I promised myself I was going to give my character a loving family this time...

It didn't happen.

This is why we can't have nice things.

It's like what I say about jogging. If tv has taught me anything, it's that you either find a dead body jogging, or you become one.

RP Characters almost always lose their loved ones. It's so tragic :(

It's like what I say about jogging. If tv has taught me anything, it's that you either find a dead body jogging, or you become one.

RP Characters almost always lose their loved ones. It's so tragic :(

There's really two reasons for it, too!

A) supporting casts, either they're hard for the writer too pull off. Maybe the writer feels like they distract from the "plot" and if every character has 5+ supporting members all the time, why would we play with each other when they could just play with their own characters all day?

and B) Because we, as writers are all hopeful that we can be good people (Or just, like, people.) Despite tragedy, and it's nice to see that in characters we create. And of course, that characters who thrive despite tragedy is cool!

<Snipped quote by FantasyChic>

There's really two reasons for it, too!

A) supporting casts, either they're hard for the writer too pull off. Maybe the writer feels like they distract from the "plot" and if every character has 5+ supporting members all the time, why would we play with each other when they could just play with their own characters all day?

and B) Because we, as writers are all hopeful that we can be good people (Or just, like, people.) Despite tragedy, and it's nice to see that in characters we create. And of course, that characters who thrive despite tragedy is cool!

I'm calling it the Disney Syndrome. Why? Because I can.

Dead parents are the absolute easiest NPCs to ever play. This is a true fact. Unless they wind up haunting the character, and then everything goes crazy.

<Snipped quote by Hillan>

I'm calling it the Disney Syndrome. Why? Because I can.

Dead parents are the absolute easiest NPCs to ever play. This is a true fact. Unless they wind up haunting the character, and then everything goes crazy.

You know, I think you're onto something there, that a lot of our's idea of chraacters is heavily influenced by Disney, and other movies / Cartoons we watched as kids. Bruce Wayne doesn't have any parents either.. Anymore. Too soon?

... Does that make Batman a Disney Prince?

I just can't imagine any individual with two loving parents dressing up at night to fight crime. I think there's something inside that changes during tragedy and depending on how you deal with it you either choose to help others or help yourself.

I just can't imagine any individual with two loving parents dressing up at night to fight crime. I think there's something inside that changes during tragedy and depending on how you deal with it you either choose to help others or help yourself.

Yeah, that, too.

... Does that make Batman a Disney Prince?

No, it makes Batman a Disney Princess. >.> He talks to bats. >.> I'm sure that's a thing. Not.

I think it does depend on the trauma involved in the loss of the parents too. Not just that they are no longer in the character's life, but how they died, violently, in front of them, or what happened after, and who 'replaced' them. And, very true, the more someone is used to looking after themselves and to not seeing others as capable of helping them, the more likely they'd be ready to take action themselves. But if there's too much trauma or tragedy, then it seems more likely the good intentions would degenerate into 'villain' tendencies. Or be incapable of breaking through the trauma.

I can actually imagine anyone taking up the vigilante thing if they feel any reason to want to do it, but the ones with loving parents seem more likely to quit if things seem a little too hard or painful. Simply because they have a safe refuge they wouldn't want to ruin. I suppose.

Wanting to help people isn't an isolated incident, but the method, and the fact that vigilantism is usually local, close to home and the fastest route to making a difference in anyone's life, might play a part, too. I do not know. Now I'm musing too much.

<Snipped quote by Hillan>

No, it makes Batman a Disney Princess. >.> He talks to bats. >.> I'm sure that's a thing. Not.

I think it does depend on the trauma involved in the loss of the parents too. Not just that they are no longer in the character's life, but how they died, violently, in front of them, or what happened after, and who 'replaced' them. And, very true, the more someone is used to looking after themselves and to not seeing others as capable of helping them, the more likely they'd be ready to take action themselves. But if there's too much trauma or tragedy, then it seems more likely the good intentions would degenerate into 'villain' tendencies. Or be incapable of breaking through the trauma.

I can actually imagine anyone taking up the vigilante thing if they feel any reason to want to do it, but the ones with loving parents seem more likely to quit if things seem a little too hard or painful. Simply because they have a safe refuge they wouldn't want to ruin. I suppose.

Wanting to help people isn't an isolated incident, but the method, and the fact that vigilantism is usually local, close to home and the fastest route to making a difference in anyone's life, might play a part, too. I do not know. Now I'm musing too much.

I always find it fascinating that we don't have any real life vigilantes.

With the sudden surge of Superheroes in Pop-Culture, wouldn't we see shitloads of people taking up vigilantism in our everyday life? With everyone being afraid, weather it's of immigrants, terrorists, the government, or criminals. Isn't the modern real world a prime place for people to take the law into their own hands?

Is the average person a lot more sane than the average made-up person?

<Snipped quote by Nemaisare>

I always find it fascinating that we don't have any real life vigilantes.

With the sudden surge of Superheroes in Pop-Culture, wouldn't we see shitloads of people taking up vigilantism in our everyday life? With everyone being afraid, weather it's of immigrants, terrorists, the government, or criminals. Isn't the modern real world a prime place for people to take the law into their own hands?

Is the average person a lot more sane than the average made-up person?

Sounds like the call to action I've been waiting for!

