Greetings and salutations readers!
My my my, a lot can happen in the space of a week and two broadcasts. I was pleased to be the last minute co-host on Creature Feature last night, no offense to Tiny Terror that had prior engagements. The discussions were fun and informative, and despite a miscommunication on behalf of Tothian on what he meant when he asked for a phone booth impression, things went rather well.
Among the points I was able to put forth to the RLSH and RLSV community was the contention between the actions of certain members. For those of you that were unable to listen to the show, it seems to me that there is a growing schism between members of the RLSH community doing real good and uplifting people such as DC's Guardian, people aiding in charity work or community activists, acting as inspiration to those around them, and a growing number of people who are being reported as dressing in costume, taking to the streets and striking first, without proof of criminal activity or ganging up on people in suspicious ways. Now, I am NOT saying that ALL members of the RLSH are doing this, and in some cases, people reporting criminals to the police as concerned citizens is all well and good. The problem I seem to hear more and more is fear. Fear of whether or not the people engaging in these activities have a strong grounding in reality or the law, and fear of innocent people being pulled into their actions, whether by friendly fire or reprisals by people with full capability and intent to harm and kill, and fear that the actions of vigilante mavericks may harm the reputation and cast a damning light upon those doing genuinely good works within the space of legality.
Since the problem appears to be in the labeling and association, I make a proposal of definition to the Real Life Superhero community. George Carlin once said that we as human beings(I'll forgive the fact he wasn't including Krampus in the human analogy, you dead fuck) think in terms and concepts of language. And if you can manipulate or control language, you can control thought. As attractive as mind control may be, 'tis not my goal at this time, nor do I wish to micro-manage. What I wish to address is a simple change of language. To separate the actions of positive role models in the community and people abiding to the Real Life Superhero status of being uplifting as opposed to the shadowy actions of those that threaten to besmirch them by acting as vigilantes, then I propose that the community call them what they really are. Real Life Anti-Heroes, the RLAH! Or if you don't like the name, Real Life Vigilante Heroes, or drop the hero from the name altogether. When I talked of this on Creature Feature, the response, after a pause of silence, was actually quite resounding and accepting. From what has been gathered, there are many in the RLSH community that classify their own actions as that of anti-hero anyway, and would accept the distinction. So whether you wish to call them RLAH or RLV's, I offer this choice of language to better define those in the community, allowing each to be recognized, and to be made distinct from one another in the minds of both participants in the community and observers from outside the communities.
I have submitted a copy of the above to the RLSH website, let us see if the name of the new terminology will take root. 'Twould be nice if I were the origin of such a distinction that may help to alleviate future errors in definition. Ah, only time will tell. In the meantime, I am quite pleased with the recent turn of events. One week I'm stealing the show, the next I'm the co-host! This is delicious! And apparently with the exception of one, my term RLAH was accepted by virtually all calling in. Now I know that some simply wish to break shit, and perhaps RSV would be more appropriate. But come now! With initials like RLAH, it would be easy to call the perpetrators Real Life Assholes! It writes itself! It also tickles me in dark places that I've apparently garners the same level of rabid fans as Howard Stern! There appears to be one who hasn't called in, but LOVES to comment on Krampus every time I speak. This rabid cheerleader seems to have the same fervor as anti-Stern listeners who can't help but listen to see what will be said next, but refuses to call. Almost a shame this individual loves to listen, but can't summon the testicular fortitude to speak without a keyboard. Ah well, we can't all be eloquent when asked to speak publicly. Can we?
Or should I say...can you?
Auf Wiedersehen, and may your nightmares remind you how wonderful it feels to be alive,
Krampus
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