Would humanity have actually turned against Clark?

[Iluvgreen]

That was so cool! I'm sorry, but just seeing how the crowd could be changed instantly...... my sisters kept saying that it was unrealistic, but it wasn't! That's exactly how crowds are when they get together! They are dumbed down! I loved the writing in this episode because they illistrated that pendilum effect so well!

[doomvskal86]

Yeah I agree people can switch their opinion so fast

[REebee52]

All it takes to view the evidence of the pendulum effect is to listen to fans of this show... (this is probably going to get modded, but oh well!) It's true with all fandom, though, they are fickle by nature.
I actually think it was less realistic how excited they were to meet the alien. I feel there would have been a lot more fear from the onset, then he'd earn their trust, then they'd turn on him.

[Kevin24]

^ Lois is just that good of a writer and reporter that she won them all over with her words to describe his life story and show him in a good light. :D

[REebee52]

^ Lois is just that good of a writer and reporter that she won them all over with her words to describe his life story and show him in a good light. :D

haha, touche. I've just always wanted to see Superman FEARED when he first comes, because let's face it, that would be a little terrifying. It's one of my favorite aspects of Superman: Birthright, how people also become terrified of Clark once they see what he can do. Then, Lex Luthor (or here, Linda Lake) plays off the fears as soon as people started to trust him, and there's a backlash. He's reviled by those he tries to save.

[Hopefulsuicide]

People absolutely can switch their opinions fast... but not THAT fast.

I mean literally, the newspapers hit the floor, and people are crowding around to kiss his arse... most of them will have read about the red blue blur, but they'd still be cautious. No one is that immediately trusting, especially to someone with 'Alien' in their headline.

And then why would they so immediately trust Linda Lake, with no proof, and decide to hate him and hunt him... it's like there was no one with any sense at all in the entire of the public, or the authorities...

[luthorian]

It was realistic in theory but they should've written it better aka make something actually happen to turn them against him. Like have more crazy fans jumping and Clark not being able to save them all. That would make people judge him and turn against him but not make him seem like an idiot to people watching the show...

[Hopefulsuicide]

But anyone with a logical brain wouldn't hate him for things like that. The thing is, yes the public can be influenced by the media. I am actually doing a dissertation at the moment on how the British press has affected our view of the Islamic faith. But it is not that simple. Most of the questionnaires actual reveal the opposite of media influence.

Bottom line = people aren't actually that stupid, even on mass.

First of all, half the world wouldn't believe he was an alien... Do you honestly thing that as soon as the story hit the floor people would go 'Oh, so aliens are real... let's give him a hug'... it was ridiculous!

But after that's settled down and people start to react to him in the way they have reacted to Superman in past interpretations (wondering why he didn't save 'their' loved ones), it is still harder to make them think he is completely evil. Villains have tried the 'invading force of aliens' line before, and it has never succeeded... except here, and this villain isn't even half as convincing...

[REebee52]

But anyone with a logical brain wouldn't hate him for things like that. The thing is, yes the public can be influenced by the media. I am actually doing a dissertation at the moment on how the British press has affected our view of the Islamic faith. But it is not that simple. Most of the questionnaires actual reveal the opposite of media influence.

Bottom line = people aren't actually that stupid, even on mass.

First of all, half the world wouldn't believe he was an alien... Do you honestly thing that as soon as the story hit the floor people would go 'Oh, so aliens are real... let's give him a hug'... it was ridiculous!

But after that's settled down and people start to react to him in the way they have reacted to Superman in past interpretations (wondering why he didn't save 'their' loved ones), it is still harder to make them think he is completely evil. Villains have tried the 'invading force of aliens' line before, and it has never succeeded... except here, and this villain isn't even half as convincing...

On the part about "Oh aliens are real... Lets give him a hug." I completely agree. The public would not have reacted like that, at all. It was cheesy and baloney. First they'd be skeptic, then they'd be afraid. Eventually they'd start to turn the corner and THIS is when the bomb is dropped to make them turn violent. It actually worked quite well in 'Birthright' when Lex created an entire artificial Kryptonian army, complete with S's, and made it seem that Clark WAS the first wave of an alien invasion.

[sithius]

I don't think they would have. I think the government would have done what they did in this episode, but the general public? No, not by enlarge anyway.

He would be treated pretty similarly to Superman. Obviously it's not a good idea though, because those that hate him (that includes the government) would harm his loved ones. But that horse Linda Lake? I really doubt the public would believe a word she says. At the end of the day, Clark is helping people whilst she's doing **** all. Good credibility right there.

Thoughts?

[Night_Hawk90]

I dont believe humanity would have turned against him, but as you said there will always be those out there whose sole intention is to tear him down.

