Ripped from the headlines, er, graphic novel covers.
April 28, 2012 6:59 PM Subscribe
If BeeSting could actually fly or shoot stingers from his bum it would have been a whole different situation. But as is he's just a guy with strange dress sense and a pushy attitude.
posted by Kevin Street at 7:09 PM on April 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Kevin Street at 7:09 PM on April 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
¡Ay, ay, ay, no es bueno!
posted by dirigibleman at 7:11 PM on April 28, 2012 [50 favorites]
posted by dirigibleman at 7:11 PM on April 28, 2012 [50 favorites]
Oh, I dunno, I'd be pretty OK with him shooting one of those lookatme assholes riding around a 120 dB bike.
posted by indubitable at 7:13 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 7:13 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Captain Liberty and Bat Manuel could not be reached for comment.
posted by smirkette at 7:13 PM on April 28, 2012 [11 favorites]
posted by smirkette at 7:13 PM on April 28, 2012 [11 favorites]
See what happens when Adderall production gets cranked back up? Shit gets DONE.
posted by pajamazon at 7:15 PM on April 28, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by pajamazon at 7:15 PM on April 28, 2012 [8 favorites]
Sounds like he was lucky he wasn't fed his shotgun.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:17 PM on April 28, 2012
posted by cjorgensen at 7:17 PM on April 28, 2012
"Bee Sting approaches the man about how he was driving his motorcycle too loud," said Odette.
You know, this doesn't really come up to the level set by that promotional photo of his, all kneeling down angstily in the cold and wet, acting like he's overcome by backstory and drive.
The Protectors include:
BeeSting from Detroit
The Animal from Midland
Venge from Lansing
Sentinel from Grand Rapids
Checkmate from Flint
RedJacket from Flint
Void from Midland
and Petoskey Batman
I kind of love "Void from Midland." It really does sound like a superhero from The Tick. Or else maybe a blog about what it's like to live in Midland.
The Animal is probably going to get arrested for sexual assault the next time the cops catch him chasing some lady in high heels shouting "WO-MAN! WO-MAN!"
posted by Countess Elena at 7:28 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
You know, this doesn't really come up to the level set by that promotional photo of his, all kneeling down angstily in the cold and wet, acting like he's overcome by backstory and drive.
The Protectors include:
BeeSting from Detroit
The Animal from Midland
Venge from Lansing
Sentinel from Grand Rapids
Checkmate from Flint
RedJacket from Flint
Void from Midland
and Petoskey Batman
I kind of love "Void from Midland." It really does sound like a superhero from The Tick. Or else maybe a blog about what it's like to live in Midland.
The Animal is probably going to get arrested for sexual assault the next time the cops catch him chasing some lady in high heels shouting "WO-MAN! WO-MAN!"
posted by Countess Elena at 7:28 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Caddis, the guy at the bottom of that page, Abyss, hung out in front of my office in downtown Chicago for most of last summer. He mostly watched the bike racks and kept them safe from thieves. Now that's what I call public service! He's on facebook as "Abyss Rlsh" if you're in the mood for going down an internet rabbit hole.
posted by higginba at 7:29 PM on April 28, 2012
posted by higginba at 7:29 PM on April 28, 2012
Who's watching them?
posted by HuronBob at 7:31 PM on April 28, 2012 [14 favorites]
posted by HuronBob at 7:31 PM on April 28, 2012 [14 favorites]
They're not your classic Heroes. They're the other guys.
posted by radwolf76 at 7:40 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by radwolf76 at 7:40 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
If you point a loaded shotgun at a someone because their motorcycle was too loud... you may not be a superhero. You may, in fact, be with the other guys.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:50 PM on April 28, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:50 PM on April 28, 2012 [10 favorites]
Having a cape hang around and watch bike racks for the public would be neat. Bee Sting there seems more from the Mall Ninja side of things.
posted by feckless at 7:54 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by feckless at 7:54 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
Costume: $30
Shotgun and body armor: $500
20 years in prison with the knowledge you accidentally shot a small child while pretending to be a superhero: Priceless
posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:54 PM on April 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
Shotgun and body armor: $500
20 years in prison with the knowledge you accidentally shot a small child while pretending to be a superhero: Priceless
posted by Salvor Hardin at 7:54 PM on April 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
I kind of love "Void from Midland."
I currently live in mid-Michigan, and I can tell you that he's only named Void because there is absolutely nothing in Midland. (Incidentally, it's called Midland because it's actually the geographical middle of nowhere.)
posted by IAmUnaware at 7:56 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
I currently live in mid-Michigan, and I can tell you that he's only named Void because there is absolutely nothing in Midland. (Incidentally, it's called Midland because it's actually the geographical middle of nowhere.)
posted by IAmUnaware at 7:56 PM on April 28, 2012 [2 favorites]
Bee Sting arrested??
Great Caesar's Ghost!
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:04 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Great Caesar's Ghost!
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:04 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
You know, between the Michigan Militia that got press after the Oklahoma City bombing and the Michigan Protectors, I'm kind of afraid to admit where I grew up. I have a brother (whom I'm very proud of) that actually serves as a "protector", and a father who's retired but served as a "protector" his whole adult life; attention whore vigilantes kinda chaff my ass.
