Tag Crime

One phase of my stealth ” real life superhero ( RLSH ) ” activities before the Movement was keeping tabs on suspects and/or declared fugitives. Information gathered was forwarded to the appropriate agency. As a dutiful bounty hunter earning rewards drove this alongside civic duty. I’m not opposed to catching criminals for pay; law enforcement does it every day. Opponents of bounty hunting should be able to magically make policing pro bono and watch officers surge to resign!
RLSH normally don’t fight crime for profit. Many feel it’s anathema to the Movement’s overall altruism. Others reply any monies accepted should be used to fund homeless outreach or equipment needs. Real life superheroes, overtly or covertly, have access to information police would find interesting. As a RLSH whose background includes bounty hunting and security consulting I’ve made a living from what we usually do for free. Reconciling the two is easy, because I genuinely enjoy contributing to public safety. The bulk of my efforts, stealth and openly RLSH, is freely given.
Deciding whether crime fighting should become a revenue stream is a personal choice. I fight crime for a purpose: to help people help themselves become safer and alternately, persuading criminals to become their higher selves. Self-development is an even more effective crime fighting strategy than patrolling and even RLSH-inspired community coalitions ( RICCs ). The worst crime in my ” Crime ISN’T A Civil Right! ” conversations and presentation is working against being your better self. That’s what drives my activities past, present and future.
Money’s nice, but the above reasons are reward enough for me and real life superheroes generally. We fight crime for a higher purpose not merely for profit!
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development. (912) 272-2898 and
http://reallifesuperheroes.org/archives/3187
 

By Thanatos
If your going to collect evidence remember, most anything you collect is not going to be admissible in any court of law. However it can be used by police to establish what is referred to as ‘probable cause to suspect a criminal activity and investigate’.
If you are going to collect evidence and want it to be useful you have to follow rules and procedure as best you can. you want to be able to prove, to the police if to no one else, that you took the correct procedure on collecting it. this allows them to be able to say that evidence was given to them by a trusted source of information. that’s you.
in another thread is a breakdown of a simple evidence collecting kit. you don’t need everything all at once to get started. read up on proper procedure, found all over the internet and apply it to what you do.

First set up a proper system of keeping track and logging the evidence. you should be able to tell police where you got it, when, how and how was it handled after collecting. being able to show pictures and logs and notes goes a long way to convincing police how professional you are trying to be. trust me, it helps.

Get a separate book to keep track of anything you collect. also keep good notes on all of your activities.

I picked a very loud cover so it wouldn’t get left out. the black envelope is what I use to transfer evidence to my police contact.
Who says we can’t do things in style and still look good?

Forum discussion: http://www.therlsh.net/the-bat-cave-f21/evidence-collection-t3003.htm

In January of 2006, Doktor DiscorD took the liberty of announcing to the internet of the possibility of Real Life Superheroes. He wrote a letter to comic book writer, Warren Ellis, of he and Mr. Silent’s exploits and social network page.
Here is a copy of that letter-
Originally posted: http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=1712
The Live Superheroes Of Indianapolis
January 13th, 2006 | researchmaterial
Doktor DiscorD and Mr Silent are self-invented superheroes.
so tonight is the first night in a new era here in indianapolis. the dawn of the age of superheroes. after realizing the total lack of justice in the world, my friends and i have decided to become superheroes in order to balance this fracturing planet of ours. tonight, with my partner in crime fighting “Mr. Silent”, we went around the city helping people and stopping fights,drunk drivers,and a group of young dumb kids hitting an old woman’s car.
Here’s the note the good Doktor sent me the other day:
mr. ellis
hi,i’m a superhero…..seriously.
some friends and i have become tired of the muggers, rapists, and general riff raff causing problems in our city.
this is not a joke.
we’ve started a group called the Justice Society of Justice (offering twice the Justice as the leading competitors) and we go out and fight crime on a semi nightly basis.
we’ve only got about 8 hardcore members that go out with us right now,but we’re hoping to raise that number tenfold.
recently,some japanese street fashion kids have found our myspace pages and added us..so within 3 days we’ve had roughly 3-4 japanese weirdo kids adding us per hour…japan seems much more accepting of this concept than the states.
originally,we just thought it’d be funny to go out as superheroes and “fight crime” as a sort of street theater…but after the first hour and the sheer exhilaration of it all,we completely changed our mind. there are real problems,and no one wants to deal with them. some one has to do something.
many people have read about the adventures of your heroes, but soon (hopefully), they’ll be writing about their own adventures. i made a few blog entries about some of our patrols with pictures and stuff…so if you ever want to see how well superheroes work out in the regular world as opposed to paper one,check it out.
say a small prayer to jack kirby for us.
dokdiscord
Mr Silent @ MySpace | Doktor DiscorD @ MySpace

