RLSH - Advice on the Darkness

[blackmage]

I am in a dilemma. There is this RLSH who calls himself ShadowFang Blackwolf. We've communicated a few times and had some GREAT back-and-forths on the old forum located on the old RLSH site.

He communicates in a poetic manner with a military undertone which is right up my alley. I am speculating, but from the sounds of some of the things he's written, I would dare to say that he was a Recon Marine or VERY familiar with them making him possibly a grunt, intel, or something like that. The point is...

I LIKE him. I think he's cool.

I received an email from him a while ago and went to his website to look over some of his gadgets, his costume, and went to some of the links he sent me of 'field-missions' he's carried out along with the video.

This is where I'm mixed.

First of all, his costume is INCREDIBLY scary to those encountering him at night!! It is ALL black with a wicked dog face and this complex, blacklit mechanical arm piece gadget he created.

It is ABSOLUTELY terrifying to the ninth dergee! Another thing is that he sound more like an anti-hero at the most, but realistically like a vigilante based on some of the things he's written and claimed to have done. This alone doesn't help the dark dog look.

Please note, that I am speculating and I have NO true proof of his actions, so I can be... and hopefully, I am completely wrong!

I won't share all of the links that were in the email, but I will share the main public one with his video so that you can get an idea of what I am talking about.

Link: www.myspace.com/shadowfangblackwolf/videos

My question is when does one cross the line as a RLSH? In some states video recording can be done in public areas or areas in which it is obviously assumed that there is no privacy. Privately owned locations or closed in locations can be video taped and monitored by the owner, but the laws are more strict with the recording of sound.

Not to mention that these must be a posted warning whenever recording/monitoring is performed on the premises.Recordings illegally taken are not only inadmissible in court, but can come with consequences.

How does this impact the RLSH community?

What about the scary dark costume (its a shame that we keep encountering this)?

Does the RLSH community police its own?

What is the communities stance on Anti-heroes and Vigilantes?
Do you consider them criminals to be stopped?

Do you actively investigate those openly admitting that they ARE a Vigilante or Anti-hero?

I REALLY - REALLY like ShadowFang Blackwolf, but I do not approve of some of the drastic steps that he's taken all in the name of being a Real Life Superhero.

Once again, his action may not be true at all and nothing can truly link him to any of his video recordings... without serious investigation, BUT this brings us full circle back to the original complaint of the police in reference to RLSHs waaaaay back when I was interviewed about them either being a help or a menace...

That is the issue of ACCOUNTABILITY and RESPONSIBILTY. The mask and costume is power. It allows one to escape Accountability, which weakens their need for Responsibility.

This is why I wrote about this in my other post which compared the Hero -v- the Antihero -v - the Vigilante.

Where is the line drawn at?

-Blackmage

[John Reid]

I can only speak for myself. First there really is no such thing as the rlsh community. There is only a loose affiliation of heroes, anti-heroes and vigilantes. Each of us started our careers for reasons of our own and each of us have our own motives, methods and code of honor.

What Phoenix Jones does effects only Phoenix Jones as far as I am concerned. What Shadowfang Blackwolf does effects him alone.

This is because the general public, on the whole is still completely unaware of us at all. PJ is the most famous one but people who saw him on Taboo for instance are unaware of Shadowfang Blackwolf.

If, God forbid, SFBW got arrested tomorrow it would have no effect on Phoenix Jones or me for that matter.

Where is the line drawn? How far should a vigilante go? As far as he is willing to take the risk to accomplish his goals. A good example of this would be James Phillips aka the Fox who many consider the first rlsh from the 70's.

He was an environmental terrorist who capped smoke stacks, dumped gallons of sludge in the lobby of the company polluting the river. Held a mock funeral for the river and so on. Everything he did was patently illegal even then. Yet he is hailed as an urban legend and a hero.