It's like these guys don't understand that underoos were just for pretend.
posted by imdaf at 8:14 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's like these guys don't understand that underoos were just for pretend.
posted by imdaf at 8:14 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh, I dunno, I'd be pretty OK with him shooting one of those lookatme assholes riding around a 120 dB bike.
posted by indubitable at 7:13 PM on April 28 [1 favorite +] [!]
Yes, because reasoned-analysis, and systemic data-gathering using properly calibrated SPL instruments is a hallmark of most armed vigilantes. You might want to ask Trayvon Martin's family about their feelings about this despicable attitude. Advocation for the murder of motorcyclists is reprehensible.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:20 PM on April 28, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by indubitable at 7:13 PM on April 28 [1 favorite +] [!]
Yes, because reasoned-analysis, and systemic data-gathering using properly calibrated SPL instruments is a hallmark of most armed vigilantes. You might want to ask Trayvon Martin's family about their feelings about this despicable attitude. Advocation for the murder of motorcyclists is reprehensible.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:20 PM on April 28, 2012 [10 favorites]
I bet when they reveal his secret identity it'll be Mitt Romney.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:21 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by cjorgensen at 8:21 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
RedJacket from Flint
posted by delmoi at 8:25 PM on April 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
Attributes/Training: Community Service, Communication with the Blind, Greco-Roman WrestlingCommunication with the Blind? Like... talking?
Oh, I dunno, I'd be pretty OK with him shooting one of those lookatme assholes riding around a 120 dB bike.Yeah... who to hate...
posted by delmoi at 8:25 PM on April 28, 2012 [4 favorites]
Oh god. Born and raised in Midland. It's not REALLY as bad as IAmUnaware is making it out to be. I mean, we DO have a nice bridge...that is built over a river full of dioxin.
We uh...we also have a house made by someone who's kinda famous. I guess.
Hmm, I guess this is why I live in Tokyo now, huh.
posted by GoingToShopping at 8:26 PM on April 28, 2012
We uh...we also have a house made by someone who's kinda famous. I guess.
Hmm, I guess this is why I live in Tokyo now, huh.
posted by GoingToShopping at 8:26 PM on April 28, 2012
How timely. Yesterday I watched the movie Super (trailer), which is all about an ordinary guy who decides to become a superhero.
His trademark weapon is a pipe wrench, and the violence somehow seemed more real than most other movies, and last night I had really bad dreams.
Dressing up like a superhero and confronting people seems like really just a terrible idea.
posted by compartment at 8:26 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
His trademark weapon is a pipe wrench, and the violence somehow seemed more real than most other movies, and last night I had really bad dreams.
Dressing up like a superhero and confronting people seems like really just a terrible idea.
posted by compartment at 8:26 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Qui custodiet Custer?
posted by jenkinsEar at 8:28 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jenkinsEar at 8:28 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
cjorgensen: "I bet when they reveal his secret identity it'll be Mitt Romney."
Nah, Mittens' secret identity is Rich Uncle Pennybags.
posted by arcticseal at 8:30 PM on April 28, 2012
Nah, Mittens' secret identity is Rich Uncle Pennybags.
posted by arcticseal at 8:30 PM on April 28, 2012
Also, I was super duper ready to make fun of Red Jacket, but, well, you know...
As our only visually impaired activist and a survivor of brain cancer, he has become an example of what a person can endeavor to accomplish against all odds.
Interestingly, but predictably, various yahoos have already begun trying to politicize this.
posted by GoingToShopping at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2012
As our only visually impaired activist and a survivor of brain cancer, he has become an example of what a person can endeavor to accomplish against all odds.
Interestingly, but predictably, various yahoos have already begun trying to politicize this.
posted by GoingToShopping at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2012
Also, this part of BeeSting's profile jumped out at me: "military police procedures (including detainee operations)"
When civil libertarians suggested that harsh interrogation practices used in Iraq would eventually be used in the United States, this was definitely not what I expected.
posted by compartment at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
When civil libertarians suggested that harsh interrogation practices used in Iraq would eventually be used in the United States, this was definitely not what I expected.
posted by compartment at 8:32 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
"One shot was fired and struck a nearby vacant trailer"
posted by mecran01 at 8:33 PM on April 28, 2012
posted by mecran01 at 8:33 PM on April 28, 2012
George Zimmerman thought he was going to be a superhero, too.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:01 PM on April 28, 2012
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:01 PM on April 28, 2012
God people this is what happens when you allow unlicensed Arching! Where are the regulations? The tests? The thematic unity! The day The League Of Calmitious Intent was unregulated was the day the great game died.
posted by The Whelk at 9:43 PM on April 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:43 PM on April 28, 2012 [5 favorites]
Who's watching them?
The aerial drones, duh.
posted by Ritchie at 9:48 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
The aerial drones, duh.
posted by Ritchie at 9:48 PM on April 28, 2012 [1 favorite]
Avenger: "This kind of validates my idea that if superheroes really existed, we would all hate them.
And rightfully so."
Eponysterical.
posted by symbioid at 9:57 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
And rightfully so."
