Podcast 106 July 2010: What did you think?

[Spidey Fan]

This is the first podcast I have listened to and I have to say you guys have great chemistry on the show. You play off of one another really well and it makes the show fun to listen to as well as being informative.

Excellent show!

The Shed review was great!

[Spidey Fan]

So I was listening to the podcast just now while doing some cleaning, and I had to stop and write something that nobody will read. Anyway, it's about this 'Viper' guy.

1. This isn't new. There are tons of would-be 'superheroes' out there and this comes up in the news periodically. Run a Google search for "real super hero" or "real-life super hero." Here's some of what you get:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-life_superhero
http://www.oddee.com/item_87762.aspx
http://www.worldsuperheroregistry.com/world_superhero_registry_gallery.htm
http://www.reallifesuperheroes.org/

And this news article one is even more recent than the ones about Viper:
http://www.nypress.com/article-21418-brooklyns-own-superheroes.html

Are some of these people a little nutty? Perhaps. Some of them do it for show to advocate for causes like the environment or homelessness. Some patrol and call the cops...not unlike 'neighborhood watch' groups. Some stick to helping people in need - hunger, medical emergencies, etc. Others actively try to dissuade crime or even stop it.

2. Is Viper needed? He lives in a town of 30K people. How much crime is there in Podunk, TN? Some of these people I can understand - active in megalopolises like DC and NYC where there never seem to be enough cops.

3. To some extent, it seems to me that we can't really condemn "real life super heroes" without sounding slightly hypocritical. Many of us enjoy the fictional exploits of super heroes, some of whom aren't even superhuman or are only so because of skills. weapons, or technology - much of which exists, or is at least plausible in 'real life.' No, there's no super-soldier serum, but you can train as a marksman (Hawkeye), a martial artist (Iron Fist, Shang Chi), a swordsman, an acrobat, etc. And people often cheer when a 'civilian' stops a bad guy - like late last year when a Johns Hopkins student stopped a burglar with his katana. (No, seriously. Google it.)

Why would you be a hypocrite for enjoying fictional exploits while condemning the 'real' thing? Well, we all know that art imitates life and life imitates art. A lot of people stopped watching (or refused to watch) Fox's series 24 because they felt that it encouraged the use of torture. They put their money where their mouths were, so to speak. So long as the show portrayed torture in a positive (and incorrect) light, they wouldn't watch it. (The show's producers insisted that the show didn't influence anyone in 'reality,' but apparently there was good reason to believe that government and military officials were fans of the show and might have been influenced by it.)

So I guess I'm saying...either put your proverbial money where your mouth is and stop supporting superhero fiction, or allow for the fact that people are going to imitate it.

I've read about and even seen some of these would be superheroes. While I think it is not a good idea for the few that get personally involved in crime fighting, those that do charity work, act more as a crime watch patrol, and others who don't try to intervene directly are doing more than most people and I applaud their efforts. Their hearts are in the right place and if more people took an interest in such things and worked for the betterment of our communities the world would be a better place.

I will say that those that try to act like Kick Ass and get physically involved in crime fighting are a danger to themselves and others. I see that as a lose - lose situation for the most part.

[FSUSpiderFan]

Again I missed SD but Kevin's imitation was hilariuous. I think Zach needs to come back needs to come back next month and roast everyone for the beating he has taken without being there to defend himself. Another great episode. Brutal reviews for some atrocious issues of Shed.

[stevejrogers]

Are some of these people a little nutty? Perhaps. Some of them do it for show to advocate for causes like the environment or homelessness. Some patrol and call the cops...not unlike 'neighborhood watch' groups. Some stick to helping people in need - hunger, medical emergencies, etc. Others actively try to dissuade crime or even stop it.

2. Is Viper needed? He lives in a town of 30K people. How much crime is there in Podunk, TN? Some of these people I can understand - active in megalopolises like DC and NYC where there never seem to be enough cops.

There are much, much more healthier and more legit ways of doing it though without mimicking a FICTITIOUS CHARACTER.

You want to advocate and champion causes? Do rallies, do performances like concerts or art programs or something for non profit organizations and such. Write, sing, do something creative and productive to get a message out there.

Go on missions run by local ministries or whatever you believe in. HELL, you don't even have to believe in whatever denomination to help out their worthy cause of going to a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving or a midnight run at the local homeless shelter or what have you.

