"Citizen Prime" - real life superhero

[jaguarr]

There is such a thing as "citizen's arrest" fellas, lol. I think hes well in his legal boundries.

How many people are going to actually listen to someone trying to make a "citizen's arrest", though? That's only as good as you're able to enforce it. I know this guy thinks he's a martial arts expert (so does my 6 year old nephew, by the way) but he also thinks that he's in athletic shape, too, and he is clearly not. He's delusional. We're going to hear about this guy getting his ass royally kicked in by somebody (or worse) one of these days.

jag

 

[Mike_D202]

Well I'm not supporting the fact that the guy wears a costume, but I do support crime prevention when one sees it happening...but that doesnt mean I'm gonna step in front of somebody with a gun.

I mean if you take away his costume, his smoke grenade, his bean bag shooter, and his baton (LOL) would you see him as more or less psychotic? Just a guy driving around looking for crimes being commited or getting intoxicated drivers off the street.

 

[jaguarr]

Well I'm not supporting the fact that the guy wears a costume, but I do support crime prevention when one sees it happening...but that doesnt mean I'm gonna step in front of somebody with a gun.

I mean if you take away his costume, his smoke grenade, his bean bag shooter, and his baton (LOL) would you see him as more or less psychotic? Just a guy driving around looking for crimes being commited or getting intoxicated drivers off the street

And that's a sane person's view on the subject. Most folks would at least call the cops if they saw something going down. But this guy dresses up in a $4000 superhero costume and drives around looking for trouble to get involved in. They give people medication for doing things like that. I'd still he him as off his rocker if he wasn't wearing the costume, but maybe not as much as I do right now for his whole costumed "I can see and unlock people's super powers" thing he's got going on.

jag

 

[Cyrusbales]

He's gonna get himself killed, and I shall laugh. All he's doing is becoming a farce, going about it all wrong and being a joke. Someone is gonna hunt him down for a laugh, just you wait....

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Well I'm not supporting the fact that the guy wears a costume, but I do support crime prevention when one sees it happening...but that doesnt mean I'm gonna step in front of somebody with a gun.

I mean if you take away his costume, his smoke grenade, his bean bag shooter, and his baton (LOL) would you see him as more or less psychotic? Just a guy driving around looking for crimes being commited or getting intoxicated drivers off the street.

There is some passage somewhere about the road to Hell being paved with good intentions. This guy is part of that ever expanding "Real-Life Superhero" community. I have quiet a few problems with it as a whole. But one such problem is it's a glorification of bad behavior. Granted it's not a bad idea to be alert about crime in your town, and suspcious happenings, but citizens are NOT suppose to go on active patrol looking for said things. Police work is a far too delicate and organized operation to be muddled by some guy who thinks "Citizen Prime" costumes give him the ability to do police work. Police are trained, extensively, on how to deal directly with just the problems Citizen Prime claims to be solving. In other words an inexperienced ad executive like Prime, in attempt of getting a drunk driver off the road or breaking up a fight, could actually and most likely will exaserbate the problem.

And frankly, their costume is an integral part of their problem. Even though this kind of behavior is still unnecessarily dangerous and ineffective, if it wasn't about the costume and the schikt they might actually find an effective way of helping people. He is feeding some delusion, and lo and behold all his superhero friends (himself included) are comic fans...i.e. nerds...not a big draw for qualified vigilante's and crime prevention.

 

[jaguarr]

My brother is a cop and they used to have this guy they jokingly called "Deputy Don" who sat and listened to the police scanners and whenever there was a call that interested him, he'd always show up on the scene wanting to help. They found him really annoying but kind of laughingly tolerated him because he meant well. They'd usually put him in front of some police tape and tell him to keep people away or something to keep him busy. Sometimes he'd even beat them to the crime scene though, since dispatch would alert detectives and patrol cars when they got the calls coming in, and that turned out to be "Deputy Don"'s downfall. He walked through a murder scene and touched a bunch of stuff and basically contaminated it thoroughly. The chief was so pissed that he charged "Deputy Don" with tampering with evidence, obstruction of justice, accessory to a murder and everything else he could possibly dream up and even had him on the suspects list for awhile just to sweat him. The guy got some serious probation and community service for his troubles and told by the judge that if he ever showed up at another crime scene they'd continually slap him with charges until he had so many racked up he'd never get out of jail. Point of the story? "Deputy Don" was in the way and kept the police from doing their job of actually catching bad guys because he didn't know what the hell he was doing. He wasn't trained for police work in any way, shape or form, and his presence was a hindrance. The ironic part was that he'd never even applied for the police academy. If he wanted to be a cop, he should have...guess what....become a cop!

jag

 

[kainedamo]

I see what Jag and ShadowBoxing are saying. I agree with them on a bunch of stuff. But I mean, its all very well and good to say "if he really wants to help, he can do yadda-yadda-yadda". But I mean, whats the harm in these guys deciding they just prefer to do this?

