of things, my "alter-ego" does not matter. Mr. Jack is the person I want to be,and that fantasy is beginning to become reality. But the real issue is when did I end and this mask begin? The real issue is, was this actually the other way around. Have I been wearing the mask the entire time, and am I just now taking it off to see?
Perception is tricky, but look long and hard enough and the truth begins to filter through the haze of other's opinions and fantasies. Dedicate yourself to this, and you may one day wake up and realize where the strings to your own mask you have been wearing are.
Poop Knife,
ReplyDeleteAnother thoughtful and provocative post. Unmasking would seem to be the adult form, while the mask the chrysalis form.
-Lord Malignance
(Also wears a mask: Hipocrisy On Display)
I think the difference between us and them is that we create our backstories to entertain others. Even Overlord's minimalist narrative of embracing her inner supervillain paints a candid surrealist picture that consciously appeals to millennial culture.
ReplyDeleteWe're entertainers and we know it.
For Capes, a backstory becomes a therapeutic exercise. Here they can express how they feel their lives *should* have gone to a circle of peers who will accept the narrative at face value. They have been so coddled in their online enclaves that they have lost perspective about what is plausible and what is not.
Worse still, they've forgotten what is interesting and what is not. It's a blind rehashing of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth and no one seems to question the unironic tropes that plague these stories.
Naturally, this excludes Capes who shrug and say "I saw bad things happening and I didn't like what I saw... so I wear funny clothes." The logic is a little fuzzy, but it's nothing that will get them institutionalized.
I think I'll give Captain Ozone a free pass too, since his backstory at least provides a tangible reason for his gimmick, and it's more entertaining than "I fought the forces of evil and realized that I must wear funny clothes if I am to continue to serve humanity".
When my ex left me and took our children with her, I had to cope with a giant hole in my heart brought on by their absence. The Silver Sentinel was a character I had created for a short story I had written for my daughter. She loved the story so much she wanted me to continue writing the never ending "Tales of the Silver Sentinel". It was something I had created to be close to her.
ReplyDeleteSo late one night, all alone, missing my children, and feeling completely powerless to change my fate, I came to the following realization, which soon became my solemn oath. "I was a hero for my children. Now it's time for me to be a hero for myself and for others."
see now that is believable, more should be like you, lose the masks, and embrace who you are, and what you are trying to accomplish if it is truly for good.
ReplyDeleteVirus
Beryllium!! You Cerebral She-Devil - that was beautiful! One is truly impressed.
ReplyDeleteSilver Sentinel,
you never fail to inspire, and for the reason you site, Villainy may never be able to dissuade you. But knowing this, and challenged to recall this reason, reinforcing your commitment - doesn't that make you try harder? A tempered blade being more resiliant than one untempered?
Virus,
Maybe there is a symbolic reasons for the masks, and that there may be a process that heroes go through? Though the identities remain, the vigilante leaves with the mask. Hmmm...
-Lord Malignance
The Soupy Sales of Evil
(Though not entirely entertainment - there IS a sinister purpose, and the entertainment is merely vector for my will)
Good things come from adults who indulge childrens' demand for substantive stories. Lewis Carrol and JRR Tolkien knew this, and so do you, Silver Sentinel.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteKrampus, you wrote a very wonderful blog about internet lawns not that long ago. I welcome anyone who wishes to contribute, but please stay within the topic of the conversation.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWhoah, whoah, whoah... back up just a moment. What are we being accused of THIS time, Jack?
ReplyDeleteYou are not being accused of anything. In point of fact you are being warned that you may be accused of doing something.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you are wondering why I deleted my post, it is because it was partially inflammatory, and it is also not my place to say what happened. But I suggest you double check who has been doing things in the name of ROACH, because if it is any actual ROACH members then you guys are going to be having problems.
This is the issue with ideas and masks. They can be used by people with no affiliation to them to do bad things. Anonymity is a dangerous tool, and when you use it to attack and degrade others it is wrong. Anonymity and alter egos can be used, but not if they are for malevolent purposes.
Apologies if I may have seemed to vicious, Miss Beryllium.
I think I know of the incident you are speaking of Mr. Jack and I am not surprised in the least. I also agree with you on other points you made and I'll leave it at that.
ReplyDeleteFor those who have not seen:
ReplyDeletehttp://reallifesuperheroes.org/archives/3855
For those who care what I think on the matter (like that is anyone, ha):
http://maskedmusings.blogspot.com/2010/05/escalation_31.html
I think some of you have outgrown R.O.A.C.H. Your evil genius is being stifled. I propose that you brave souls forge a new, more powerful, villainous organization.. with only a select membership.
ReplyDeleteI mean really, it works for the "Evil League of Evil"!!! Might I further suggest Comrade Cocoa stand in as Chairmen of Evil until you can hold elections / assassinations?
I think you're onto something, Jack. Hero-Villain relations have never been better, and now someone's slashed Zetaman's tires and plants ROACH propaganda at the scene... and now we're all being asked to choose sides in some all-out war!
ReplyDeleteAnd FYI, Silver Sentinel: there's only four of us who are active who are actually in ROACH: The Potentate, The Aluminum Chef, Fatal Phyllo (on haitus) and myself.
Lord Malignance, Poopknife, Malvado? Not ROACHes, never applied to be ROACHes, and they like it that way.
Lumping us all together like some people do, it really creates an illusion that ROACH is ultimately responsible for statements that, frankly, we're not uncomfortable with. We think that unmasking heroes is a dick move. Criticizing heroes takes a back seat to creative storytelling. We're goofballs who recycle villain tropes. At worst we're harmless jerks (and we've been trying to soften that up too).
The attacker picked not one but TWO low-hanging fruits: Zetaman with his public identity and ROACH.
I hope they catch this scumbag and I hope he gets burned big time, villain or hero (and we *have* noticed that in the past when a hero has gotten DDoS'd and other malicious acts, it's been a rival hero who's behind the mess, even though they blame ROACH first. Kind of a suspicious trend.)
http://joinroach.blogspot.com/2010/06/roach-i-am-dissapoint.html
ReplyDeleteThis was well put, and should put an end to much arguing from others.