A Stalker??

Maitresse Maia Steeleater · A Stalker??

Superman has always been in serious love with Lois Lane...it's a hallmark of the Superman story. Many times, he has spied on or stalked her, and I was wondering whether you all happened to understand his behavior or does it constitute some flaw in his character? Everyone knows that he is a good person...he has proven it over and over again. So, do you all think that he is some twisted person based on his "stalking" tendencies toward Lois?? (BTW--Brandon Routh is an absolute cootie patootie RAWRRR)~~Maia

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maulperson

He was not twisted. While he did love her, he knew he could not protect her all the time and that his enemies would hurt her to get at him. If his interest in her was exposed, she would have been a danger equal to kryptonite.

He loved her enough to be her protecter and to deny himself in order to keep her safe.

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

Well I guess what I'm asking is whether the epithet "stalker" can truly be used to describe Superman. I can see the terms "savior" "hero" "honorable" "wonder" "romantic" etc being used to describe him--but, despite his behavior, "stalker" just doesn't seem to fit. Are people known by general behavioral traits...or does a "shady" character trait trump all those "acceptable" sides of him in order to make him partly dark? It just shows that even the best of people can have a side that can be used against him.

This is I guess a clash of worlds. In Greece, it wouldn't be uncommon for a man to follow the woman he loves anywhere she went, and it wouldn't be seen as threatening. But, in this day and age, where stalking has become an issue discussed in terms of threat, people see it as unromantic. So, when does a good person, like Superman, cross over from "hero" to "stalker?" And can this kind of "shady" behavior be forgiven based on other sides of a persons personality? Curious issue to me--it makes me think.~~Maia

Dragons Byte

Hmm very interesting question you have there Maia(Btw hiya & nice to see you still posting here).Wasnt there a 'Marvel comic's' hero actually called 'Summin Stalker' or 'Stalker' ?
If there was then that would be quite the reverse of your 'Superman'hero becoming a stalker as a'Stalker' becomes a hero !
I could be completely wrong tho but i seem to have a very vague memory of there being a hero called 'Stalker' correct me if im wrong anybody.
As far as stalking goes tho isn't that a natural human trait ? perhaps linked to being inquisitive..or perhaps ppl stalk out of fear of being rejected so they cant actually meet face to face with somebody etc.
I bet there are many perceptions of stalking...

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

LOL--why are people avoiding answering my questions??~~Maia

maulperson

Within the accepted meaning of the word, he was not a stalker. By definition, the verb "to stalk" implies hunter and prey. He was not watching her in an attempt to get closer or to establish some "relationship" of any kind. He was not trying to influence her in any way towards anything or influence her feelings. His actions by themselves had no goals.
His attention to her was to solely protect someone he loved from harm. Impact on her personal life was limited solely to her personal safety.

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

Now would that remain true in the light of the fact that he looked past her outer clothing to see what was beneath?? Or to hear whether she loved him in the most recent movie?? What about all those little moments?~~Maia

heather fallion

I have to give this one some thought.

I have watched the movies and read the comics, each displays different "stalking" and actions.

I just watched the superman returns movie - new one - so i feel for Lois right now. One minute, I minute I want to smack her, the next I understand. and i can not comment on why cause it will spoil the movie for ppl. I just love richard and the type of man he is.

So are we talking the new movie or all superman in general?

And if the new movie, can it be called stalking when Lois says will you be around? Is she not encouraging it?

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

AHHH--is it stalking if it's encouraged?? Or is it a matter of taking "deceptive" or secret steps that have not been OK'd by the other person. I.e. in the new movie, would Lois have been alright with Superman stopping by in mid-flight to hear/see what was going going on in the Lane house, to overhear conversations Lois was in the middle of having with her boyfriend, fiance..whatever he was?

I guess this comes down to it...what would constitute as stalking. While my husband and I were watching it on DVD, I asked him "is that stalking" when Superman eavesdropped on Lois' conversation...my husband said "yes"--so I asked, "Does that make him a stalker." My husband again responded in the affirm--but I just can't see Superman as a stalker. It just has a horrible connotation.~~Maia

maulperson

Does this not beg the question--- Can good people do bad things for good reasons and should we consider them less worthy if they do?
If the reason is good, does it justify any extremes?
The real crux of the argument is who decides what represents good or bad? Who defines what is accptable? When is it permissible to observe another person without their explicit permission? If I say stay close I like you, am I giving you permission to observe me and my actions at a time I would not be expecting you to be there? Whether we think Lois would have been "OK" with his eavesdropping, does not affect the question.