WHEN FICTION BECAME FACT:
The Real Superhero Movement As Civic Duty Reloaded.
By: Nadra Enzi aka Capt. Black
Civic duty is old as the family unit. Individual responsibility to the group is its focus. Modern America fleshed this out further by instituting neighborhood watch and citizens patrol functions as adjuncts to law enforcement. This support capacity was taken a step further in the form of creative concerned citizens who used comic book motifs to create new crime prevention and emergency need fulfillment roles. Dubbed “ real life superheroes “ ( RLSHs ) by the media this new breed of patrolling citizen is carving a place at the table marked civic duty. To date, concerns about vigilantism haven’t borne incidents of note. Most operate well within the law and are knowledgeable about statutory powers possessed by anyone, costumed or not.
This redefinition of civic duty comes as a supplement of established order instead of a challenge.
Reloading civic duty like this does challenge preconceptions about citizens role in stopping suspected criminal activities. Videotaped encounters at a public park between New York area RLSH and alleged drug dealers alarmed local law enforcement. Their concern was the costumed citizens in question confronted offenders with lengthy records known to carry weapons. These interventions demonstrate the seriousness with which some real life superheroes exercise civic duty. Similar undocumented accounts report citizens arrests made and information provided leading police to purported violators. Beyond dressing up for cameras, this movement has real tactical impact on combating crime without becoming criminals.
The second front operated by RLSHs is humanitarian assistance. While not universally practiced, it has become a movement hallmark to aid the homeless. Colorful personages give food and blankets to the homeless while making rounds. Various costumed activists are known for this even more than fighting crime. Some argue combating homelessness combats root causes of crime. An overriding concern for society’s ignored drives this more than providing creative crime prevention. Patrolling the streets increases awareness of homelessness and the relative lack of mobilization against it. Alongside hospital and school visits, the movement tackles difficult social issues beyond traditional crime prevention.
Reloading civic duty like this opens doors for participation old as the English “hue and cry “system where whistle blowing watchers alerted communities to trouble. It’s new as the latest name of the newest person to don an identity. While reasons for a more engaged public mount, reloading civic duty in such an attention-getting fashion helps motivate folks numbed by bad headlines and an even worse economy.
Real life superheroes breathe new life into time honored notions like civic duty and reload them for a nation desperately needing a more involved citizenry.
The views and comments of Captain Black do not reflect on the views of the RLSH community.
NADRA ENZI AKA CAPT. BLACK promotes crime prevention and self-development through his CRIME ISN’T A CIVIL RIGHT! presentation among other efforts. HELP HAITI Y’ALL is its latest urgent humanitarian highlight. [email protected] and (912) 272-2898. http://www.captblack.info
 
 