Eponysterical.
posted by symbioid at 9:57 PM on April 28, 2012 [3 favorites]
Venge - Lansing, Michigan
Attributes/Training: Self trained martial artist of 14 years. Acute sense of hearing. Specializes in de-escalating situations and reasoning with people. Leadership skills. Good endurance. Active homeless outreaches, crime patrol, neighborhood clean ups.
Gear: Pepper Spray, binoculars, camera, medical kit, pen/notebook, flashlight, double-flex cuffs, cell phone, multi-tool.
Sounds legit.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:11 PM on April 28, 2012
Attributes/Training: Self trained martial artist of 14 years. Acute sense of hearing. Specializes in de-escalating situations and reasoning with people. Leadership skills. Good endurance. Active homeless outreaches, crime patrol, neighborhood clean ups.
Gear: Pepper Spray, binoculars, camera, medical kit, pen/notebook, flashlight, double-flex cuffs, cell phone, multi-tool.
Sounds legit.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:11 PM on April 28, 2012
Specializes in de-escalating situations and reasoning with people.
Probably a good idea considering the self-trained martial arts skills.
posted by Mitrovarr at 10:12 PM on April 28, 2012
Probably a good idea considering the self-trained martial arts skills.
posted by Mitrovarr at 10:12 PM on April 28, 2012
and Patrick Bateman Petoskey Batman
American Psyperhero
posted by the other side at 10:54 PM on April 28, 2012
American Psyperhero
posted by the other side at 10:54 PM on April 28, 2012
This kind of validates my idea that if superheroes really existed, we would all hate them.
Lot's of people (but not the police) like Seattle's Phoenix Jones (GIS).
Jones was also arrested, with the police account of what happened (assaulting party-goers) being very different from PJ's account. So PJ released video of the event, which showed the masked man was also the most reliable witness in the room, and the prosecution (embarrassed?) backed down.
But the legal system managed to unmask him - he had been patrolling for a long time with no-one knowing who he was, until then. I think certain members in the police had been waiting for the opportunity to slap him down, and thought they'd found it when angry drunks wanted to press charges. Oops.
But he's visible, he's friendly, he tries to be part of the community, he's charismatic (which doesn't hurt), he tries hard, he's easy to like.
He gets my thumbs up :)
posted by -harlequin- at 11:16 PM on April 28, 2012 [7 favorites]
Lot's of people (but not the police) like Seattle's Phoenix Jones (GIS).
Jones was also arrested, with the police account of what happened (assaulting party-goers) being very different from PJ's account. So PJ released video of the event, which showed the masked man was also the most reliable witness in the room, and the prosecution (embarrassed?) backed down.
But the legal system managed to unmask him - he had been patrolling for a long time with no-one knowing who he was, until then. I think certain members in the police had been waiting for the opportunity to slap him down, and thought they'd found it when angry drunks wanted to press charges. Oops.
But he's visible, he's friendly, he tries to be part of the community, he's charismatic (which doesn't hurt), he tries hard, he's easy to like.
He gets my thumbs up :)
posted by -harlequin- at 11:16 PM on April 28, 2012 [7 favorites]
Venge - Lansing, Michigan
Attributes/Training: Self trained martial artist of 14 years.
I, too, have watched kung-fu movies for over a decade. Where do I sign up?
posted by solotoro at 12:06 AM on April 29, 2012
Attributes/Training: Self trained martial artist of 14 years.
I, too, have watched kung-fu movies for over a decade. Where do I sign up?
posted by solotoro at 12:06 AM on April 29, 2012
Sort of like Mystery Men without any of the funny parts.
posted by GuyZero at 1:18 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 1:18 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
So PJ released video of the event, which showed the masked man was also the most reliable witness in the room, and the prosecution (embarrassed?) backed down.
I'd like to also mention two other key factors in this story:
Phoenix Jones lost his day job tutoring autistic children because he was unmasked and arrested, even though the charges were dropped after he released the video to the public.
The Seattle Police Department is currently being investigated by the Justice Department for several racially charged incidents, including kicking suspects in the head and using racial slurs. Their recent report was pretty damning.
Interestingly, but predictably, various yahoos have already begun trying to politicize this.
Good, because this issue is political.
I'm not saying I agree with vigilante justice. But as our government falls apart, as normal citizens fail to be served adequately by public infrastructure and services, we're going to see more and more vigilantes. Not just in criminal justice, but in other areas as well too.
It's not a coincidence that the superhero movement is erupting into public consciousness and growing now. It's a reflection of public views and trust in government and safety.
posted by formless at 2:01 AM on April 29, 2012 [5 favorites]
I'd like to also mention two other key factors in this story:
Phoenix Jones lost his day job tutoring autistic children because he was unmasked and arrested, even though the charges were dropped after he released the video to the public.
The Seattle Police Department is currently being investigated by the Justice Department for several racially charged incidents, including kicking suspects in the head and using racial slurs. Their recent report was pretty damning.
Interestingly, but predictably, various yahoos have already begun trying to politicize this.
Good, because this issue is political.
I'm not saying I agree with vigilante justice. But as our government falls apart, as normal citizens fail to be served adequately by public infrastructure and services, we're going to see more and more vigilantes. Not just in criminal justice, but in other areas as well too.