[Iluvgreen]

People absolutely can switch their opinions fast... but not THAT fast.

I mean literally, the newspapers hit the floor, and people are crowding around to kiss his arse... most of them will have read about the red blue blur, but they'd still be cautious. No one is that immediately trusting, especially to someone with 'Alien' in their headline.

And then why would they so immediately trust Linda Lake, with no proof, and decide to hate him and hunt him... it's like there was no one with any sense at all in the entire of the public, or the authorities...



Alien or not.... he'd been saving them for this whole season, and they realized that. Of course they are going to see him more of a friend than an enemy. They trusted Linda Lake, because they realized that, yes he is an alien. They believed that they were too trusting of him before.
People are dumbed-down in masses. It's been shown for centuries. Just read the play "The Tragedy of Julius Cesaer" by William Shakespeare and you'll see what I mean. Masses are made up of intellegent people, but when they get put together in a crowd, they are dumbed down. It's even in the history books, if you look it up. (not like I'm telling anyone to do. History isn't exactly very interesting to some people. :))

[zorasuperman]

yes I do think humanity would have turned against clark
i mean there are numerous examples of the paparazzi eating up somebody; regardless of whether or not the person in question was innocent or guilty in any of the matter, the paparazzi and reporters have made a lot of ppl's life a living nightmare. britney spears, michael jackson, lindsay lohan, etc. regardless of your feelings for these ppl, the paparazzi do not make it easy and some reporters add more salt to the wound

[oldblackmagick]

Alien or not.... he'd been saving them for this whole season, and they realized that. Of course they are going to see him more of a friend than an enemy. They trusted Linda Lake, because they realized that, yes he is an alien. They believed that they were too trusting of him before.
People are dumbed-down in masses. It's been shown for centuries. Just read the play "The Tragedy of Julius Cesaer" by William Shakespeare and you'll see what I mean. Masses are made up of intellegent people, but when they get put together in a crowd, they are dumbed down. It's even in the history books, if you look it up. (not like I'm telling anyone to do. History isn't exactly very interesting to some people. :))

(No History sucks a$$:p) But you are right. People say black people can't be trusted and suddenly every black person is some horrible criminal...same with asian people back in the day and with Indian people after 9/11. We hear something and get scared into action even action we think we could never be capable of. As far as evolution goes we still have a long way to go cause in the end we are all animals just living day to day going off instinct and not much else. its sad but true:(

(not trying to be offensive so please don't take it that way:))

[BillBoeBaggins]

If he is the first wave an "alien invasion" that runs around and saves people, then cool come on down!

[marcella]

That shows how easily some people can change their minds.

[bobsuncorp]

In "Birthright" (my favourite origin story) when Superman reveals himself, the people react pretty much the same way, and they even have the same bogus "vanguard of an alien invasion" accusation with similar results. The difference was that no-one knew where Superman lived, and so he was able to protect himself and his friends from any backlash while he took the time to prove himself to the masses.

This is just one more "lesson" to Clark to what he needs to be in order to fulfill his destiny.

[Hopefulsuicide]

On the part about "Oh aliens are real... Lets give him a hug." I completely agree. The public would not have reacted like that, at all. It was cheesy and baloney. First they'd be skeptic, then they'd be afraid. Eventually they'd start to turn the corner and THIS is when the bomb is dropped to make them turn violent. It actually worked quite well in 'Birthright' when Lex created an entire artificial Kryptonian army, complete with S's, and made it seem that Clark WAS the first wave of an alien invasion.

Yes, it has been done better many times. Trask on LnC was the leader of a rogue part of the government called Bureau 39 who became obsessed with the theory that Superman was part of an alien invasion. He and his storyline was great.

Alien or not.... he'd been saving them for this whole season, and they realized that. Of course they are going to see him more of a friend than an enemy. They trusted Linda Lake, because they realized that, yes he is an alien. They believed that they were too trusting of him before.
People are dumbed-down in masses. It's been shown for centuries. Just read the play "The Tragedy of Julius Cesaer" by William Shakespeare and you'll see what I mean. Masses are made up of intellegent people, but when they get put together in a crowd, they are dumbed down. It's even in the history books, if you look it up. (not like I'm telling anyone to do. History isn't exactly very interesting to some people. :))

Do the public love and trust Green Arrow? Nope. I don't see why they would trust Red Blue Blur any more than him.

His whole 'saving people' thing is a little confusing. Is he only doing it at night? What is he doing with the criminals he is stopping? Does he just knock them out and then leave them to run away later and commit more crimes. Things like saving Lois from being hit like that car are too fast for people to even realize that they have been saved...