By Kari Luu, Staff Writer
To some, he’s just a man skulking through the night for an overdue Halloween party; but to others, he’s a symbol, a crusader and a giver. His identity is a secret. His weaknesses are on par with any other man, but he gets his kicks from doing good and his adrenaline rush comes from sweet justice. He’s just your neighborhood friendly superhero: Mr. Xtreme.
Donning a lucha libre mask and armed with a utility belt stuffed with a tactical flashlight, pepper spray, handcuffs, first-aid kit and a stun-gun, Mr. Xtreme is a homemade superhero who patrols San Diego areas by night in an effort to prevent crime. He sifts through various San Diego areas such as downtown, City Heights, Pacific and Mission beaches and more. On patrols, he occasionally hands out food and drink to homeless people and sometimes works with a superhero from another town.
Mr. Xtreme is one of the more active and visible members of the local Real Life Superheroes Organization, which is an international online community of nearly 300 comic book fans that stays connected through Web sites such as worldsuperheroregistry.com. These heroes spend their free time fighting crime and doing good deeds for society behind the anonymity of a mask and cape.
By day, Mr. Xtreme works as a security guard. As a native San Diegan, he was a witness to the city’s wave of crime in the early ‘90s. He grew infuriated by the public’s apathy and began his mission three years ago to deter crime in this town and promote safety awareness.
Mr. Xtreme’s primary method of crime prevention is acting as a visual deterrent — raising awareness by being highly visible and intervening in situations when a victim is involved. However, he is often invigorated by the gawks and stares he receives because of his outrageous attire.
“We’re not here to take law into our hands,” he said. “We’re not vigilantes. And we’re not here to harass people or violate their civil rights. Our role out there is a neighborhood watch: Deter crime and make sure it doesn’t happen in the first place or raise awareness: So I don’t mind if people get on their cell phones or call the police or try to shake me down.”
Mr. Xtreme cares more about the message he sends to society rather than what people think of him.
“At least I’m getting people to see what I’m doing and hopefully that will get them into the habit of calling the police when there are problems and suspicious activities,” Mr. Xtreme said.
As a young man, Mr. Xtreme himself fell victim to various crimes such as physical abuse, bullying and was even held at gunpoint by a gang. From his experiences, Mr. Xtreme was inspired to become the neighborhood superhero.
“I take the violent victimization of innocent people very personally,” he said. “Even if I don’t know the victims I feel that I can relate to them.”
Although this is not something he can put on his resume, Mr. Xtreme is just in the business to do good. He uses his own money for most of the charity work he does, such as printing flyers when a violent rapist was loose in San Diego. He also distributes food to the homeless and even offered $1,500 of his own money to whoever caught the sexual assault suspect last year. He’s no sellout either. He was offered to be on a reality show, which he turned down.
“I’m trying to give back to the community and do something positive,” Mr. Xtreme said. “All this apathy just kind of bewilders me and makes me kind of lose faith in humanity sometimes because nobody cares. ‘Another victim, another statistic’ and all we hear is, it’s time for a wakeup call and I’m tired of hearing of wakeup calls and instead of getting on with our lives we need to devote and dedicate our lives to take a stand.”
Despite how some may scoff at Mr. Xtreme’s lack of experience and odd ways of applying his justice, he has been training for the last year by learning various martial arts such as jiu-jitsu and judo. He has also taken classes in defensive tactics, handcuffing, first aid, batons and citizen arrest procedures.
“I’ve worked in the security field for several years and worked in a field that’s closely related to what I do here as Mr. Xtreme,” he said. “So I do have some experience in making citizen arrest, dealing with hostile aggressive people and dealing with the police.”
Mr. Xtreme said he hopes to recruit more superheroes in the near future and patrol the College Area.
“When I go out and do this it feels really rewarding,” Mr. Xtreme said. “I’m not bound by society’s rules, I don’t have to be a kissass and I’m trying to do something positive and give back to the community in a time when not too many people care.”
For more information on Mr. Xtreme, visit www.reallifesuperheroes.org.
http://www.thedailyaztec.com/features/travel-adventure/superhero-makes-san-diego-a-better-place-1.2059296

Public Safety patrols – Work on getting a group together to patrol through crime ridden areas. This will help deter crime and let the bad element know there are people watching. You will not run into crime on a regular basis, but it will happen if you are out enough.
Neighborhood watch – Set up or get involved with a local neighborhood watch group.
Post wanted fliers – something like posting wanted fliers is helpful in not only find the criminal but making a statement to the community that their are people watching and looking out.
Clean Graffiti – It helps make the community a nicer place and let’s the vandals know they will not get away with defacing personal and private property.
Area Clean ups – This also helps make the community nicer and show that someone cares and gives the message that we all need to be mindful of our community.
Sting operations – This is a bit difficult and is not a good idea for everyone to do.
Do sting operations like leaving a car unlocked in a bad neighborhood or a woman standing alone. Waiting for a perp to try and do something and bust them on the spot. Do only with a well trained group of individuals. Use cameras to have clear evidence.
Rallies – After you build a rep in a community it would be great to be able to hold a rally about helping the community. It raises awareness, gets people involved, spreads your message, and let’s the bad element know the community is united against them.
All these can help turn a neighborhood around.