It's not a coincidence that the superhero movement is erupting into public consciousness and growing now. It's a reflection of public views and trust in government and safety.
posted by formless at 2:01 AM on April 29, 2012 [5 favorites]
Bee Sting is a terrible name for a super hero. It makes him sound like a child molester.
"What do you like to do for fun, mate?"
"Find out where the little kids hang out and then go beasting."
"OK, that's your superhero name. Bee Sting."
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:43 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
"What do you like to do for fun, mate?"
"Find out where the little kids hang out and then go beasting."
"OK, that's your superhero name. Bee Sting."
posted by PeterMcDermott at 2:43 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
That reminds me of an eggcorn I found in the database: "beasting lips" instead of "beestung lips".
posted by XMLicious at 3:22 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by XMLicious at 3:22 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
All I know is that when I start my vigilante/superhero career, I'm wearing these.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:28 AM on April 29, 2012
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:28 AM on April 29, 2012
I thought the whole concept of superhero was that they had special abilities, so they didn't need firearms. Bee Sting is lucky the biker didn't shoot him with his own shotgun, or with a pistol the biker just happened to be carrying. I have no love for loud bikes, but going to confront the rider of one with a shotgun betrays a total failure of judgment.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:26 AM on April 29, 2012
posted by Kirth Gerson at 4:26 AM on April 29, 2012
Interestingly, but predictably, various yahoos have already begun trying to politicize this.
Good, because this issue is political.
I'm not saying I agree with vigilante justice. But as our government falls apart, as normal citizens fail to be served adequately by public infrastructure and services, we're going to see more and more vigilantes. Not just in criminal justice, but in other areas as well too.
It's not a coincidence that the superhero movement is erupting into public consciousness and growing now. It's a reflection of public views and trust in government and safety.
That's funny, because violent crime has been declining in this country steeply for 20 years. Like 70% down from 1993. Last year, violent crime dropped 12%.
This country has zero need for vigilantes. This man leveled and fired a shotgun at someone because he felt his motorcycle was too loud. Superheroes are fictional characters and live in a fictional world. With real blood in it.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:10 AM on April 29, 2012 [9 favorites]
Good, because this issue is political.
I'm not saying I agree with vigilante justice. But as our government falls apart, as normal citizens fail to be served adequately by public infrastructure and services, we're going to see more and more vigilantes. Not just in criminal justice, but in other areas as well too.
It's not a coincidence that the superhero movement is erupting into public consciousness and growing now. It's a reflection of public views and trust in government and safety.
That's funny, because violent crime has been declining in this country steeply for 20 years. Like 70% down from 1993. Last year, violent crime dropped 12%.
This country has zero need for vigilantes. This man leveled and fired a shotgun at someone because he felt his motorcycle was too loud. Superheroes are fictional characters and live in a fictional world. With real blood in it.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:10 AM on April 29, 2012 [9 favorites]
I have no love for loud bikes, but going to confront the rider of one with a shotgun betrays a total failure of judgment.
Not only that--but we do not actually know if the bike was louder than the law allows. The fact that this yahoo thought so doesn't mean it was.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:12 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Not only that--but we do not actually know if the bike was louder than the law allows. The fact that this yahoo thought so doesn't mean it was.
posted by Ironmouth at 6:12 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's not a coincidence that the superhero movement is erupting into public consciousness and growing now.
Oh please. Middle-aged men with comic-book fetishes and a distinct lack of maturity do not make a "movement". To treat this loser as anything other than pathetic-yet-dangerous is to give him (and this supposed movement) far more legitimacy than they deserve. And they deserve none.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:53 AM on April 29, 2012 [2 favorites]
Oh please. Middle-aged men with comic-book fetishes and a distinct lack of maturity do not make a "movement". To treat this loser as anything other than pathetic-yet-dangerous is to give him (and this supposed movement) far more legitimacy than they deserve. And they deserve none.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:53 AM on April 29, 2012 [2 favorites]
Lot's of people (but not the police) like Seattle's Phoenix Jones
He seems like a decent, if daft, bloke, going by Jon Ronson's
profile for GQ and the splendidly-titled ebook The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones And the Less Amazing Adventures of Some Other Real-Life Superheroes.
posted by jack_mo at 7:01 AM on April 29, 2012
He seems like a decent, if daft, bloke, going by Jon Ronson's
profile for GQ and the splendidly-titled ebook The Amazing Adventures of Phoenix Jones And the Less Amazing Adventures of Some Other Real-Life Superheroes.
posted by jack_mo at 7:01 AM on April 29, 2012
I'm thinking of doing the superhero thing.. I've already purchased my vehicle...
that's me on the right
posted by HuronBob at 8:10 AM on April 29, 2012 [3 favorites]
that's me on the right
posted by HuronBob at 8:10 AM on April 29, 2012 [3 favorites]
I'm not saying I agree with vigilante justice. But as our government falls apart, as normal citizens fail to be served adequately by public infrastructure and services, we're going to see more and more vigilantes. Not just in criminal justice, but in other areas as well too.Our government falls appart? Okay, obviously there is some dysfunction in D.C. but that has nothing to do with local governments who run police department. Nationwide, crime is down and furthermore how does a guy with a loud bike an example of a failure of government? Maybe he's violating some ordinance or something, but come on.
posted by delmoi at 8:37 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sort of like Mystery Men without any of the funny parts.