And from what I've read of their myspaces, 99% of the time all they do is charity work, getting cats out of trees, finding lost purses, really mundane crap like that. It's harmless. And if one of them gets himself hurt trying to break up a fight... well, it was his choice.

I read the blog of a UK one, though, and I think he's a liar. He said he found a dead body when out on "patrol". People just don't happen upon dead bodies in the UK. The chances of that are just... astronomical. Another part of his blog described how he broke up a fight, and it was just way too similar to a blog of Mr. Silent's. Faker.

 

[Cyrusbales]

He isn't doing something that he couldn't do through another way. The idea of being a vigilante or hero is doing something that others can't do in their positions.

For example using lethal force or taking offensive action without legal aid etc...

 

[ShadowBoxing]

He isn't doing something that he couldn't do through another way. The idea of being a vigilante or hero is doing something that others can't do in their positions.

For example using lethal force or taking offensive action without legal aid etc...

Exactly. The only thing that separates the Punisher and DareDevil from the VAtech shooter is we tend to side with people who beat up and kill mercenaries, mobsters and rapists whereas we don't side with those who kill harmless students. There are plenty of Punishers out there, believe you me, but those guys get arrested because, as you say, they legitmately go outside the law to accomplish some pretty violent things.

 

[The Question]

I see what Jag and ShadowBoxing are saying. I agree with them on a bunch of stuff. But I mean, its all very well and good to say "if he really wants to help, he can do yadda-yadda-yadda". But I mean, whats the harm in these guys deciding they just prefer to do this?

And from what I've read of their myspaces, 99% of the time all they do is charity work, getting cats out of trees, finding lost purses, really mundane crap like that. It's harmless. And if one of them gets himself hurt trying to break up a fight... well, it was his choice.

I read the blog of a UK one, though, and I think he's a liar. He said he found a dead body when out on "patrol". People just don't happen upon dead bodies in the UK. The chances of that are just... astronomical. Another part of his blog described how he broke up a fight, and it was just way too similar to a blog of Mr. Silent's. Faker.

My point exactly. They're mostly harmless, and usually end up doing some good, even if it's not particularly spectacular. Really, as long as he's not hurting anybody and isn't seriously hindering police investigations, what's the problem with a guy going around his neighborhood looking out for people, and wearing a silly costume while he does it?

 

[Mike_D202]

what's the problem with a guy going around his neighborhood looking out for people, and wearing a silly costume while he does it?

My point exactly, lol. I wasnt sure if I was coming acrossed clearly though, I mean I totally understand if the guy was showing up at crime scenes and messing around with things he shouldnt be doing.

 

[jaguarr]

My point exactly. They're mostly harmless, and usually end up doing some good, even if it's not particularly spectacular. Really, as long as he's not hurting anybody and isn't seriously hindering police investigations, what's the problem with a guy going around his neighborhood looking out for people, and wearing a silly costume while he does it?

What if he stun guns somebody and they die? What if he uses his beanbag shooter on someone and injures them? Maybe gives them a concussion and they fall into a coma or suffer mental impairment? What if he's wrong about something he perceived as a crime and does something rash to the person he considers a perpetrator? He's not a sanctioned and trained law officer who has been educated on what the law is and what should or shouldn't be enforced. It's not his place to do so and he is legally liable if he does something stupid like any of the above scenarios I mentioned. Also, guess what? If you go out looking for trouble like he is, eventually you are going to find it. And most truly bad guys like he dreams of fighting carry guns and are just going to shoot his stupid ass on sight. He puts himself at risk of DYING or becoming deeply injured all because he wanted to run around playing Batman and making a spectacle of himself.

