Spoilers "Superman & Lois" Season 2

[JD]

...which makes Lana an unnecessary liability not only to SM, but to his family. Again, there's no point in the hero revealing his identity to civilians, just as its dangerous for villains to learn those secrets. As it stands, Alt-Jonathan kidnapped Lana not because he happened to see her run into Clark on the street, but it was due to his knowing Alt-Lana's relationship to his own father, and simply used that information to exploit / lure SM into a trap.

Some of comic books' greatest stories involved the danger and sometimes lethal consequences of others knowing the hero's true identity, ever proving the point that being a superhero is not some club for the needy to feel they must know everything about another person (when its not their business). Further, the notion that the civilians can "prepare" for the dangers in the hero's life is patently absurd and incredibly unrealistic. They are regular people living regular lives. They are not on call / high alert in their lives and no rational mind would expect them to be. Moreover, they are not even on the level of non-super-powered fighters such as Dick Grayson or the Punisher--meaning they have no way to "prepare" for high level and/or super-powered threats.

There's absolutely nothing a civilian can do if for example Darkseid, the Green Goblin, Doctor Doom, Mister Freeze, the Mandarin or anyone else comes a-callin' for said civilian, which the comics have proven in the most tragically memorable ways.



Well observed. Real human being seem to know that there is a natural reason for separating parts of their lives (particularly if there's an element of risk involved) from the people they know in their private life, as there is always someone ready to exploit that knowledge, and for the superhero, his life is so dangerous--always threatened by the most relentless of foes--that they would not hesitate to harm someone known to be in his private life...which is exactly what happened to Lana in this latest episode of Superman and Lois.

Clark was badgered by his kids into giving in to their inexperienced "wisdom" and exposing himself to another. If competent writers were handling a plot of this kind, there would most certainly be a price to be paid for Clark being so thoughtless, and adding a new layer of danger to his family.

The thing that really just pisses me off to no end about secret identities is the heroes constantly having to lie to their loved one and sneak around. It just leads to a lot of stupid, annoying, pointless drama with everybody constantly getting pissed at them for not being around. That kind stuff always annoys me, even it it's not superhero related.
Once the people know, at least then can understand that they're literally off saving the city or world or whatever, and should hopefully be more understanding.
And really, as long as they're careful, and the bad guys aren't aware of their connection to the superhero, then I really don't see where they'd be in any more danger than they already were before they knew. The thing that really makes a difference if the villain knows, and if they know, then it doesn't really matter if the loved one knows.

 

[Jayson1]

The thing that really just pisses me off to no end about secret identities is the heroes constantly having to lie to their loved one and sneak around. It just leads to a lot of stupid, annoying, pointless drama with everybody constantly getting pissed at them for not being around. That kind stuff always annoys me, even it it's not superhero related.
Once the people know, at least then can understand that they're literally off saving the city or world or whatever, and should hopefully be more understanding.
And really, as long as they're careful, and the bad guys aren't aware of their connection to the superhero, then I really don't see where they'd be in any more danger than they already were before they knew. The thing that really makes a difference if the villain knows, and if they know, then it doesn't really matter if the loved one knows.

I agree that family should be clued in. IN fact even getting married to someone without letting them in on this kind of secret is dicey because that other person needs to know before they say yes. This of course is why it would be important the person your marrying is really your soulmate for lack of a better word.

Telling the kids I think also needs to be done but I think Clark and Lois were correct to at least wait until they were in high school. Their is more risk in letting a teenager know than a adult of course but you can't hide that secret forever with your own kids.

 

[JD]

To be clear though, I don't necessarily think everybody needs to know, I'm just talking about the people close to them, their close friends and family, the people who are going to be regularly impacted by their superhero lives. And if they're in a team, then their teammates definitely deserve to know.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

And really, as long as they're careful

That's a rather cavalier game for anyone to play with the lives of others--particularly those who have no right to that secret (like anyone outside of the family).

and the bad guys aren't aware of their connection to the superhero,

But that's a serious risk the superhero faces, and if he's loose-minded/weak-willed with his handling of the secret, villains can uncover the truth, or in the unfortunate event of he's tracked by a determined villain who learns the civilian ID.

The thing that really makes a difference if the villain knows, and if they know, then it doesn't really matter if the loved one knows.