So, Mystery Men, then?
posted by joe lisboa at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
So, Mystery Men, then?
posted by joe lisboa at 9:01 AM on April 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
"Petoskey Batman" is the greatest superhero name ever. It points the way to a future where superheroes are franchised. Smallish towns like Petoskey will just have the one Batman, just like they only have one McDonalds, but bigger cities willl have dozens, all differentiated by where their Batcave (tm) is located.
Saginaw would have "The Tittabawassee and McCarty Batman," "The Downtown Batman by the unemployment office," and "That Batman over past the big curve on N. Michigan."
posted by LiteOpera at 9:07 AM on April 29, 2012 [11 favorites]
Saginaw would have "The Tittabawassee and McCarty Batman," "The Downtown Batman by the unemployment office," and "That Batman over past the big curve on N. Michigan."
posted by LiteOpera at 9:07 AM on April 29, 2012 [11 favorites]
that's Fenton Road for you.
posted by clavdivs at 11:20 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 11:20 AM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
I’d never seen the Mall Ninja story before, that was really something.
posted by bongo_x at 11:23 AM on April 29, 2012
posted by bongo_x at 11:23 AM on April 29, 2012
Here is some background, while "superheros" are a bit, well, even for me. There is some alarming things happening where he was superheroing.
posted by clavdivs at 11:24 AM on April 29, 2012
posted by clavdivs at 11:24 AM on April 29, 2012
Not much for the fighting crime thing. Maybe "The Night Hoover" could pick up litter, or something.
posted by Trochanter at 11:28 AM on April 29, 2012
posted by Trochanter at 11:28 AM on April 29, 2012
That's funny, because violent crime has been declining in this country steeply for 20 years.
Speaking of Saginaw, MI, you ever live there? I did, for most of my life.
It had the highest violent crime rate in the US for close to a decade.
Like I said before, I don't agree with vigilante justice, but there's something happening here from a sociological perspective that bears investigating, not just snark.
Not only that--but we do not actually know if the bike was louder than the law allows.
Reminds me of a public community meeting on crime in Belltown Seattle I sat in on a while ago. The new police chief and other representatives were there to address some shootings and the persistent violence that occurs during the weekend when the bars let out. After reassuring he attendees for a while, they opened up for questions from the public. We had been discussing multiple shootings, rampant public drug dealing, and fighting.
The first question?
Some old lady, a resident for many years, asked:
"Can you do anything about the loud motorcycles?"
Public perception of crime and safety has nothing to do with the true fact we all know on here that actual violent crime is decreasing. And there really has been a loss of faith in local police departments throughout the country.
posted by formless at 11:37 AM on April 29, 2012
Speaking of Saginaw, MI, you ever live there? I did, for most of my life.
It had the highest violent crime rate in the US for close to a decade.
Like I said before, I don't agree with vigilante justice, but there's something happening here from a sociological perspective that bears investigating, not just snark.
Not only that--but we do not actually know if the bike was louder than the law allows.
Reminds me of a public community meeting on crime in Belltown Seattle I sat in on a while ago. The new police chief and other representatives were there to address some shootings and the persistent violence that occurs during the weekend when the bars let out. After reassuring he attendees for a while, they opened up for questions from the public. We had been discussing multiple shootings, rampant public drug dealing, and fighting.
The first question?
Some old lady, a resident for many years, asked:
"Can you do anything about the loud motorcycles?"
Public perception of crime and safety has nothing to do with the true fact we all know on here that actual violent crime is decreasing. And there really has been a loss of faith in local police departments throughout the country.
posted by formless at 11:37 AM on April 29, 2012
National magazine claims Saginaw 'most dangerous' for women.
Bee-Sting rescuing kittens.
posted by clavdivs at 12:19 PM on April 29, 2012
Bee-Sting rescuing kittens.
posted by clavdivs at 12:19 PM on April 29, 2012
LiteOpera: "Petoskey Batman" is the greatest superhero name ever. It points the way to a future where superheroes are franchised.
You may not realize this if you haven't been following the comics, but that's kind of what's actually going on with Batman these days.
posted by baf at 12:21 PM on April 29, 2012
You may not realize this if you haven't been following the comics, but that's kind of what's actually going on with Batman these days.
posted by baf at 12:21 PM on April 29, 2012
I like that Sentinel listed "CAD" as one of his superhero skills, and that one of the other guys has "MLB-certified" knee and elbow pads.
posted by awfurby at 2:57 PM on April 29, 2012
posted by awfurby at 2:57 PM on April 29, 2012
Lot's of people (but not the police) like Seattle's Phoenix Jones (GIS).
Eh, not so much. Most of the people I've talked to on the streets of Belltown, Capitol Hill and downtown who have actually seen or met him think the guy is either an outright menace or a bad joke.
I agree with them, but here's why:
I've seen him around a few times, and I even followed him around at a distance for a few blocks one night when I had nothing better to do to see how he operated and interacted with the public. It was getting late on a weekend, which in Belltown means drunk dude-bros everywhere doing their thing, mainly being totally douchtastic dudebros.