Crime fighting is for cops. For real.

jag

 

[The Question]

What if he stun guns somebody and they die? What if he uses his beanbag shooter on someone and injures them? Maybe gives them a concussion and they fall into a coma or suffer mental impairment? What if he's wrong about something he perceived as a crime and does something rash to the person he considers a perpetrator? He's not a sanctioned and trained law officer who has been educated on what the law is and what should or shouldn't be enforced. It's not his place to do so and he is legally liable if he does something stupid like any of the above scenarios I mentioned. Also, guess what? If you go out looking for trouble like he is, eventually you are going to find it. And most truly bad guys like he dreams of fighting carry guns and are just going to shoot his stupid ass on sight. He puts himself at risk of DYING or becoming deeply injured all because he wanted to run around playing Batman and making a spectacle of himself.

Crime fighting is for cops. For real.

jag

I understand your argument. But what if all those scenarios don't happen? Listen, I'm not saying he knows exactly what he's doing. Honestly, I don't know. But I don't see any reason to assume that he's some crazy guy who doesn't know what he's doing who's going to get somebody, or himself, killed. For all we know, he could practice using those gadgets of his extensively and knows how to use them very well. Of course, he might not, but that's not my point. My point is, and has been from the very start, that we shouldn't make judgements like that about people who we don't know and don't know much about.

 

[Mike_D202]

What if he stun guns somebody and they die? What if he uses his beanbag shooter on someone and injures them? Maybe gives them a concussion and they fall into a coma or suffer mental impairment? What if he's wrong about something he perceived as a crime and does something rash to the person he considers a perpetrator? He's not a sanctioned and trained law officer who has been educated on what the law is and what should or shouldn't be enforced. It's not his place to do so and he is legally liable if he does something stupid like any of the above scenarios I mentioned. Also, guess what? If you go out looking for trouble like he is, eventually you are going to find it. And most truly bad guys like he dreams of fighting carry guns and are just going to shoot his stupid ass on sight. He puts himself at risk of DYING or becoming deeply injured all because he wanted to run around playing Batman and making a spectacle of himself.

Crime fighting is for cops. For real.

jag

The differnce between the police and this guy:

They can do it legally and get paid for it.

The police have the same risks involved with bean bag shooters and tasers (even handcuffing somebody has its liability). Sure the police have training, but only in self defense and legal studies...not how to take a bullet to the head.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Crime fighting is for cops. For real.

jag

but...what if a cop quits the force and becomes a "superhero"? would it justified then? after all, he'd know all the rules and regulations when it comes to approaching a crime scene. just a question...no intent behind it. just curious...

 

[jaguarr]

I understand your argument. But what if all those scenarios don't happen? Listen, I'm not saying he knows exactly what he's doing. Honestly, I don't know. But I don't see any reason to assume that he's some crazy guy who doesn't know what he's doing who's going to get somebody, or himself, killed. For all we know, he could practice using those gadgets of his extensively and knows how to use them very well. Of course, he might not, but that's not my point. My point is, and has been from the very start, that we shouldn't make judgements like that about people who we don't know and don't know much about.

He is not a trained and educated law enforcement professional, licensed by a government agency to do what he does. Which means he is much more likely to make a mistake or error in judgment that could put himself or someone else in danger or at risk. If he does it then why shouldn't everyone else? What's to stop the TRULY unhinged from running around and attacking people on the streets because they're "pretty sure" they were committing a crime? People like this shouldn't be encouraged. Aside from not being trained and educated to do these things and NOT being licensed to do it, they give other people who are probably even more dangerous and crazy bad ideas. It's already bad judgment on his part to do what he is doing. Why should I give him any further benefit of the doubt beyond the fact that he's made a very bad decision to do what he is doing to begin with? The fact that he appears to be living in his own fantasy land where he has super powers and wears a costume doesn't help him please his case, either.

jag

 

[jaguarr]

The differnce between the police and this guy:

They can do it legally and get paid for it.

The police have the same risks involved with bean bag shooters and tasers (even handcuffing somebody has its liability). Sure the police have training, but only in self defense and legal studies...not how to take a bullet to the head.

No, the difference between the police and this guy, training and education aside, is that they are legally sanctioned and authorized to enforce the law. There are a lot of laws that protect officers of the law, even though they have to be very careful of how they do their jobs to avoid legal problems. This guy has no legal authorization to do any of this. He's not protected by the same laws that cops are.

but...what if a cop quits the force and becomes a "superhero"? would it justified then? after all, he'd know all the rules and regulations when it comes to approaching a crime scene. just a question...no intent behind it. just curious...