SFBW is aware that his costume is frightening. He is aware of the recent arrests of rlsh's like the Beast, and the others last year. He is aware but he is willing to take the chance on losing his freedom because what he does is important to him. He is fighting a battle and following his own code of morality.

In fiction, Zorro was a vigilante who ran through many a soldier when he was opposing the tyranical Spanish government. The futuristic V in V for Vendetta fought a lone war against the facist British government and murdered many of his foes in cold blood.

Do the rlsh community police their own? No. That's the job of the police if a vigilante goes too far. All we can do is advice him.

Do we investigate those openly admitting they are vigilantes? No. They are usually asked to leave the forum because talking about illegal activities on an open forum can invite trouble from the authorities, but that's about the extent of our power. Besides about 99% of the community are anti-heroes, not heroes.

You should have seen the hoopla that ensued when I recently posted a thread on rlsh.net about Morality. That went over like a lead balloon.

Knight-Hood

[blackmage]

What would happen if the veterans all organized and launched a campaign within the so-called 'RLSH Community' to get them to clean up their act and to be more clear as to who and what they represent?

Would they listen?

Is it that the Antihero and Vigilante idea is too hard to resist?

It sounds like they are becoming the enemies that they hate. Think about it... These guys... i.e. 'kids' are basically REVERSE BULLIES!! They strive to make the darkest and scariest outfit in hopes of creating fear, then proudly go out and do patrols as they scare the public to death.

For them, the fear is power and it is addictive!

They've never felt it like this before and find themselves wanting more... my question is, WHAT IN THE HELL DO THEY THINK GOES ON WITH A BULLY?!?

Look at the 'classic' bullies in real life and comics, they often make them big, charismatic, jocks, etc. Once they experience the power and respect derived from fear, they're sold hook, line, and sinker into becoming the cliche bully.

What are these guys doing?

I just saw the video of the RLSH on YouTube introducing himself out of Cali in what looks like his mother's bedroom. He had a gigantic white skull mask and wore a purple shirt. He sounded like a teenager... like a kid. He claimed that he patrolled, I guess with the Extreme Justice League or something, but the point was, this guy patrols at night with a skullmask on! WTF?!?

Ethics and morality have taken a backseat to butt-kicking, armor, weapons, and gadgets. For many of these kids... this is about revenge and the feeling of power. Being able to make a difference for them is something personal. Its more about being able to feel different about themselves by creating fear.

Guidance is NEEDED so very - very bad right now.

-Blackmage

[John Reid]

You are correct. Most rlsh's are teens or early 20 somethings. Their idea of being a rlsh is based primarily on the film "Kick Ass" and that is their credo. They all with very few exceptions gravitate toward the Batman, Wolverine, Punisher role model, becoming anti-heroes or out and out vigilantes.

Like most youngsters they have no interest in hearing any advice an old coot like myself can give them.

It has been my experience this past year while talking with newbies, wannabe's and veterans that few rlsh's get along very well. They argue on the forums constantly about every single subject and some have excommunicated each other as in the case of Phoenix Jones and Urban Avenger for instance.

I wish you could read the thread I started on Morality on rlsh.net. I dared to suggest that if they seek to pattern themselves after their comic book counterparts that they should conduct themselves in and out of costume as their counterparts do. I mentioned that growing up my father was always on the road and so my fictional friends Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Peter Parker, etc., became my role models. They never cursed, smoked, drank alcohol, did drugs or engaged in pornography and so neither did I. I suggested that they will be the role models of tomorrow's youth and therefore should also give up all of these things.

My goodness! You'd think that I spit in their dinner or something. A huge arguement broke out mostly over giving up porn and that degenerated into an arguement whether or not it was harmful or not.

They couldn't agree on whether or not we were anyone's role models, nor even on such basic topics as altruism or even such basic things as right and wrong. I heard "Selfishness was a virtue" among many other amazing statements.

I can't repeat the whole topic here. It's under rlsh discussions on rlsh.net. I think you might be able to access it.