Everywhere that Pheonix Jones went he damn near started a riot. Whenever he came into view around a corner or down the block, wherever there were dozens of drunk, unlaid dudebros milling outside of whatever crappy trendy bar and it was like throwing raw meat into a pit of angry, starving bears. Things just exploded and became unbalanced quickly.
People (dudebros) would run up to him trying to challenge him to not-so-mock fights. People were bolting into the street in front of traffic to get close enough to either shout pointless praise at PJ or start shrieking about how they could take him.
He basically had to keep moving and hiding (which isn't so easy in a big black/yellow rubber suit while a small gang of nerds with video cameras and lights follow you around) otherwise he'd be mobbed with said bros. I saw him hold still for about 30 seconds and he quickly acquired a rowdy mob from the fronts of about a half a dozen to a dozen bars, and if he hadn't have moved on when he did things were about to get really out of hand.
In the wake of all this chaos I watched dozens of small low intensity fights, shouting and shoving matches break out as the dudes and bros and the dudebros got all charged up on testosterone mixed with alcohol and they were left with the anticlimax of Phoenix Jones just moving on and mostly ignoring them.
He's not a super hero. He may have started out with all the will and intent of wanting to do the right thing and be a superhero, and wanting to help people but in reality he's mainly an attention whore in a rubber suit.
He doesn't really solve any real problems. He seems to create many more problems than he solves.
And since he doesn't have the backing of law, he's actually even more useless than an SPD police officer. Just like the police - it's going to be exceedingly rare he's in the right time and the right place to actually stop an assault or robbery from happening before it happens no matter how much he "patrols".
But at least the police can legally be there to help pick up the pieces and, y'know, file police reports and stuff. Things that actually have weight in a court of law if the criminals in question are found or caught.
The idea of superheroes is nice and all, but the reality doesn't match the theory. I'm not sure if would match the theory even if these amateur superheroes had real superpowers or supergadgets.
Because people and their egos mainly suck. It's like anarchism, communism or libertarianism. It looks great on paper, but falls apart when presented with the reality of shitty, selfish, ignorant or even outright mean people.
posted by loquacious at 3:20 PM on April 29, 2012 [12 favorites]
Eh, not so much. Most of the people I've talked to on the streets of Belltown, Capitol Hill and downtown who have actually seen or met him think the guy is either an outright menace or a bad joke.
I agree with them, but here's why:
I've seen him around a few times, and I even followed him around at a distance for a few blocks one night when I had nothing better to do to see how he operated and interacted with the public. It was getting late on a weekend, which in Belltown means drunk dude-bros everywhere doing their thing, mainly being totally douchtastic dudebros.
Everywhere that Pheonix Jones went he damn near started a riot. Whenever he came into view around a corner or down the block, wherever there were dozens of drunk, unlaid dudebros milling outside of whatever crappy trendy bar and it was like throwing raw meat into a pit of angry, starving bears. Things just exploded and became unbalanced quickly.
People (dudebros) would run up to him trying to challenge him to not-so-mock fights. People were bolting into the street in front of traffic to get close enough to either shout pointless praise at PJ or start shrieking about how they could take him.
He basically had to keep moving and hiding (which isn't so easy in a big black/yellow rubber suit while a small gang of nerds with video cameras and lights follow you around) otherwise he'd be mobbed with said bros. I saw him hold still for about 30 seconds and he quickly acquired a rowdy mob from the fronts of about a half a dozen to a dozen bars, and if he hadn't have moved on when he did things were about to get really out of hand.
In the wake of all this chaos I watched dozens of small low intensity fights, shouting and shoving matches break out as the dudes and bros and the dudebros got all charged up on testosterone mixed with alcohol and they were left with the anticlimax of Phoenix Jones just moving on and mostly ignoring them.
He's not a super hero. He may have started out with all the will and intent of wanting to do the right thing and be a superhero, and wanting to help people but in reality he's mainly an attention whore in a rubber suit.
He doesn't really solve any real problems. He seems to create many more problems than he solves.
And since he doesn't have the backing of law, he's actually even more useless than an SPD police officer. Just like the police - it's going to be exceedingly rare he's in the right time and the right place to actually stop an assault or robbery from happening before it happens no matter how much he "patrols".
But at least the police can legally be there to help pick up the pieces and, y'know, file police reports and stuff. Things that actually have weight in a court of law if the criminals in question are found or caught.
The idea of superheroes is nice and all, but the reality doesn't match the theory. I'm not sure if would match the theory even if these amateur superheroes had real superpowers or supergadgets.
Because people and their egos mainly suck. It's like anarchism, communism or libertarianism. It looks great on paper, but falls apart when presented with the reality of shitty, selfish, ignorant or even outright mean people.
posted by loquacious at 3:20 PM on April 29, 2012 [12 favorites]
Phoenix Jones, previously, and a discussion of Jon Ronson's article here. Some of the MeFites who commented about him above might want to look over those threads, especially this comment. (Also, on preview, loquacious. It's funny how people who've actually seen him in RL have a completely different opinion from all the dudes on the internet egging him on, eh?)