By Michael M. DeWitt, Jr.
I admit it. I wear Spiderman underwear. I still have a crush on Wonder Woman. And I have a Superman tattoo located somewhere on my body (you’ll have to use your X-ray vision to find out exactly where, though).
Most people become infatuated with superheroes early in life. At first, it’s the child in us that thinks that awesome, superhuman powers are just plain cool. Later, as we age and our bodies fall apart, superheroism is more about staying strong and young and powerful, about defying our own mortality.
But we often forget the most important element of heroism – helping others. And while we may never be able to fly or teleport or use our X-ray vision to see through walls, we can all be superheroes in our own communities just by helping others.
At least that is the credo of a bold new group that known as Superheroes Anonymous. With names like The Dark Guardian and The Watchman, these guys – and gals, too – actually create and wear their own costumes and venture out into their own neighborhoods looking to make their communities a batter, safer place to live (go to superheroesanonymous.com to learn more, including tips on making your own costume). They patrol the streets of their hometowns, helping strangers and protecting the weak and the innocent.
Immature, or genius? Just ask the people they help.
Superheroes Anonymous members distribute sandwiches to the homeless, volunteer at charitable organizations, distribute clean water, and patrol the streets looking for criminal activity to report, and much, much more. The movement began in New York City and is now spreading rapidly to superhero fans worldwide.
If this zany plan could work in New York’s metropolis, why not Hampton County? Could we make our own hometown a better, safer place to live?
My superhero senses tell me “Yes, we can.” And while you don’t have to don tights or a red cape or any other goofy costume (people will look at you funny in the Piggly Wiggly), and none of us can leap tall buildings in a single bound, I believe that we can all become superheroes and make a difference in our own communities if we only try.
Yes, the people of Hampton County are faced with legions of deadly villains. Crime, drugs, gangs, violence, to name a few. We are also faced with evils less fearsome but no less dangerous – indifference, intolerance, and ignorance.
But each of us also possesses our own unique, special power. The power to do good or help our neighbor in some way, whether it be the power to reach out to a child, or to take food to the needy, or to courageously report a crime.
We have the “super” powers to clean up our streets, to volunteer as mentors and help educate our young people, the power to form Neighborhood Watch groups, and the power to get involved in our educational and political processes.
We have the power to spend a few minutes each week mentoring to a young person, and we have the power to reach out to the sick and elderly.
The world is changing, and the forces of evil grow stronger each day. It’s time for real life community heroes to reveal their identities.
Want to be a superhero? Take action.
Tights and cape are optional.
Do you know a community hero?
If you know someone whom you feel is a community hero, we want to hear from you. Call The Guardian at 943-4645 or email [email protected].

