Ethically what is the absolute latest Clark can wait to tell Lois the truth?

[superduperman]

I like that old SNL sketch where Lois still doesn't know well into their marriage.

[MyriVerse]

If that's the case with Lois, What's the point of being in a relationship with her ??? If they can't be completely honest with each other, which means no secrets!! What's the point??? It's ashame how sex has been de-valued today!! It's like a hand shake, what ashame!!!

Holding off on sex too long devalues it more, imo.

Anyway... I don't think telling every significant girlfriend would render the secret gone. The latest would definitely be before sex.

[MyriVerse]

He should never keep his identity secret from
His close circle. The entire concept of a secret identity is so sleezy to me. He should never keep such a secret from his friends.

TBH, I see the secret identity thing as being a lot like coming out of the closet. A person's close circle need not be told until the person is ready to tell. It is no one's business to know such things. Ever. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with secrets. They are not lies. And frankly, there's nothing wrong with lies, either, unless they directly hurt a person.

[Robanker]

TBH, I see the secret identity thing as being a lot like coming out of the closet. A person's close circle need not be told until the person is ready to tell. It is no one's business to know such things. Ever. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with secrets. They are not lies. And frankly, there's nothing wrong with lies, either, unless they directly hurt a person.

That... Doesn't sound like a very Superman thing to say.

[PCN24454]

That... Doesn't sound like a very Superman thing to say.

"Do as I say. Not as I do."

~Every parent ever

[Robanker]

"Do as I say. Not as I do."

~Every parent ever

That's also the one phrase everyone acknowledges as shitty parenting, so yeah, not a Superman thing to do.

[manwhohaseverything]

That... Doesn't sound like a very Superman thing to say.

Well, he's human and full of contradictions. He fights justice as well. Yet, he is a vigilante who breaks laws and cars of molesters .

[manwhohaseverything]

Well it kinda depends on what school of ethics you want to follow. Kant ethics would answer differently than utilitarian ethics yknow? By Kant "what if everyone did this?" standards, Clark likely doesn't have to share the secret until he and Lois are serious about their relationship and a life-long bond/marriage is the obvious destination in both their minds.

Is'nt kantian ethics deontological? Wouldn't that make clark lying bad from the get go? He isn't being ethical.
"A categorical imperative binds us regardless of our desires: everyone has a duty to not lie, regardless of circumstances and even if it is in our interest to do so"
Superhero comics are largely run with kantian ethics. The only guy that judges things based on outcomes is redhood.He is the anti-hero. But, i believe it wasn't before. Charcters fairly balanced ideals,morality and consequences to take action,As most people do.Superman fairly used to do that as well.

[PCN24454]

TBH, I see the secret identity thing as being a lot like coming out of the closet. A person's close circle need not be told until the person is ready to tell. It is no one's business to know such things. Ever. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with secrets. They are not lies. And frankly, there's nothing wrong with lies, either, unless they directly hurt a person.

This is a surprisingly good analogy.

He should be able to tell anyone and everyone, but the world doesn’t always work like that. Even he has some right to privacy.

[lotchj]

Holding off on sex too long devalues it more, imo.

Anyway... I don't think telling every significant girlfriend would render the secret gone. The latest would definitely be before sex.

I disagree with your comments on sex!!

[Journey]

Before Sex he could literally destroy her during the act seems like that risk should be known.

[PCN24454]

Before Sex he could literally destroy her during the act seems like that risk should be known.

That never made sense. He can pee and blink without destroying cities. He’s not going to kill her by having sex. That’s just teen horror movie stuff.

[Journey]

That never made sense. He can pee and blink without destroying cities. He’s not going to kill her by having sex. That’s just teen horror movie stuff.

It's more so him hitting it so hard her bones break, more than the force of his supergasm.

[Ascended]

Is'nt kantian ethics deontological? Wouldn't that make clark lying bad from the get go? He isn't being ethical.

I believe it's deontological yes. Been a minute since I studied philosophy but that sounds right.

And yes Clark is often unethical. Lying about his secret identity I figure is a necessary thing; that being public knowledge could put people at risk and the lie is by far the lesser evil. Same reason why spies and high value military units are kept classified; more people could be hurt by the knowledge than by the secret. But Clark lies about plenty of things even when he doesn't have to, or really shouldn't. He's also a hypocrite about some things, and there's plenty of other flaws and quirks in his personality that make him and his daily choices ethically questionable. Hell, even the act of being Superman is arguably unethical.

It's more so him hitting it so hard her bones break, more than the force of his supergasm.

The entire "man of steel, woman of Kleenex" argument makes absolutely zero sense. It's just sensationalistic, simplistic, high school bullsh*t.

I mean hell, have you never enjoyed a slow jam?

[Agent Z]

TBH, I see the secret identity thing as being a lot like coming out of the closet. A person's close circle need not be told until the person is ready to tell. It is no one's business to know such things. Ever. There's nothing whatsoever wrong with secrets. They are not lies. And frankly, there's nothing wrong with lies, either, unless they directly hurt a person.

Lies by their very nature are always harmful.

Clark secretly being a superpowered vigilante is nothing like being in the closet. Clark's secret affects everyone around him. People who are targeted for being close to Superman. The Daily Planet whose credibility regarding Superman-related stories would be called into question once it becomes known that one of their staffers is Superman and that his wife, who also works for the Daily Planet, knew about it and kept it a secret.

Whether or not a person wants to talk about their orientation is their business. But when you start playing world police while defrauding a newspaper and by extension the entire world, your privacy becomes the least important.