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  1. #1
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    Default Humanity VS the reality of Superman

    Like it says on the tin.

    Assuming that today, press around the world was forced to admit that Superman actually existed, and he will, from tomorrow onwards, operate in an overt and public capacity(where he previously took great pains to conceal his activities...)

    In other words, Superman will now be able to address high-profile crimes such as terrorism, natural disasters, etc. where he once had to let some of theese go in case the public would know he existed.

    Can humanity as it exists today handle the reality of Superman?

    *For this scenario, Superman will be the only superhuman in existence, so no Cult of Wonder Woman's Posterior, or Temple of Darkseid's Stairs will be born...
    Last edited by T51R; 09-16-2018 at 11:46 PM.

  2. #2
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    We talking All-Star, DCAU, DCEU, Comics, Injustice, What?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jcogginsa View Post
    We talking All-Star, DCAU, DCEU, Comics, Injustice, What?
    DCEU.

    Just so he's somewhat viable.

    And YES, he also looks like Henry Cavill.

  4. #4
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    Assuming that today, press around the world was forced to admit that Superman actually existed, and he will, from tomorrow onwards, operate in an overt and public capacity...
    You would figure the press would be reporting that superman seems to be real, and has been operating overt since at least the time it takes to report the first sighting...

    Anyway, humanity would shrug and move on with what it was doing.

  5. #5
    Extraordinary Member MichaelC's Avatar
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    The whole thrust of science would move towards discovering how his powers work. Physicists would become obsessed with how he does things that violate current theories about physical laws. Biologists would become obsessed with getting any information on his genetic structure. The military would become obsessed with how to apply any theories that even partially explain him to practical effects. The money and brainpower that pours into this would make the Manhattan Project look like a poor child's hobby.

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    The biggest impact would be the knowledge that alien, humanoid life exists. That would shatter belief systems of many. As we are trivial compared to Supes would be a big problem. Esp. if more Kryptonians show up.

    Yes, there would be a massive military build up.

    Supes would also fall into the Theodicy problem. Why isn't he full time saving the world and people. No going out on dates and sleeping with Lois. We would expect him everywhere. He could have no secret identity as only PIS makes that viable in comics.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Smith View Post
    The biggest impact would be the knowledge that alien, humanoid life exists. That would shatter belief systems of many. As we are trivial compared to Supes would be a big problem. Esp. if more Kryptonians show up.

    Yes, there would be a massive military build up.

    Supes would also fall into the Theodicy problem. Why isn't he full time saving the world and people. No going out on dates and sleeping with Lois. We would expect him everywhere. He could have no secret identity as only PIS makes that viable in comics.
    Henry Cavill went uncreognized in the middle of timesquare, in front of the giant poster of himself as Superman. The disguise isn't PIS dude

  8. #8

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    Quote Originally Posted by Jcogginsa View Post
    Henry Cavill went uncreognized in the middle of timesquare, in front of the giant poster of himself as Superman. The disguise isn't PIS dude
    The Government, CIA and FBI were not looking for Henry Cavill using cams and facial recognition software. They would if Supes was real.

    Besides, the PIS might not be the random people. Him tricking close work friends at the Planet that frequently covers Superman is bonkers.
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Smith View Post

    Supes would also fall into the Theodicy problem. Why isn't he full time saving the world and people. No going out on dates and sleeping with Lois. We would expect him everywhere. He could have no secret identity as only PIS makes that viable in comics.
    Uhmm, Lois doesn't exist in the scenario. Neither do the Kents. Only Superman does. For all we know his certificate of adoption is in Portuguese or Mandarin...

    Which does in no way imply either that he doesn't have a relationship with somebody else, or have a family which raised him with upstanding human values from day one(OR a family of his own, for that matter...)

    So, we DO have Superman. We just don't know anything else about him besides that he is for humanity as a whole, not against.

    Quote Originally Posted by The Arbiter View Post
    The Government, CIA and FBI were not looking for Henry Cavill using cams and facial recognition software. They would if Supes was real.

    Besides, the PIS might not be the random people. Him tricking close work friends at the Planet that frequently covers Superman is bonkers.
    The problem is that they would actually find Henry Cavill instead of Superman.

    Though it wouldn't surprise me if Superman was making a living by doing Henry Cavill's public apprearances...as Henry Cavill. And maybe some of his contracts as well for a percentage(superspeed and all that...)
    Last edited by T51R; 09-17-2018 at 10:11 PM.

