Superman

[Guy Gardener]

Come to think of it, in the first film it's not as if Superman did any particularly inspiring things, except for a few speeches here and there. He "limits" himself to acting like a super-cop/super-fireman, more concerned with maintaining the status quo than truly improving the lives of humanity.

Jor-El said that his boy is not allowed to alter the course of human history, and that might not just mean Time Travel.

Something happened to the Fortress between movie 2 and 3 or 2 and 4.

If the Fortress was still telling him what to do, they would not have let him start hundreds of conventional wars, the moment all their nukes were tossed into the sun.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Come to think of it, in the first film it's not as if Superman did any particularly inspiring things, except for a few speeches here and there. He "limits" himself to acting like a super-cop/super-fireman, more concerned with maintaining the status quo than truly improving the lives of humanity.

He'd had it drilled into himself not to interfere, but to inspire others, by his training in the Fortress of Solitude.

He was spurred into action when Lois was in danger, first with the mugging and then with the helicopter, which afterwards led to his first night out fixing things here and there, mainly things that the authorities couldn't handle on their own. Then, it was Lex who trapped him using the made-up threat about nerve gas, which led to him taking on the nuclear missiles and saving people from the aftermath, again things that people couldn't handle without him. Mostly, whenever he upped his game, it was because Lois needed saving.

 

[theenglish]

You have a point

Indeed, the saddest thing is that for the period the scene is absolutely normal and plausible.

I was pretty close to the age of that girl. Not only was it plausible, it really wasn't even something that raised an eyebrow. It was a gag, but not a LOL gag. Remember that corporal punishment was still allowed in schools--the principal was allowed to "strap" students in our school and we were all scared and told stories about it. I don't remember ever seeing parents slap a child on the face in public--but I do remember spankings in public and, more commonly, threats to slap children if they got out of hand.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

Yeah, it seems most people commenting on this scene didn't grow up in that era. It was normal and not as traumatic as they're making it out to be.

 

[the G-man]

I was pretty close to the age of that girl. Not only was it plausible, it really wasn't even something that raised an eyebrow. It was a gag, but not a LOL gag. Remember that corporal punishment was still allowed in schools--the principal was allowed to "strap" students in our school and we were all scared and told stories about it. I don't remember ever seeing parents slap a child on the face in public--but I do remember spankings in public and, more commonly, threats to slap children if they got out of hand.

Yeah, it seems most people commenting on this scene didn't grow up in that era. It was normal and not as traumatic as they're making it out to be.

Back then, it was not uncommon for parents to tell their crying kids, "I'll give you something to cry about."

 

[Skipper]

If anyone is interested, these are the two reaction videos I was referring to. Look at how they go from a wide smile "How magical it is!!!" to "WTF!?!"
(from minute 24:47)

(from minute 17:18)

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I was pretty close to the age of that girl. Not only was it plausible, it really wasn't even something that raised an eyebrow. It was a gag, but not a LOL gag. Remember that corporal punishment was still allowed in schools--the principal was allowed to "strap" students in our school and we were all scared and told stories about it. I don't remember ever seeing parents slap a child on the face in public--but I do remember spankings in public and, more commonly, threats to slap children if they got out of hand.

I grew up in that era, and of the schools I attended, none of the school employees were allowed to put their hands on kids. I recall one--and only one-- vice principal stepping out of line and pulling a kid's arm. He was not an employee after that week, so hitting kids under the questionable notion of "discipline" was not tolerated. That carried more risks than some can imagine.

 

[The Realist]

I don't recall it happening in my schools, but I got spanked by my parents, and my mom slapped me a time or two when I got way out of line. I have never thought, and would never think, of my parents as in any way abusive. It was just the time and the culture, as was the scene as presented in the film. It worked as a mild gag at the time, and was not at all shocking. Criticizing it at this length, from the perspective of almost half a century of social change, is frankly making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[EnderAKH]

I was 5 or 6 when the movie came out, I remember kids getting swats in my middle school 7 or 8 years later. In Oklahoma, where I grew up, corporal punishment was pretty standard in the 80s, and apparently still is now:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/o...1&cvid=80dd5c3f99ca4113ece047b1a20db6b5&ei=27

 

[Ovation]

I have (admittedly small) scars on my right hand from the metal edged ruler used by a nun to whack me for inattentiveness (in 1979). Upon coming home with a bloody bandage on my hand, my mother asked “what did you do to deserve that?” In my life I received corporal punishment twice (at age 4–spanking from my mother—and the ruler incident above). They were memorable but not traumatic events. And no one back then batted an eye when I related the events to others. Clearly social mores have changed (and were not universal even then) but other than noting such a scene would obviously elicit a different reaction today, there’s not much more to be said about it within its time. Context matters.