Luckily I am now able to get back on the forum at rlsh.org and speak with the very young and newbies. They seem more receptive to my advice there.

Knight-Hood

[blackmage]

Where's you post on RLSH.NET? I went through it and couldn't locate it. By the way, I saw your 'Ninja-Robber' post and some of the comments recvd from other heroes.

That site is WAY TOO big. Those guys on there are fearless and rowdy. I think you are fighting a TOUGH battle by trying to introduce morals, ethics, and altruism into that group.

I read some of their responses on other posts and they are savage!! I would be afraid to post on there, especially something about honor, goodness, and improvement.

I salute you guys.

[ark]

I was once in a sense the kind of guy who not only watched my own actions but at timed others who don the title of rlsh, but through conversation's with knight hood I had to learn that I am not in the position to do so mind you it was a very hard personal choice but surprisingly enough here in Toronto I realized this year that there are a lot of local rlsh who want to learn and understand the boarders I continuously keep myself in so to speak I me, each of as knight hood has mentioned are very well aware of what we do and how we do things there will be and always have been rlsh who dress very much so to scare people while other do not the thing about us is that there is no true one suit will be recognize by all its more so dress how ever you want to be perceived as from the spectators watching and the people your actually interacting with

Its strange I know to think hey basically I'm going to dress with this mask that will make me look scary and add some spikes here and there and I will be scary and intimidating

I am still young as a rlsh but I find it now a days most of the new ones are starting to look like they are all commenting on how they look like something you'd see from comic con but this is my personal thoughts and may absolutely be wrong but its just something I recently been noticing.

[John Reid]

Hey it's Ark! Good to hear from you. I would like to add that I have had nothing but pleasant experiences when dealing witn Canadian rlsh's. You, Crimson Cannuck, Black Hat, Thanatos are all terrific and a credit to the movement.

Makes me want to move to Canada.

Knight-Hood

[John Reid]

Ok Blackmage. Go to rlsh.net. Then scroll down to "rlsh discussions" and it's about the 4th topic down the list titled "Morality". The first topic is from someone asking me if I was the Night Rider who wrote "How to be a Superhero?"

Knight-Hood

[superman]

Greetings Gents,

I’ve been at this a good long while myself and have had several discussions with Knight Hood about this and other things in the RLSH community. But rather than just say how bad a lot of it seems to get I prefer to also come up with workable solutions that can be implemented. So in no particular order of precedence here is what I have come up with.

Problem... A lot of folks taking the label RLSH seem to have no idea of what it is actually all about. Lots confuse it with RPG and COS players. Many who get into it use it as a way of going from perceived wimps to being bullies. There doesn’t seem to be any 1 set of standards of what actually makes a Super Hero. Also when you consider that many have secret identities and the RLSH movement (whatever that really means) is largely an Internet phenomena there is no real way to enforce any rules you come up with. It’s not like you can reach through the USB port and slap those who get out of line.

Why I think it is that way... Now to be fair the Heroes that Knight Hood and I grew up with are kind of “Old School” compared to those in a lot of comic books out these days. They new generation gets their inspiration from the same source we did. Comic Books. But that source has changed considerably from when I was a kid. Every comic book used to carry the comic book seal of authority. To get that seal you had to adhere to a set list of standards. I suggest folks Google that to get the official set of standards. For some reason that seal isn’t used any longer. It was a visual reminder of the self-regulation set in place after Dr. Wertham’s book “Seduction of the Innocent “came out.