By Carol Rucker
Fighting Crime in Cincinnati-
At age twenty-one, Shadow Hare has already logged four years of fighting crime in the shadows of Cincinnati streets; but he has only recently made his efforts known to the public. Cincinnati’s very own crime fighter stepped out of the shadows at high noon to answer a few questions. “I’m a crime fighter,” Shadow Hare said; and that’s what he does, stopping criminals in the act, preventing crime wherever he goes. Perhaps it was the adversity Shadow Hare endured as a child that inspired his current path. “I was tortured,” he said. Such suffering could very easily have pushed a weaker man toward vindication; but Shadow Hare transformed the energy of those childhood traumas into a drive to make the world a better place. Shadow Hare is a member of the Allegiance of Heroes and what he does is part of a nationwide trend evidenced by World Superhero Registry, one of many sites keeping superhero stats. There are others like him across the country, but until recently, Shadow Hare stood alone in his quest to fight crime on Cincinnati’s streets. These days trusted aide and pupil, Silver Moon, joins him in his crime fighting quest.
Shadow Hare -The Eyes and Ears of Cincinnati-
“To get what you’ve never had, you have to do things you’ve never done,” Shadow Hare explained. True to this age-old philosophy, he is doing something that’s never been done on the streets of Cincinnati. A superhero, patrolling Cincinnati’s streets as the eyes and ears of the police, he prevents crime and spreads awareness.
The Ionosphere – Shadow Hare’s Headquarters-
Shadow Hare is like a shadow indeed, coming and going quickly, slipping in and out of the crowd to aid victims of criminal acts. Sometimes he breezes through the city on a Segway, one of those handy two-wheeled personal transportation devices that make navigating the city’s terrain more convenient than in a car and faster than walking. Like most superheroes, unless someone needs him, Shadow Hare remains illusive to the average citizen. It took Greg Reese From Cincinnati weeks of seeking him out before he located Silver Hare and his companion, Silver Moon, and they agreed to make an appearance in The Ionosphere, their headquarters at the north edge of Downtown Cincinnati The Ionosphere, the official Shadow Hare-Silver-Moon headquarters, is not as secretive a place as the name might imply. It’s a Segway Dealership at Central Parkway and Vine in an up and coming area referred to by some as The Q.
The Shadow Hare’s Crime Fighting Costume-
Shadow Hare was clad in black from head to toe, with a traditional super hero cape flowing behind him. Emblazoned on his chest and characterized in the features of his face mask, was his namesake, the Shadow Hare, a ghostly rabbit with distorted features straight out of one of his dreams. During childhood that ghostly animal reached out to him, Shadow Hare says, becoming his comforter. Today that comforting creature is a symbol of Shadow Hare’s desire to protect and comfort all Cincinnati citizens.
Shadow Hare’s Crime Fighting Tools-
Beneath his costume, Shadow Hare is not the usual tall, muscle-ripped hunk of fictional hero fame. He is an everyday real man, perhaps a bit thin, but with drive and intensity enough to make up for any lack of physical stature. Combined with the element of surprise, Shadow Hare’s martial arts skills are his chief crime fighting weapon. In a brief demonstration, he illustrated his ability to bring down an offender with non lethal force. And if his martial arts skill should fail him, the 120,000 volt tazer dangling from his belt should certainly do the job.
Silver Moon- Shadow Hare’s Companion-
As Shadow Hare’s partner, the petite Silver Moon dons matching head-to-toe-black garb. Arms crossed over the white halo and single star adorning her chest, the super-heroine-in-training manages to look tough while maintaining a feminine air. Like Shadow Hare, she is dedicated to making the city a better place. Silver Moon is new to the crime fighting game. She is still learning from Shadow Hare the martial arts skills necessary to take on Cincinnati’s criminal element; but when you see Shadow Hare, you will most likely see Silver Moon, standing nearby, waiting, watching, and every bit as motivated to serve the public as her male superhero counterpart.
Shadow Hare & Silver Moon – Causing A Stir on the Street-
As the super hero and his lady companion stepped from The Ionosphere into the afternoon sunlight, they struck a pose for the camera, and caused a stir by their mere presence on the street. Lunchtime passersby clicked away with phone cameras. Some stopped to ask a question or two. Motorists called out to him or cheered; some blew their horns as he whoosed by on his Segway. Shadow Hare saluted or waved in return. Moments after Shadow Hare mounted his Segway, preparing to demonstrate how he moves along the city streets, a Cincinnati police car parked near the Vine Street corner where he stood. Next a bicycle-mounted policewoman arrived on the scene, as did another officer who parked his car on Central Parkway. “Some scoff at me. Others take me seriously.” Shadow Hare said, referring to the police officers. To that he added, “I trust the police.” Still he says “no one needs authorization to be a super hero.” If you want to follow in his footsteps, you need only contact him.
More resources

• http://www.worldsuperheroregistry.com/world_superhero_registry_gallery.htm

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1820895/shadow_hare_silver_moon_cincinnatis.html?cat=7