No, because he would no longer be legally sanctioned and authorized to enforce the law.

I know some of you are enamored with the idea of playing Batman, but damn...why is it so hard to grasp that vigilantism really isn't such a great idea when it's put into practice?

jag

 

[Mike_D202]

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Look, folks. I knows we loves teh comics Batman around here, but you have to understand comics live in a world logically inconsistent with our own. In comics villains leave very large and obvious clues as to what they do and always seem to have clear motivations. Villains tend to come to the heroes and the heroes seem to have an unexplained ability on finding and locating criminals. Heroes never get mortally wounded, lest the series would be cancelled. Heroes seemingly take on the roles that are filled by police and state investigators. Their always seem to be an absence in law enforcement which only this man can fill. Heroes seem to have bottomless resources, inexhaustable energy, and an unspecified amount of free time. Blah blah blah. This isn't reality though, it's fiction. If the world could function like a fictional comic, it would. But it doesn't.

 

[kainedamo]

Thats what was so good about the early stories of Spider-Man, ShadowBoxing. He was always trying to fit in school work, he'd always be tired, etc etc. Everything would get ontop of him.

Not trying to use that as a comparison for real life. Just saying they were cool stories.

 

[The Question]

He is not a trained and educated law enforcement professional, licensed by a government agency to do what he does. Which means he is much more likely to make a mistake or error in judgment that could put himself or someone else in danger or at risk. If he does it then why shouldn't everyone else? What's to stop the TRULY unhinged from running around and attacking people on the streets because they're "pretty sure" they were committing a crime? People like this shouldn't be encouraged. Aside from not being trained and educated to do these things and NOT being licensed to do it, they give other people who are probably even more dangerous and crazy bad ideas. It's already bad judgment on his part to do what he is doing. Why should I give him any further benefit of the doubt beyond the fact that he's made a very bad decision to do what he is doing to begin with? The fact that he appears to be living in his own fantasy land where he has super powers and wears a costume doesn't help him please his case, either.

jag

Listen, I honestly don't know anything about this guy. You could very easily be right. My point is, simply, that we know nothing about him, and simply because he's not a licenced by a government agency doesn't mean he doesn't know what he's doing. Of course, he may very well not know what he's doing. I'm not saying he does. All I'm saying is that there's no reason to make any assumptions either way, as all the information we have on him is a short news report and a cheesey myspace page.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

Thats what was so good about the early stories of Spider-Man, ShadowBoxing. He was always trying to fit in school work, he'd always be tired, etc etc. Everything would get ontop of him.

Not trying to use that as a comparison for real life. Just saying they were cool stories.

Well Spider-Man has the added bonus of super-powers. But moreso than that, his comic still suffers from the same things. Just because you write "he has schoolwork" doesn't mean they ever had to go onto explain how he actually managed it all.

 

[jaguarr]

Listen, I honestly don't know anything about this guy. You could very easily be right. My point is, simply, that we know nothing about him, and simply because he's not a licenced by a government agency doesn't mean he doesn't know what he's doing. Of course, he may very well not know what he's doing. I'm not saying he does. All I'm saying is that there's no reason to make any assumptions either way.

He's already shown poor judgment by deciding to go outside the law and become a vigilante. He's compounded it by creating this costume and fantasy world that he lives in where he's a "superhero". I'd say it's safe to assume he's not someone I'd want roaming the streets making judgment calls on who's committing a crime and who's not.

jag

 

[The Question]

He's already shown poor judgment by deciding to go outside the law and become a vigilante. He's compounded it by creating this costume and fantasy world that he lives in where he's a "superhero". I'd say it's safe to assume he's not someone I'd want roaming the streets making judgment calls on who's committing a crime and who's not.

jag

And I'd say it isn't safe to assume anything. All the costume shows is that he's either A) An eccentric, or B) wants to live out a desire of his. Neither of those imediately suggests that he has no idea what he's doing.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

And I'd say it isn't safe to assume anything. All the costume shows is that he's either A) An eccentric, or B) wants to live out a desire of his. Neither of those imediately suggests that he has no idea what he's doing.

Both of which are dangerous things. Basically what you're saying is I have a delusional eccentric running around attempt to act as a crime prevention or crime deterant...does that sound remotely safe or like a good idea to you