Even if you don't have what it takes to be a regular cop or fire fighter (and come to think of it, if you don't have what it takes to be a beat cop, the hell are you doing pretending to be Batman in the first place) you can still volunteer for those jobs in Podunk, USA.

3. To some extent, it seems to me that we can't really condemn "real life super heroes" without sounding slightly hypocritical. Many of us enjoy the fictional exploits of super heroes, some of whom aren't even superhuman or are only so because of skills. weapons, or technology - much of which exists, or is at least plausible in 'real life.' No, there's no super-soldier serum, but you can train as a marksman (Hawkeye), a martial artist (Iron Fist, Shang Chi), a swordsman, an acrobat, etc. And people often cheer when a 'civilian' stops a bad guy - like late last year when a Johns Hopkins student stopped a burglar with his katana. (No, seriously. Google it.)

So, I can't mock people who play in Softball Beer Leagues or try to recapture their glory days in rec league hoops because I like watching professional sports? Dude, if you ever saw me play basketball, baseball or whatever, you are free to make fun of a 33 year old with no athletic ability whatsoever make a complete joke and embarrassment out of himself. While yes I'll go on the court even though I'll make 1 out of a thousand layups, lay a bat on one of a thousand balls coming my way at the plate or whatever I am doing it for the fun of the game, but feel free to mock my sad and pathetic attempts at an athletic endeavor.

And don't give me citizens do it all the time. Yeah, if you actually do have the skills and equipment to take someone down for the cops to pick up, sure do it, but its the HEAT OF THE MOMENT thing, I'm sure that guy in Johns Hopkins, and just about anyone who has ever studied martial arts prays that they never actually have to USE the self defense techniques they know. Yes its great when a bad guy messes with the wrong person, but that doesn't mean that person should become a vigilante or something just because of the rush of taking down some two-bit thug or something.

Why would you be a hypocrite for enjoying fictional exploits while condemning the 'real' thing? Well, we all know that art imitates life and life imitates art. A lot of people stopped watching (or refused to watch) Fox's series 24 because they felt that it encouraged the use of torture. They put their money where their mouths were, so to speak. So long as the show portrayed torture in a positive (and incorrect) light, they wouldn't watch it. (The show's producers insisted that the show didn't influence anyone in 'reality,' but apparently there was good reason to believe that government and military officials were fans of the show and might have been influenced by it.)

So I guess I'm saying...either put your proverbial money where your mouth is and stop supporting superhero fiction, or allow for the fact that people are going to imitate it.

So I should stop watching sports because I mock bad scratch golfers, beer league softball, bunch of 40 year old NCAA washouts at a local Y basketball court trying to recapture what little they had 20 years earlier?

[Venomaniac]

Kevin gave a G!

And Zack... WHERE ARE YOU?

[FSUSpiderFan]

According to Brad working his butt off. According to Kevin making out with his girlfriend... One way he's earning money and the other he's getting with a girl, so I guess both ways he wins but we lose out on another Spideydudelesscast At least we get him in the CSC.

[Spideydude]

According to Brad working his butt off. According to Kevin making out with his girlfriend... One way he's earning money and the other he's getting with a girl, so I guess both ways he wins but we lose out on another Spideydudelesscast At least we get him in the CSC.

Okay I WILL BE THERE FOR THE NEXT EPISODE.

Its Scheduled.

[Donomark]

Am I the only guy who thinks NCIS is overrated?

[FSUSpiderFan]

According to Brad working his butt off. According to Kevin making out with his girlfriend... One way he's earning money and the other he's getting with a girl, so I guess both ways he wins but we lose out on another Spideydudelesscast At least we get him in the CSC.

Okay I WILL BE THERE FOR THE NEXT EPISODE.

Its Scheduled.

Weren't you originally scheduled to be on this last one? Sorry but I can't get my hopes up to be dissappointed again.

[Kevin Cushing]

Weren't you originally scheduled to be on this last one? Sorry but I can't get my hopes up to be dissappointed again.

The episode was recorded this weekend, and we did have us some Spideydude - finally! Sadly Bailey couldn't make it, though. I swear, one day we're going to have a full crew again!

[FSUSpiderFan]

It sucks not having the full cast but since it is so large it can be ok. You start to miss people they are gone for several episodes.