 

[fireproof78]

I respectfully disagree. Not all forms of violence are inherently abusive, and sometimes the only way a child can learn to respect a limit is if there's pain involved.

Sometimes, but those instances are rare. I grew up with corporal punishment as did my sister, and my mom learned it was not necessary. What I have learned from studying psychology and mental health is that punishment is only short term and will not actually change the behavior, and that pain doesn't have to be physical but can be a loss of privilege or opportunity.

No, I don't hold that all corporal punishment is abuse, but I think it is like the fats/sweets part of the food pyramid: seldomly used in small amounts.

Not that humans are good at that.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Thinking back, I was probably traumatized by a teacher who grabbed my arm and shook me for talking in class (Second grade, I think). I pretty much stayed quiet for the rest of the time I was in school.

 

[JD]

I respectfully disagree. Not all forms of violence are inherently abusive, and sometimes the only way a child can learn to respect a limit is if there's pain involved.

Wow, I'm really not a fan of that attitude at all, I'm pretty sure it's been proven that pain really doesn't work all that well. And if you are OK with treating other human beings like that, I don't even want to imagine what you must do to any animals who misbehave around you.

 

[Moviefan2k4]

Wow, I'm really not a fan of that attitude at all, I'm pretty sure it's been proven that pain really doesn't work all that well. And if you are OK with treating other human beings like that, I don't even want to imagine what you must do to any animals who misbehave around you.

I've never been a "pet person", but I don't go out of my way to abuse them either. I am honestly confused though, by people who treat them as substitutes for children.

As for my attitude regarding physical punishment, it largely comes from my own experiences. Some of my elders would occasionally make me sit in the corner, when I did something wrong...but more often than not they broke out the belt and whipped my ass. My aunt Betty preferred using a fly swatter, right on the back of the legs - that definitely left an impression.

My overall point was that parents need to stop acting like they're equal at all times to their own kids - they're not. You're the parent, and they're the child. They need your guidance, but also some "tough love" at times. So step up, quit being scared of what they will briefly think of you, and take charge.

 

[HotRod]

I've never been a "pet person", but I don't go out of my way to abuse them either. I am honestly confused though, by people who treat them as substitutes for children.

As for my attitude regarding physical punishment, it largely comes from my own experiences. Some of my elders would occasionally make me sit in the corner, when I did something wrong...but more often than not they broke out the belt and whipped my ass. My aunt Betty preferred using a fly swatter, right on the back of the legs - that definitely left an impression.

My overall point was that parents need to stop acting like they're equal at all times to their own kids - they're not. You're the parent, and they're the child. They need your guidance, but also some "tough love" at times. So step up, quit being scared of what they will briefly think of you, and take charge.

No.

 

[JD]

I've never been a "pet person", but I don't go out of my way to abuse them either.

OK, I'm honestly not quite sure what to make of this part of your post it's not exactly denying that would hurt them if given the opportunity.

I am honestly confused though, by people who treat them as substitutes for children.

It's about the bond and the emotional connections we make with them. I refer to our dogs as my brother and sister, and there are several horses that I visit on my daily walks that I consider my friends.

 

[HotRod]

It's about the bond and the emotional connections we make with them. I refer to our dogs as my brother and sister, and there are several horses that I visit on my daily walks that I consider my friends.

We personally go with "Fur Babies." Two cats and a Beagle.

 

[JD]

Technically there my mom's dogs, so if they're her fur babies, that would make them my fur siblings.

 

[theenglish]

I grew up in that era, and of the schools I attended, none of the school employees were allowed to put their hands on kids. I recall one--and only one-- vice principal stepping out of line and pulling a kid's arm. He was not an employee after that week, so hitting kids under the questionable notion of "discipline" was not tolerated. That carried more risks than some can imagine.

Where I grew up in Canada, physical punishment at school was allowed--and I'm sure there were regulations--until 1980.

 

[Lordcommanderdarkwolf]

Wow, I'm really not a fan of that attitude at all, I'm pretty sure it's been proven that pain really doesn't work all that well. And if you are OK with treating other human beings like that, I don't even want to imagine what you must do to any animals who misbehave around you.

As my mum often says if they do it to an animal they will do it to a person.