...because they will simply be facing threats to their lives, and at that point, in Super-being-Land, no regular person will ever live day-to-day with some advantage or means to protect themselves against threats that can harm or kill a superhero.

 

[Anwar]

If Superman associates with those people as Superman, then he's still the one putting them in danger whether he tells them the truth or not. So this "My Secret ID protects them!" thing is a load of garbage.

It's just like how the Superman/Lois/Clark "triangle" was never romantic or sad, it was just creepy and manipulative.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Utter nonsense. The hero side usually has limited to no connection to those he or she is close to (for rather obvious reasons), so a villain is less likely to key in on a connection to exploit. However if the villain discovers the true ID and associations, those in his or her private life will be easy targets, hitting the hero at his most sensitive, personal level, as seen in superior stories from the comics.

 

[JD]

Sure, but those dangers exist just by being in the hero's life, so it doesn't really make a difference if they know, so at that point you might as well tell them, so they are at least aware of what is going on.

 

[Anwar]

Utter nonsense. The hero side usually has limited to no connection to those he or she is close to (for rather obvious reasons),

...No, plenty of times the hero associates with them in both identities. Superman is infamous for this.

However if the villain discovers the true ID and associations, those in his or her private life will be easy targets, hitting the hero at his most sensitive, personal level, as seen in superior stories from the comics.

If they KNEW their friends' enemies could come after them, they'd be better prepared to deal with such things, as opposed to their irresponsible friend not warning them ahead of time.

 

[theenglish]

One thing this show does really well is capture how it is to live with two teenage children. No matter how important and difficult things are, teens always seem to think their problems are bigger. The patience that both Lois and Clark show makes me envious.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

One thing this show does really well is capture how it is to live with two teenage children. No matter how important and difficult things are, teens always seem to think their problems are bigger. .

Ohh, that is so very true.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

If they KNEW their friends' enemies could come after them, they'd be better prepared to deal with such things, as opposed to their irresponsible friend not warning them ahead of time.

Regular people are never going to be "prepared" to deal with incoming, super-powered, or well-funded threats. Again, they are a regular people living regular lives, not existing in a constant state of being on-alert (or in hiding if the villain learns who they are). Once again, the superhero cannot protect them 24/7/365, nor does he or she have the means to prepare normal humans to face anything.

Hell, even a human (Irons) experienced with using a technologically advanced battle suit who consciously faced an above human-pay grade being (Bizarro) was severely injured--nearly killed, in fact, all going to prove that no civilian is 1) ever going to be prepared to face super-powered villains. 2) is not going to have the resources to walk around in a suit of armor, nor would they have the desire to upend their normal human lives from their normal human perspective about said lives to do so, and 3) if the threat is of a certain magnitude, the civilian may end up in critical condition or (as seen in comics) dead.

 

[Anwar]

Regular people are never going to be "prepared" to deal with incoming, super-powered, or well-funded threats.

It's still better than the irresponsible way Superman puts a target on them by associating with them in both identities.

Hell, even a human (Irons) experienced with using a technologically advanced battle suit who consciously faced an above human-pay grade being (Bizarro) was severely injured--nearly killed, in fact, all going to prove that no civilian is 1) ever going to be prepared to face super-powered villains. 2) is not going to have the resources to walk around in a suit of armor, nor would they have the desire to upend their normal human lives from their normal human perspective about said lives to do so, and 3) if the threat is of a certain magnitude, the civilian may end up in critical condition or (as seen in comics) dead.

And because he knew about those kinds of threats that would come for him he still had that suit and defenses that kept him from being 100% dead.

 

[JD]

Yeah, and just in general, it's always better to know about any kind of danger, even if it's not something you able to deal with yourself.
At least then they would be aware that villains have a potential reason to come after them, and can be ready for them if they show up.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

At least then they would be aware that villains have a potential reason to come after them, and can be ready for them if they show up.

It's still better than the irresponsible way Superman puts a target on them by associating with them in both identities.

There is no "better" with the ridiculous notion that regular people will ever be "prepared" to deal with super-powered threats.

And because he knew about those kinds of threats that would come for him he still had that suit and defenses that kept him from being 100% dead.

He nearly died because he was a regular human ill-"prepared" for super-threats. The point being if Irons nearly lost his life while wearing his armor, unprotected, untrained people going about their lives are sitting ducks, and will never be "prepared" to face super-powered villains. Most of the people Clark knows (with the exception of Jordan) could not survive a fight with a well-trained human on the level of the Punisher.