Proposed solutions... One thing we need to do is provide a common reference to classic comic books like Knight Hood and I came up with. It may well be that they would inspire the new folks coming up now the same way they inspired us. Show them you can be a Super Hero, kick bad guy bootie and still have a decent moral code. To that end I have created a site unrealitylab.dtdns.net/ where among other things they can access read and if they want to download archived copies of those comic books. Now while we can’t force newbies to comply, we can come up with a set of recommended standards for heroes to follow. Maybe using the comics codes seal of authority emblem as our symbol. Those who adhere to that set of standards would be awarded that seal. The seal it’s self would actually be a banner, which in turn links to a site where the standards are written down along with a updated listing of all heroes who adhere to them. This would prevent those who didn’t qualify from using the symbol. A sort of RLSH good housekeeping seal of approval that they could then use on their sites and my space pages once they were awarded it. When is the last time you saw an ad for any product that didn’t have the good housekeeping seal of approval on it somewhere. Once this took off it would be a default requirement for any RLSH 5that wanted credibility. There also would be a place on the site where folks could complain about heroes that had the symbol but were not adhering to the standards. If found to be true said hero would be removed from the site. A locked down yahoo group site would be used as a companion site - re-mailer for those who were recruited as judges. That would be the address folks would use when writing to the main site. I figure I can recruit Knight Hood for this along with whomever else wants to help out. As I happen to own a very secure server space for the site and the HTML skills to make it will not be a problem. If you want to check out my credentials I suggest you visit my unreality lab site unrealitylab.dtdns.net/ as an example of my work. These are my suggested solutions to the stated problems.

Superman

[superman]

Well I have been looking into this and giving it a great deal of thought as similar posts have come up on other boards. Much can go as we have so far planned for it to go. But ather than make this an official part of hero links I think on reflection that it should have its own site and emblem to avoid confusion with the rest of what goes on the hero links site. As we supposedly take our inspiration from comic books why not use or at least adapt an emblem that used to be a standard of quality on all comic books. The comic book code seal of authority. It came about as a way comic books could regulate themselves before someone else came along and forced regulations on them. Seems to me that this is the situation that the RLSH community finds its self in now. So it’s kind of a poetic fit isn’t it. The 1st illustration shows the code emblem as it is subject to a redesign by whom ever is so inclined. skydrive.live.com/?cid=167ce7e78bc60c28&id=167CE7E78BC60C28%21509&sff=1. The second link skydrive.live.com/view.aspx?resid=167CE7E78BC60C28!510 is the official code behind the seal. Basically what standards had to be adhered to, to receive it. I list them here for those who don’t know or cant remember them so everyone can be working from the same set and as a starting point / template for what rules we come up with for RLSH.s. They can be adapted in much the same way we adapt the CCA symbol. So here you go gang as usual I await your comments.

Superman

[John Reid]

It sounds like a great idea to me. I do find it endlessly fascinating how life keeps imitating art.

Here are some interesting coincidences I have noticed.

1. In fiction Superman was the first costumed superhero, but he had a few masked mystery men who were his precursors. The most popular one on film would be Zorro.

2. In real life you began your career as a costumed do gooder way back in 1972, which makes you the earliest costumed rlsh that I know of and you adopted the personna of Superman.

3. However way back in the 1960's the first activist to have a secret identity was James Phillips aka the Fox which if translated to Spanish would be El Zorro.

4.The earliest two heroes on tv were Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and George Reeves as Superman.

5. Like you I too predate the modern rlsh by quite some years having begun in 1989. While George Reeves Superman was your role model, Clayton Moore's Lone Ranger was mine.

6. In DC comics the first superheroes were the Justice Society whose hayday was during WWII. They pre-dated the more modern Justice League and lived in a parallel universe. The two groups finally met and found they had little in common. Even the two Supermen of earth one and two did not see eye to eye because they had different concepts of right and wrong. The Superman of JSA's earth two seemed out of touch and old fashioned in his thinking to the younger Superman of the JLA's earth one. The same friction occurred between the two Flashes and Two Green Lanterns.

Now in real life you and I could be compared to the old guard of the JSA while the modern rlsh's seem more like the modern JLA. They don't understand many of the principals that we hold dear.

Just my 2 cents
Knight-Hood

[John Reid]

Another weird parallel is that in comics whenever the heroes finally meet they never seem to get along. They constantly argue and bicker amongst themselves. In real life the very same thing occurs