My guess is the average real life person doesn't like wearing spandex.

<Snipped quote by Hillan>

Sounds like the call to action I've been waiting for!

My guess is the average real life person doesn't like wearing spandex.

Everyone has had thoughts about becoming a vigilante, right? So, why hasn't anyone done it? Especially in today's age of social media fame. You start hitting people with baseball bats that the cops can't get, post it on Instagram and you'd get a few hundred thousand followers overnight, guaranteed.

it just baffles me, that a lot of people are doing all kinds of crazy, dangerous things, but being Vigilantes is not one of them.

<Snipped quote by FantasyChic>

<Snipped quote by Nemaisare>

Everyone has had thoughts about becoming a vigilante, right? So, why hasn't anyone done it? Especially in today's age of social media fame. You start hitting people with baseball bats that the cops can't get, post it on Instagram and you'd get a few hundred thousand followers overnight, guaranteed.

it just baffles me, that a lot of people are doing all kinds of crazy, dangerous things, but being Vigilantes is not one of them.

Look at the movie kick-ass. Average kid with deadened nerve endings and a lot of titanium pins or plates in him grabs up a pair of baseball bats and starts knocking heads. The organized crime's response? shoot everyone wearing green and yellow then blame it on the hero.

I imagine there might be a few vigilante attempters out there, but realistically, it wouldn't last long. A lot of the circumstances leading up to successful vigilante careers are necessary, not just optional. An extremely strong motivation, lots of training using that motivation, being able to push past your fear of getting hurt and the fight or flight response, the ability to keep yourself in room and board even while staying up all night on the off-chance you'll catch a crime in progress, being in the right place at the right time(or knowing where the right place to be is), and then being able to not die if someone shoots you or the numbers aren't on your side.

Those are pretty exceptional circumstances to all line up just right.

A lot of the time, a heroic action is more of a spur of the moment kind of thing, I think. In real life. Possibly because the average untrained person is not often actually eager to put themselves in harm's way when they spend a few minutes thinking about it. Or even if they are willing, the hesitation still stops them from succeeding.

I am surprised there's fewer unsuccessful attempts, but maybe that's just being overly cynical.

Honestly a lot of times you don't really hear about things though. Who are criminals going to report things to if something happens? I know people personally that could (kind of) be considered vigilantes, but it's more just like street justice and for once the good guys win.

I imagine there might be a few vigilante attempters out there, but realistically, it wouldn't last long. A lot of the circumstances leading up to successful vigilante careers are necessary, not just optional. An extremely strong motivation, lots of training using that motivation, being able to push past your fear of getting hurt and the fight or flight response, the ability to keep yourself in room and board even while staying up all night on the off-chance you'll catch a crime in progress, being in the right place at the right time(or knowing where the right place to be is), and then being able to not die if someone shoots you or the numbers aren't on your side.

Those are pretty exceptional circumstances to all line up just right.

A lot of the time, a heroic action is more of a spur of the moment kind of thing, I think. In real life. Possibly because the average untrained person is not often actually eager to put themselves in harm's way when they spend a few minutes thinking about it. Or even if they are willing, the hesitation still stops them from succeeding.

I am surprised there's fewer unsuccessful attempts, but maybe that's just being overly cynical.

Still, even failed attempts. Serial killers get caught all the time - yet people still become serial killers for the "glory" that comes with it. A less morbid example is pop-cultural icons. Why would anyone decide to seriously consider music as a career ( Or any other art) when the odds of successing and earning renow is so small?

it just boggled my brain, it's truly fascinating, haha.

Honestly a lot of times you don't really hear about things though. Who are criminals going to report things to if something happens? I know people personally that could (kind of) be considered vigilantes, but it's more just like street justice and for once the good guys win.

Yeah, that's the other point. People just might not know they're out there.

I think it's generally accepted that superheros don't exist, so making a name for yourself with costumes or showing off on social media probably isn't a big draw except in people's imaginations. But people who are doing something would likely prefer to remain anonymous and not flashy. So, it just wouldn't turn into a big story.

At least with music, you're less likely, hopefully, to get punched in the face.

<Snipped quote by Dirge>

Yeah, that's the other point. People just might not know they're out there.

I think it's generally accepted that superheros don't exist, so making a name for yourself with costumes or showing off on social media probably isn't a big draw except in people's imaginations. But people who are doing something would likely prefer to remain anonymous and not flashy. So, it just wouldn't turn into a big story.

I disagree. People make up stories about how they did some minor acts of heroism on Facebook all the time. (i know at least five people who have allegedly stopped muggings at knife-point... Three times... This year.) For likes and shares. If you actually did something, in today's society, I think you'd spread it like wildfire.

Like i said, it's just so weird, since we have such a culture that glorifies vigilantees and anti-heroes. (Dexter. Breaking Bad, all of the Superhero movies and TV-shows, etc.)

It probably depends on the person. Some people don't want to talk about an experience they probably did not enjoy, though they might share it with family and friends just because it was a holy shit moment and they aren't sure they can believe it. Some people might share it cuz they're proud of what they managed. Other people might not be given the choice.

But yeah, it does strike me as weird that more people aren't getting caught in the act, so to speak. Even though I can't help thinking that the attempt would likely just cause more problems unless they actively knew what they were doing.

Maybe we're just all waiting for someone else to give it a go.