  10. #10
    Astonishing Member Captain Morgan's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Arbiter View Post
    The Government, CIA and FBI were not looking for Henry Cavill using cams and facial recognition software. They would if Supes was real.

    Besides, the PIS might not be the random people. Him tricking close work friends at the Planet that frequently covers Superman is bonkers.
    Actually, comic Clark uses superspeed vibration to distort his image slightly whenever he is being photographed, and given his senses you pretty much can't photograph the guy without his knowledge. I'm pretty sure he could have a secret identity if he wanted it even without wearing a mask, even if he had to take even more precautions than he does in the comics. (Using Kryptonian tech to disguise Clark Kent springs to mind.)

    The larger plot concession problem is that having such an identity means he isn't saving everyone he can during the time he is incognito. That and the question of how far he will go to respect governments and not set himself up a benevolent dictator Slash reluctant God.

  11. #11
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    If he's in our universe, he plays by our rules (except for his impossible powers), the superspeed vibration was silly as he didn't look like a blur to anyone. Also, we have superfast cameras that could break any vibration rate that didn't make him look like a blur, which he doesn't. His senses aren't omniscient. I doubt he can detect a passive camera without spending all his time scanning the environment. He would be spinning like a radar disc to use his supervision.

    When he flies he would be tracked by radar, IR and satellites. If he flew at light speed, the disruption in the atmosphere (which doesn't occur in his world) would be obvious. So, he'd better sit on a mountain or just fly around all day doing good deeds.

    Then we get into world politics. Whose side is he on in Syria? Has to save the kids. Destroy the armies? Who feeds the refugees? Does he?

    We do get to benevolent dictator pretty quickly. If Iran sponsors state terrorism, does he do what?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Arbiter View Post
    The Government, CIA and FBI were not looking for Henry Cavill using cams and facial recognition software. They would if Supes was real.
    Super vibration at speeds the camera can't handle isn't PIS.

    also from what I last heard facial recognition software isn't THAT great, so he'd just have to move fast enough the camera can't get a clean shot on him.

    also what are they going to do, hack every camera across the entire US and run facial recognition on EVERY face to hope find the one guy who looks enough like superman that they can... do what? Go harass the guy at home to do more charity work?

    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Smith View Post
    Also, we have superfast cameras that could break any vibration rate that didn't make him look like a blur, which he doesn't.
    Which only works if you have them set up in advance where he's going to be, and even then you have to look through 6000 frames per second to find the one or two where he's actually giving your camera enough of a face for the software to try to identify. And again, are you going to do this for EVERY CAMERA IN AMERICA?
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  13. #13
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    You set up an ambush with a kitten in a tree. And why doesn't his face look blurry to people? Huh, why?

  14. #14

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    This is DCEU Superman. No weird face blurring nonsense.

    And still... his close work friends that look at both his face and Superman's face everyday...

    Edit: Ah, I suppose the original comment on PIS did specify comics. My bad. Either way, Cavill can't do that.
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  15. #15
    Astonishing Member Captain Morgan's Avatar
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    Ah, missed the Cavill bit.

    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Smith View Post
    If he's in our universe, he plays by our rules (except for his impossible powers), the superspeed vibration was silly as he didn't look like a blur to anyone. Also, we have superfast cameras that could break any vibration rate that didn't make him look like a blur, which he doesn't. His senses aren't omniscient. I doubt he can detect a passive camera without spending all his time scanning the environment. He would be spinning like a radar disc to use his supervision.

    When he flies he would be tracked by radar, IR and satellites. If he flew at light speed, the disruption in the atmosphere (which doesn't occur in his world) would be obvious. So, he'd better sit on a mountain or just fly around all day doing good deeds.

    Then we get into world politics. Whose side is he on in Syria? Has to save the kids. Destroy the armies? Who feeds the refugees? Does he?

    We do get to benevolent dictator pretty quickly. If Iran sponsors state terrorism, does he do what?
    I feel like applying real world physics standards to a guy that absolutely poops on real world physics to even exist rather goes against the spirit of the thread. The thread is called "the reality of Superman" which assumes he can possibly exist and his powers can operate like they do in the comics.

    That being said, yeah, the moral quandaries of his geo-political impact and figuring out who and who not to save would be such that Chidi Anagonye would hemorage out in seconds from his stomach bleeding. (Haha, obscure topical reference to the best sitcom currently on television!) I rather imagine that if we also accept Clark is a good person with humble Kansas sensisibilites he probably just goes catatonic from the pressure.

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