Where is her presumed privacy?

He may have all the right reasons but if he listens in on a private conversation, if he observes her specific actions without her knowledge and doesn't limit his awareness to those around her then he is stalking albeit for for good reasons. As a society, we tend to accept the end does not justify the means. On this basis, he is wrong. He may love her but he is stalking.

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

Ok it seems you agree that his behavior was stalking. So would it be right to say that you think Superman a stalker? And does that make him less of a superhero because of it?~~Maia

zanhe

No, it doesn't make him less of a superhero.

I believe you are mixing two different things here.

Is he a stalker? Well, that makes him only human: we as human have defects, make mistakes, that's what defines humanity, together with emotions and other stuff. Otherwise we would maybe be robots.

Superman stalking Lois just makes him be more realistic at a human level. His credibility as a superhero hero remains intact to me, Superman is a superhero because of the above-normal powers he has. Kryptonite makes him less of a superhero, not having/showing emotions, feelings.

On a side note I don't like Superman as a superhero, I prefer Batman.

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

Not I--I had a crush on him when I was little...so my preference is for Superman. If one is going to be a "superhero" might as well be quite super, no?

One point tho--Superman is not human...therefore to for his behavior to make "him more human" just doesn't seem to fit. Also...is it really only his above-normal powers that make him a superHERO?? Or is it the coupling of those powers with compassion, which makes him so very superheroic?? I mean, his enemies sometimes had superhuman strength, but it was the lack of compassion that made them bad guys, no?

So if we follow that thread...how compassionate is Superman being toward Lois in his eavesdropping? Or does that even come into play?~~Maia

maulperson

Was he a stalker within our societies definition of the term, yes. Is he less of a superhero, I'd have to agree with Zahne and say no. It forms part of the authors attempt to humanize the character.

heather fallion

Ok after lot of thought - no clear answer.

First off- "stalking". You always hear of it as crazed fans, reporters, photographers, and crazed ex. Never mentioned or hardly mentioned by an overprotective "protector". You have over protective parents or guardians, not stalking parents or guardians. Hmm, so does that mean, good nobel ppl can not be stalkers and only "bad" seedy characters can be. Chew on that for awhile.

Now, jumping to the movie. Superman as a stalker - hmm. Judgement call on that one. You do not know what happened before or after the time in movie so inconculsive. Now if Clark walks Lois to work or from work, goes out to dinner- ok stalking. It's his alter ego, it's still stalking. However good friends will do that - so not stalking. Listening - could or could be invasion of privacy. I took his actions of being a love sick puppy that was checking up on Lios to make sure she was alright. I mean she gave mixed signals- no marriage after 5 yrs (no date for said marriage), an almost kiss - asking if he would be around (the first time not talking about the second). Ok, any guy would think he might has a shot - come on. He did leave but maybe figured she would wait. I figured he wanted to check out the other guy. See if he was worth her - shrugs who knows.
Well I could go on but will not. Saying more will give plot away.

In the movie, not stalking or inconculsive.

As far as comics and other movies. STALKING A GLORE. Too numerous to name the incidents - LOL. I understand the love from afar and such, but come on. Either say can't have her and go away or just say you love her. I'm not judging superman's actions but rather his actions as Clark Kent. Now for the DEVIL's advocate: Lois is stalking superman - hello. Taking assignments so they would met. More dangerous ones so they could met. Chasing him down, wanting to "know" about him. Come on, she is a reporter - part of her job- but hey, does she have some common sense or just expects superman to save her - LOL. Come on, she is obsessed with superman. Now is that unhealthy or what.

Now, since they both seem to be stalking one another, does that make it ok and is this what they call the love dance- LOL.

Now if two evil ppl did this it would be called sick - lol.

Maitresse Maia Steeleater

Well, who decides whether it's sick or not? Seems there are no clear answers on this. Is it a matter of intent, solely, or is stalking behavior simply stalking behavior--no matter who does it or why? Is it only via the courts to determine whether one's intention by way of stalking is "sick" or not? Or can we determine that just by observation? I mean everyone can see that Glenn Close's character in Fatal Attraction was harmful stalking...that's clear. So is there a difference between "love sick" stalking and malevolent stalking besides intent...the behaviors are more or less the same.~~Maia