SamaritanCitizen
PostSubject: Isn”t Good ”Ol Fashioned Beat ”em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 7:15 pm
This topic is a little heavy because while I’ve read a decent amount on you guys in the past solid hours of surfing the general philosophy is non-violence. (Which is good. I don’t what a whole bunch of vigilantes running around.) I don’t want to trap anybody in a what if scenario, but for people who do frequent ‘patrols’ some of you are bound to come across scenarios like the ones that I’m about to present…
At any rate, I’ve some questions about you fellas and gals. First off, wouldn’t there be a darker side to ya’lls work? Like, if you were patrolling the streets of Albequerque on a nightly round and noticed a rapist violating someone in an alleyway? Or a daily round of your suburban neighborhood caused you to be witness to a gang mugging in someones house? That is, through the window you see someone who’s life is seriously in danger from being severly assaulted.
Thanks guys, I look forward to your answers.
Dark Guardian
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 7:40 pm
I do what is necessary to defend myself and others
Moonlight Cicada
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 7:52 pm
If I seeing a violent crime being occured, I will do what would be expected of me, and that would be to help at all costs.
Big Simon
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 8:50 pm
There’s no doubt in my mind many of the people here would do something in any of those cases. While non-violence is the general tenor of what most of us believe, we also understand that there are certain situations which require immediate action, as opposed to waiting for the police to arrive after a call. Many of us are martially trained – though not all of us. I, myself, have no martial arts experience other than a bit of wrestling. But there are others here who have a tremendous amount of training. Some of us carry devices and weapons to help do what we do.
Me, personally, I’m not on the street, patrolling. But if I ran into a violent crime being committed? Yeah, I’d do what I could to stop it and protect the victims.
Clockodile
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 9:35 pm
I have been involved in a crime where I was attacked.
Just use your head and keep your fists in front.
Moonlight Cicada
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 9:37 pm
Most people are predictable and clumsy when fighting. Very easy to call moves and catch off guard.
Clockodile
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 9:39 pm
I think out of all the people I know, there is only one that knows how to fight properly and could probably kick my ass.
Moonlight Cicada
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 9:42 pm
Exactly. Even if one overpowers you in strength, you could predict their movements, and strike first.
TheChaplain
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 10:11 pm
Only in dire situations.
winter knight
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Tue May 12, 2009 11:00 pm

Dark Guardian wrote:
I do what is necessary to defend myself and others

I second that… priority one: preserve life, render aid to victims, and serve and protect others.
Statesman
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 5:10 am
I believe it would be short sighted of me to go out of my front door with my mind set on violence.
I believe that most conflicts can be resolved with confidence, sense and a feel for what is fair.
I will never allow harm to come to myself or any innocent, and will fight until I fall in defence of the good.
But in my experience, prevention trumps punishment every time.
Big Simon
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 9:16 am

Statesman wrote:
I believe it would be short sighted of me to go out of my front door with my mind set on violence.
I belive that most conflicts can be resolved with confidence, sense and a feel for what is fair.
I will never allow harm to come to myself or any innocent, and will fight until I fall in defence of the good.
But in my experience, prevention trumps punishment every time.

Exactly. If we can put the problem to a stop before it happens, we’ve done everyone a service. And we do a disservice to the people we claim to serve if we go out spoiling for a fight. The mindset is that of the defender, not the vanquisher. Like Hunter Outlaw, however, I agree that violence is sometimes necessary. It’s best if you have some experience, and some skill in fighting, even if you haven’t taken a single martial arts course. There’s value in knowing what you’re body is capable of, and what you are going to be able to accomplish, and the confidence imparted is priceless.
As the old adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. A little effort expended to avoid a fight will serve you and the community better than going in, fists flying, but if there’s no other option, it’s best to know what the hell you’re doing.
Statesman
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 9:25 am
I’d go a little further, even- our duty to the world is to make it a better, safer place for people to live in.
With excessive aggression, we become another thing to fear on the streets rather than a source of confidence, and inspiration.
Hunter
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 11:08 am
Big Simon, I think you meant Outlaw, not Hunter.
Big Simon
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 11:41 am

Hunter wrote:
Big Simon, I think you meant Outlaw, not Hunter.

