With China looking at banning tv shows which relate to time travel because they fear young people will not take history seriously enough: "Some of the time travel dramas nowadays are made in a very shoddy way and are irresponsible in not respecting history" and have "monstrous and weird plots [and] use absurd tactics" so "should by no means be encouraged anymore", it is refreshing that those in the West do not have such hang-ups on being dangerously influenced by science fiction and fantasy media.
In particular, it was an article I read a little while ago about the phenomenon of amateur “superheroes” in small American towns which sprang to mind.
These ordinary folks - and they are, in keeping with the superhero mythology, ordinary: no actual skills or professional training - look to aid the small police departments in local crime fighting. They even have superhero names [which, as a homage to the comic origins, I put in bold here] and outfits.
The mental idea is actually supported in an online forum and website known as the World Superhero Registry. There people can find the rules would-be superheroes have to follow.
*You must have an appropriate alter-ego name
*You must have an appropriate, non-trademark infringing uniform (preferably home made)
*You must not be sponsored or otherwise funded by an external company or body
*You must not use or carry offensive weapons (to ensure you are not charged as a vigilante)
*You must have a specific mission as a superhero with appropriate means of accomplishing it
A good example of this is the bloke who calls himself The Angle Grinder. He springs open, what he deems illegal, clamps on vehicles in his town.
However it is not all happily springing wheel clamps, being a superhero has its pitfalls. And the article listed them.
There was Mr. Invisible who’s grey Lycra suit, he was pleased to report, did render him invisible. At least to the drunk who stood and urinated on him in an alleyway. [which I incidentally think is pretty much the only time someone must be pleased that they are getting urinated on by a drunk: “Yes! I am so invisible right now! – must keep silent… urinate ‘till your heart’s content, unaware citizen” – of course the drunk might have known exactly what was going on]
Mr. Invisible gave up his activities though. His thing was to split up arguing couples after nights out. One girl didn’t like being “saved” outside a club and hooked Mr. Invisible, by day a mild mannered 29 year old insurance worker, in the face, breaking his nose.
There was also the Dark Owl who required calling his daughter up to confirm he wasn’t insane and could be let out of the psychiatric unit. His daughter explained: “Just for a very short moment my Dad, absolutely momentarily, forgot he didn’t have actual super powers and could not simply fly over the cops who had him surrounded.”
Other supposed superheroes have found the going tough as a hobby. As Kevlex [I am thinking by day he is known as Kevin] of Arizona revealed: “I can only really go out on cold nights or in the rain as my suit itches when it is too hot – I hang about all the bad corners but nothing really happens. The drug dealers don’t seem to go out in the rain and the police in the town are really very good. Often they have the situation well in hand by the time I have even got my suit on.”
Master Legend, too, has given up the crime fighting superhero business. He proved little match for his arch nemesis, which turned out to be just simply an angry man with a hammer. Didn't even have a super villan name.
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