And now this guy, who comes off as more of a wannabe SWAT cop than the Friendly Neighborhood [Random Animal Person] who watches your bike rack. He more closely resembles the Comedian from Watchmen than any cosplayer. Yes, it's a pain in the fucking ass when someone in a loud vehicle wakes you up in the middle of the night, but this guy is whipping out a shotgun in a trailer park. Plus, just like Phoenix Jones who seems to get hurt often despite being a young, fit MMA fighter facing lightly-armed opponents, this guy with all of his supposed training gets pwned by someone who, as far as we can tell, is armed with nothing but his justifiable rage.
And, finally, we should rank him as a supervillain for no other reason than that, in his official photo, he's Tebowing.
posted by Halloween Jack at 3:25 PM on April 29, 2012
And now this guy, who comes off as more of a wannabe SWAT cop than the Friendly Neighborhood [Random Animal Person] who watches your bike rack. He more closely resembles the Comedian from Watchmen than any cosplayer. Yes, it's a pain in the fucking ass when someone in a loud vehicle wakes you up in the middle of the night, but this guy is whipping out a shotgun in a trailer park. Plus, just like Phoenix Jones who seems to get hurt often despite being a young, fit MMA fighter facing lightly-armed opponents, this guy with all of his supposed training gets pwned by someone who, as far as we can tell, is armed with nothing but his justifiable rage.
And, finally, we should rank him as a supervillain for no other reason than that, in his official photo, he's Tebowing.
posted by Halloween Jack at 3:25 PM on April 29, 2012
You may not realize this if you haven't been following the comics, but that's kind of what's actually going on with Batman these days.
"actually"?
posted by LiteOpera at 5:20 PM on April 29, 2012
"actually"?
posted by LiteOpera at 5:20 PM on April 29, 2012
Loquatious: I've seen him on the street, met him at parties, clubs, etc, (incognito too) and the vibe I saw was completely different. I'm guessing it's partly a cap hill vs belltown 2am thing (ie remove the dudebro factor). But interactions that I saw seemed positive.
But I can totally imagine the problems you describe with 2am dudebro mixing alcohol, testosterone, aggression and insecurity. (For anyone not aware, WA law is surprisingly conservative in many ways, and establishments can't serve alcohol past 2am, which means most establishments close at 1:30ish am, and the streets swell up with drunk sexually-frustrated guys, while in other states and countries, there isn't a unified kick-them-out time, so they disperse throughout the night instead of hitting critical mass on the street every night like in Seattle).
Another criticism was PJ was cracking down on weed. He seems to have backed off somewhat from that though - no-longer setting the bar at lawbreaking-without-regard-to-community-standards.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if part of the difference we've seen might also be that Cap Hill has more of a tradition of this? After a high-profile gay-bashing a few years ago, a community-watch group got together - big muscly martial-arts-background elements of the community - to patrol the streets, escort people to/from cars/homes etc, and generally make sure that people learned that being aggressively homophobic on Cap Hill was Not Going To Be Tolerated.
From what I heard they were successful. (And it wouldn't surprise me if some of Cap Hill's trash, no-longer welcome there, ended up in Belltown :)
posted by -harlequin- at 7:02 PM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
But I can totally imagine the problems you describe with 2am dudebro mixing alcohol, testosterone, aggression and insecurity. (For anyone not aware, WA law is surprisingly conservative in many ways, and establishments can't serve alcohol past 2am, which means most establishments close at 1:30ish am, and the streets swell up with drunk sexually-frustrated guys, while in other states and countries, there isn't a unified kick-them-out time, so they disperse throughout the night instead of hitting critical mass on the street every night like in Seattle).
Another criticism was PJ was cracking down on weed. He seems to have backed off somewhat from that though - no-longer setting the bar at lawbreaking-without-regard-to-community-standards.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if part of the difference we've seen might also be that Cap Hill has more of a tradition of this? After a high-profile gay-bashing a few years ago, a community-watch group got together - big muscly martial-arts-background elements of the community - to patrol the streets, escort people to/from cars/homes etc, and generally make sure that people learned that being aggressively homophobic on Cap Hill was Not Going To Be Tolerated.
From what I heard they were successful. (And it wouldn't surprise me if some of Cap Hill's trash, no-longer welcome there, ended up in Belltown :)
posted by -harlequin- at 7:02 PM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ha! I just realised that by "incognito" I mean identity revealed... and thus in this case (due to absence of identifying-yet-concealing-garments) hidden! Which is the true identity? Grammar demands to know! :)
posted by -harlequin- at 7:09 PM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by -harlequin- at 7:09 PM on April 29, 2012 [1 favorite]
Speaking of Saginaw, MI, you ever live there? I did, for most of my life.
You are Lefty Frizzell and I claim my five pounds!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:40 AM on April 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
You are Lefty Frizzell and I claim my five pounds!
posted by PeterMcDermott at 12:40 AM on April 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
This kind of validates my idea that if superheroes really existed, we would all hate them.