Well, of course I did. I’m just sometimes not quick enough to catch these things, myself. *chuckles*
nemo2000
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 12:41 pm
Hey Chaps & Chappettes,
I am with Zen on this one, prevention is always better than the cure, in tactical terms it is known as “The Combat of the Collective Conscience”.
The best way to fight crime is to work to re~unite fractured communities, by opening new channels of communications and aiding in building bridges amongst them.
Active R.L.S.H. do this by being a visable figure head that is prepared to do lots of minor good deeds to show it can be done and inspire other members of there communities to get out there and do the same.
This techqnique of promoting the “The Collective Conscience” within broken communities has been scientifically proven time and time again to be the single most effective way of combating crime ridden communities quickly and effectively.
Sure most of us will come to the assistance of any Citizen being abused or attacked, but then again so would mostl civic minded citizens we are only doing the same as they would.
It is in repairing these fractured communities that we as R.L.S.H. can really make a big difference to them.
Basically quod erat demonstrandum, de oppresso liber et fortis est veritas.
Kind Regards, Everyone ~ Nemo.
nemo2000
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 1:56 pm
Hey Outlaw,
It’s very simple, R.L.S.H. is about the point I made above, not neccesarily about, how well you can fight, Repairing broken communities and reastablishing there internal cohesion is scientifically proven to be the most effective way of reducing crime in a given area.
I have been practicing martial arts since I was 7 years old, and have black belt in Aikido and currently hold an E5 Expert Level Military/Special Forces Instructor rating in Krav-Maga, so I think that qualifys me to know what I am talking about.
Also I am a former Diving and Clearance Officer – (1st Lt), in the British Royal Navy and saw active service in Iraq, Leading my unit alongside the S.B.S. on the initial push, so I truly know what it is like to be in combat and under fire, but I do not totally agree with your points of view.
R.L.S.H. is about public spirited individuals choosing to try and make a difference and doing the best they can, to help repair the community that they have come to care about, we should encourage support them not put them down, as long as what they are doing is legal and does not bring the Name of the R.L.S.H. community into disrepute.
Best Wishes ~ Nemo
Big Simon
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 2:50 pm

Outlaw wrote:
I’d also like to point out that everyone proposing violence as an absolute last resort do not enjoy their Batman movies because of how he gently talks criminals into peaceful resolutions.

Watching a scripted and choreographed fight on the big screen is a bit different than what happens in the real world. You’ve been in numerous fights, so you should know that. That said, you’re not too far off the mark: Once violence is in play, there’s little that will bring it to and end but equal force. I think what everyone else is talking about is peaceful resolution before violence comes into play.
Hunter
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 3:05 pm
Outlaw, I gave you a positive vote on your first post in this thread. Because while I also believe violence to be a last resort, I would totally be down for an RLSH fight club Smile
the visitor
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 8:36 pm
I agree with outlaw on this subject. I know we are trying to make the world a better place and the best way to do that is with peacfull actions. However, I would like to bring up an observtion. People who opose violence say that “we live in reality and violence wont solve anything”. Well they are right about living in reality, but if you take a look at both sides of that coin, ours is a violent reality. Their are two sides to everything and I believe strongly that violence will be a part of any RLSHs career at one time or another if they are doing crime prvention/patrolling and that you must be prepaired to meet that violence with your own less you risk your life or that of an innocent. You want to handle things peacfully, great, do it, just be prepaired to use violence if necacerry.
The Outcast
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Wed May 13, 2009 11:13 pm
I’m good to go when the time comes (if it has to). Only as much force as necessary though. I fought in MMA once and had a hard time hurting a guy that I didn’t dislike. But it also taught me that given a chance, a knuckle head will try to beat your brains in, so you better be ready to pound him first.
Sentinel
PostSubject: Re: Isn’t Good ‘Ol Fashioned Beat ’em Up Neccessary For You Guys? (In Dire Situations.) Sat May 16, 2009 6:52 am
I am a firm believer in using the only amount of force necessary to protect a victim, or myself. I did have a run in a while back with a man selling drugs, a very large man. I have been training in Ninjutsu for many years and as their rep preceeds them, we use whatever means necessary to complete the job.
I was new at being a crimefighter, but always very aware of my surroundings. I did confront the man who proceeded to walk away as I made enough of a scene to make him leave. Stupid me, I did turn my back, not completely, but he was VERY fast and put me in a chokehold that I could not break out of because of his sheer strenght, nor would my own help. I did struggle for air, and the only option I had to make him leg me go was to take out a throwing spike (spike shuriken) and impale it firmly into his forearm. He DID leg go, and swept his legs, and flexi cuffed him, and retrived my shuriken, called 911, and left the scene. Sometimes we have to use the weapons and gadgets we carry. Mine are for specific needs and situations, I never carry anything that is just for “looks” or to be “cool” as that is not my goal.