So i don't understand why the public love him so much... I mean the public love Superman because he is the hero with a face, they are allowed to say thank you, he makes public appearances.

Red Blue Blur is just a blurry picture on the front of a newspaper one time, and people might have reported that they think they were saved by him, but they can't be sure because they didn't see him... how has he gotten such a brilliant reputation? It makes no logical sense.

So i don't see why, when they found out that this 'blur' they saw in the newspaper is an alien, they would love him, just because of some rumors that he might have saved them, and a story by an young women who lived with him about how great he is.

(No History sucks a$$:p) But you are right. People say black people can't be trusted and suddenly every black person is some horrible criminal...same with asian people back in the day and with Indian people after 9/11. We hear something and get scared into action even action we think we could never be capable of. As far as evolution goes we still have a long way to go cause in the end we are all animals just living day to day going off instinct and not much else. its sad but true:(

(not trying to be offensive so please don't take it that way:))

Distrust is definitely there, but it creeps up. It's never been sudden.

No, humans don't trust aliens. But they seemed to trust Clark so readily at first, until some crazy lady told them not too... that's just ridiculous IMO.

I mean, if a discredited gossip monger called a press conference tomorrow to tell us that Samuel L. Jackson had shot someone, would the authorities go around to arrest him? Would anyone believe it? Of course they wouldn't... in fact the women would never get a press conference in the first place...

"I want to call a press conference"

"What for?"

"I want to tell the world that Clark Kent killed Lex Luthor and is dangerous."

"OMG... well do you have any proof?"

"Proof?"

"Yeah, i mean i can't let you go up there and make those accusations if you don't have any proof... that's slander..."

"But i want tooooooo"

:rolleyes:

[yedda]

The general population would probably not have reacted to CK with such adoration in the beginning.

The rest does seem fairly realistic. I bet the gov't was ready to cry from happiness when Linda said he was a threat. We all know they want to get their hands on aliens so they can run tests and perform autopsies. Any excuse will do, and when the gov't jumped on it, the masses followed. Why should they trust someone who is running from the law?

[drvr8]

Do not underestimate the power of fear. In our own country's history, fear has turned public opinion against individuals and groups all the time. For the sake of the show, maybe a 6 hr flip-flop was unrealistic, but the fear of the unknown and 'alien groups' tap into racism and prejudice and genocides throughout history.

[Iluvgreen]

Do the public love and trust Green Arrow? Nope. I don't see why they would trust Red Blue Blur any more than him.

The reason they didn't trust the Green Arrow is becuase they thought he was a theif. They saw him as a bad guy. It was publisized in the newspaper that there was someone out there saving them before Lois wrote that story. Jimmy had the picture. People new he was out there. They loved him, because he had a face. Someone that they could say thank you to.

Now, the pendilum effect........Linda Lake tells people that she knows stuff about him, so they interview her, not knowing what she will say. They probably knew it would be bad. But they wanted to see a bad side to their hero. "What people loves more than building up heros, is tearing them down."

People were dumbed down in the masses. So they believed her. She said she had proof to all these bad deeds he did, then said that he killed Lex. People believed that because they believed he did all the other bad things too.

[MrZeppo]

You know, as much as I would love to say humanity wouldn't turn on Clark, they would.

Because people can turn on others that quickly. Someone here mentioned 9/11. I was there that day. I was as horrified as others because I was born and raised here in New York. I tried to help as much as I could that day.

And as close as that brought people, as unified as we were, there was dissent afterwards.

Because at the same time small minded people can turn easily. After 9/11 I was treated horribley just because of the color of my skin. And it wasn't because SO many people hated people with my skin tone. It was because a few people turned around and said people who look similar to me were to blame. And sometimes people need someone to blame for their pain. Look at how that woman blamed Clark for not saving her husband. Look at how quickly society turns on celebrities at the slightest rumor?

Some think having the people accept Clark so easily is far-fetched. I doubt it. And international celebrity status wouldn't be surprising. If we got a revelation of someone on Earth that was like Clark, they would be revered and treated the same way. And at the tiniest hint of wrongdoing, they'd be persecuted. Especially because they are so powerful. Governments wouldn't like the idea of someone like that running around outside their control.

For a while they have known of someone in red and blue, superspeeding around, saving people. That is pretty far-fetched, but people accepted it, kids were running around in red and blue because they idealized this being out there doing good and helping people.

They got used to the idea, the sudden revelation the RBB was an alien wouldn't floor me as much as the revelations aliens exist would floor me. But being who I am, if aliens came to Earth, I know I would do my best to accept them. Because I know what it feels like to feel different, on the outside, and I don't like doing that to others.

I don't think I'm the only one in the world who feels like that.