In a world with actual superheroes, I imagine we would all be reading comics about pirates, instead.
posted by kaibutsu at 8:30 AM on April 30, 2012
In a world with actual superheroes, I imagine we would all be reading comics about pirates, instead.
posted by kaibutsu at 8:30 AM on April 30, 2012
-harlequin-: Yeah, I've seen him on Capitol Hill, too, and the vibe was much friendlier.
But this was also a couple of years ago before he became much more widely known and rolling with a posse. I don't know if you've actually interacted with him in public lately but I think maybe his head blew up.
Sure, he's popular but from what I've heard and seen I'm suggesting he's more antihero than hero and people mainly like the idea of him. There's a r/seattle reddit comment I saw the other day that I can't find from someone who runs/owns a restaurant downtown where he sets up camp at and then proceeds not to spend any money.
Or there's also stories of him stopping for pictures while in the middle of running to a fight to break up.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if part of the difference we've seen might also be that Cap Hill has more of a tradition of this?
Sure, Capitol Hill is more friendly, but I would argue that the incident(s) and community response that you're talking about are a whole different thing then what PJ is doing. Those are true heroes, and they weren't all martial artists or weightlifters, and they didn't need masks or cans of bear spray or body armor. Some of those folks were pissed off grannies, too. :)
I would argue that Capitol Hill is just mellower, but it does get as rowdy as Belltown sometimes. Like Capitol Hill the folks who actually live in Belltown aren't the people causing problems on the weekends.
posted by loquacious at 12:11 PM on April 30, 2012
But this was also a couple of years ago before he became much more widely known and rolling with a posse. I don't know if you've actually interacted with him in public lately but I think maybe his head blew up.
Sure, he's popular but from what I've heard and seen I'm suggesting he's more antihero than hero and people mainly like the idea of him. There's a r/seattle reddit comment I saw the other day that I can't find from someone who runs/owns a restaurant downtown where he sets up camp at and then proceeds not to spend any money.
Or there's also stories of him stopping for pictures while in the middle of running to a fight to break up.
Now that I think about it, I wonder if part of the difference we've seen might also be that Cap Hill has more of a tradition of this?
Sure, Capitol Hill is more friendly, but I would argue that the incident(s) and community response that you're talking about are a whole different thing then what PJ is doing. Those are true heroes, and they weren't all martial artists or weightlifters, and they didn't need masks or cans of bear spray or body armor. Some of those folks were pissed off grannies, too. :)
I would argue that Capitol Hill is just mellower, but it does get as rowdy as Belltown sometimes. Like Capitol Hill the folks who actually live in Belltown aren't the people causing problems on the weekends.
posted by loquacious at 12:11 PM on April 30, 2012
There's a r/seattle reddit comment I saw the other day that I can't find from someone who runs/owns a restaurant downtown where he sets up camp at and then proceeds not to spend any money.
Halloween Jack links to a similar comment from that woman here on Metafilter.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:34 PM on April 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Halloween Jack links to a similar comment from that woman here on Metafilter.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 1:34 PM on April 30, 2012 [1 favorite]
Newsflash! Has Pheonix Jones finally met his match?!
people mainly like the idea of him.
Yup. I'm also liking this idea of Rex Velvet :)
posted by -harlequin- at 2:10 PM on May 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
people mainly like the idea of him.
Yup. I'm also liking this idea of Rex Velvet :)
posted by -harlequin- at 2:10 PM on May 1, 2012 [1 favorite]
“There are lots of legitimate folks just like me who want to see the idiot off the street. He’s causing a ruckus.”
What sort of supervillain objects to a ruckus?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:56 PM on May 1, 2012
What sort of supervillain objects to a ruckus?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 2:56 PM on May 1, 2012
(I have to admit I think pretty lowly of the restaurant owner. It speaks of poor character to expressly allow a use, then whine about people behind their backs and name them. If there is an issue with a customer, either speak to them discretely and directly (they are probably quite unaware there is an issue), and/or adjust store policy (such as the back room requiring a minimum order for full service), and/or swallow it as a cost of doing business, and do so gracefully. Running around speaking ill of people behind their back for the terrible offense of using facilities as they were offered (though not as was hoped they would always be used) while not taking constructive steps to help the situation, layers so much BS that it's the worse offense to me.
It's also yet another reinforcement of Seattle's national reputation of people preferring to be passive aggressive and snitty instead of constructive.
posted by -harlequin- at 3:00 PM on May 1, 2012
It's also yet another reinforcement of Seattle's national reputation of people preferring to be passive aggressive and snitty instead of constructive.
posted by -harlequin- at 3:00 PM on May 1, 2012
Phoenix Jones made an appearance at Seattle's May Day protest: "Baconcat was taking pictures at the courthouse and Phoenix was screaming at the group, 'I'm not against you guys, I'm here to keep the peace and protect this historic building,' and then took them out with pepper spray. Baconcat says his eyes are dry as hell."
Baconcat is a commenter on The Slog, but I have more fun imagining it's the name of another superperson.
posted by compartment at 5:00 PM on May 1, 2012
Baconcat is a commenter on The Slog, but I have more fun imagining it's the name of another superperson.
posted by compartment at 5:00 PM on May 1, 2012
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And rightfully so.
posted by Avenger at 7:01 PM on April 28, 2012 [11 favorites]