ARJUN RAMACHANDRAN
It’s certainly not a bird, or a speeding bullet, or a plane. It looks more like a guy in a silly lycra outfit.
Wearing masks and the full superhero get-up, a band of “real life superheroes” are patrolling the world’s cities trying to clean up the streets.
So claim the comic book-like crime-fighters, a loose association of costumed do-gooders who say they are taking up the fight for justice for ordinary people.
Boasting names like Dark Guardian, Citizen Prime, and Green Scorpion, the mainly US-based characters say they need to wear outfits to protect their identities from the evil-doers they attack.
Most have MySpace pages where they reveal the philosophy of their superheroism.
Florida superhero Amazonia wrote why she was prompted to strap on the black Zorro-like mask and defend her city, Ocala:
“I finally had enough of seeing the gangs terrorizing the downtown section of my city. They would mug, beat and otherwise harass senior citizens and women.
“So I took up the mantle of Firebird and set out to do what I could to help others.”
Many of the superheroes say they are armed with weapons such as stun guns, which can be legally carried in the US.
“Shadow Hare”, a 1.7 metre, slight-of-stature 21-year-old Cincinnati resident who carries handcuffs, a stun-gun and pepper spray, boasts: “I’ve stopped many evil doers … such as drug dealers, muggers, rapists, and crazy hobos with pipes.”
Many of the superheroes’ good deeds are of a civic nature – such as volunteering with charities or feeding the homeless.
But some make more bolder claims of actual crime-fighting.
Shadow Hare said he dislocated his shoulder two years ago while helping a woman who was being attacked.
He also said he was working with a San Diego-based superhero called Mr Extreme to “track down a rapist”.
On his MySpace page, Dark Guardian writes of the moment he saw two men with baseball bats waiting to beat someone up outside their house late at night.
“I park across the street from them. I wait and watch them. I make sure they see me so they know someone is watching, soon after they leave.
“I didn’t have to go and fight two guys with bats to stop a crime. I just made my presence known and they decided to stop what they were trying to do.”
On another occasion he writes of confronting a deranged man trashing a store.
“I stood in front of him and made sure everyone got out of the store. I tried talking him down. The store had already called the cops.
“Once the police came he cooperated and was hauled away. If he came at me or anyone else this story would end differently and I would have been in court myself because I had my knife at the ready.
“Glad it ended the way it did.”
Some superheroes also formed together under different banners to tackle crimes in unison, such as the Allegiance of Heroes.
One such group, titled the Justice Society Of Justice, claims to offer “twice the JUSTICE as the leading competitors!”.
An online “Superhero Registry” lists members of the “the Real-Life Superhero community”, outlining their speciality (for example public service or crime-fighting), where they patrol, whether their identity is secret and if their status as a superhero has been confirmed.
The website states the superheroes are not just role-playing, but that this is “a movement among ordinary people to make the world a better place in an extraordinary way”.
“There are always those who will take something less seriously, but the Real-Life Superhero community is generally composed of sincere, well meaning people who have finally decided to go out and make a difference.”
The heroes wear costumes to inspire others, protect their privacy, and “conceal vulnerabilities in one’s protective gear”, the site says.
People can also make their own submissions to be added to the registry but acceptance usually requires evidence of heroic activities through “media documentation of such activities, or testimonials from established Real-Life Superheroes”.
On his MySpace page, superhero Dark Guardian also writes of the weight of expectation on real superheroes.
“What I got most out of being a Real Life Superhero is living up to the name. I have to be the living embodiment of a superhero. With that comes great responsibility.
“I have walked away from being a Real Life Superhero before , but I couldn’t give it up. It is who I am. It is what I believe in.
“And it will help change the world.”
But police appear not to have warmed to the idea.
“We expect people to report crime to the police and not put themselves in jeopardy,” New York Police Department spokesman Deputy Police Commissioner Paul Browne said in an article about the “superheroes” last year.