 

[Anwar]

There is no "better" with the ridiculous notion that regular people will ever be "prepared" to deal with super-powered threats.

They will, compared to not knowing to prepare at all.

He nearly died because he was a regular human ill-"prepared" for super-threats.

And because he knew of those threats, he took proper precautions so he wasn't certainly dead.

The point being if Irons nearly lost his life while wearing his armor, unprotected, untrained people going about their lives are sitting ducks,

Which is why if they knew, they'd be able to take proper defensive precautions like Irons did and thus go from 100% dead to less than 100%. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

Most of the people Clark knows (with the exception of Jordan) could not survive a fight with a well-trained human on the level of the Punisher.

If they knew the Punisher could potentially come for them, they'd be able to prepare better or seek protection.

"I keep it a secret to protect others" is outdated and bunk, has been for decades. It's right up there with the Clark/Superman/Lois triangle in how outdated it is.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

They will, compared to not knowing to prepare at all.

Which is why if they knew, they'd be able to take proper defensive precautions like Irons did and thus go from 100% dead to less than 100%. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

There is no "preparation" for regular humans against super-human threats. None, and none of the advocates of that childish "no secretssss!": idea have posted a single way ordinary people living ordinary lives would be "prepared" for super-threats. The reason is clear.

And because he knew of those threats, he took proper precautions so he wasn't certainly dead.

He was in critical condition and suffered brain damage (hence his thinking his wife was still alive). That is no bargain, but someone who was not "prepared" for a threat of that magnitude.

If they knew the Punisher could potentially come for them, they'd be able to prepare better or seek protection.

Master killer vs. Jane and John Average. Another notch on master killer's belt.

Oh,and about that "seek protection" business, as I noted upthread, they would have to upend their normal lives to avoid threats they were never exposed to / brought into situations out of their league, all for the rattled notion that every superhero has to have a clubhouse full of his pals, obvious threats to their fragile human lives be damned. Mmm-kay.

 

[Anwar]

There is no "preparation" for regular humans against super-human threats. None

Irons says otherwise. As does General Lane.

He was in critical condition and suffered brain damage (hence his thinking his wife was still alive). That is no bargain, but someone who was not "prepared" for a threat of that magnitude.

He was more prepared than any unarmed human would've been, who all would've certainly died.

Master killer vs. Jane and John Average. Another notch on master killer's belt.

Unless they sought/had proper protection from proper authorities.

Oh,and about that "seek protection" business, as I noted upthread, they would have to upend their normal lives to avoid threats

Which makes sense, because having a life where a Superhero is present would be the end of a normal life.

 

[JD]

Even if a normal person can't necessarily defend themselves the way a person with powers would, it's still better for them to be aware of what kind of threat they might under. I know I would want to if I was in that kind of situation.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Even if a normal person can't necessarily defend themselves the way a person with powers would, it's still better for them to be aware of what kind of threat they might under. I know I would want to if I was in that kind of situation.

Yes, because knowing the nuclear missile is about to strike 5 feet away from you in less than a minute is better than not knowing..

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Irons says otherwise. As does General Lane.

Shifting the argument. Lane works for the D.O.D. which has a program to develop anti-Superman weapons and has Kryptonite at its disposal. The average person does not, and has no other realistic means of protecting themselves. You just shot your own point in the foot.

He was more prepared than any unarmed human would've been, who all would've certainly died.

Again, critical condition and brain trauma. Not a welcome bargain. He was out of his league and nearly paid the ultimate price for it. If that happened to a guy in an advanced suit, civilians facing off with a motivated super-villain--by all reasonable, realistic points--would be as good as dead.

Which makes sense, because having a life where a Superhero is present would be the end of a normal life.

Superhero life is not some high school club. Real people have real lives and responsibilities, which do not include tossing their real life aside to do what, exactly? Forced to live on alert because their friend / spouse / relative is an irresponsible "hero" who consciously placed them in danger? Nope. No one would give up the entirety of their real lives--their only life--to play sidekick / clubhouse member to someone else.

Moreover, a superhero is not a civilian's personal guard, and he or she is not going to be doing much "superhero-ing" if they're constantly shadowing / chasing after select, threatened civilians to protect.