Superheroes, Robot Teachers, Falls Kill

Are superheroes bad role models for young boys? “Today’s superhero is too much like an action hero who participates in non-stop violence; he’s aggressive, sarcastic and rarely speaks to the virtue of doing good for humanity.”

What kills more people than car crashes and suicides? In Wisconsin, it’s falls. (HT to Health Business Blog.)

Comments (11)

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  1. Ken says:

    Superheroes sound like Superman and Batman. What’s wrong with that?

  2. Devon Herrick says:

    Young boys undoubtedly find superhero characters more interesting than whatever figures psychiatrists think would be more appropriate role models. Can you imagine a comic book about Soup Kitchen Man — a charitable man (with a secret identify) who is disposing of his inherited wealth by feeding the hungry and uses his mansion to shelter the homeless?

    I’m no expert on comic books but I suspect publishers figured out that Batman would be more interesting as a crime fighter than a social worker.

  3. Bruce says:

    What’s wrong with a little violence. The bad guys are violent.

  4. Devon Herrick says:

    On the subject of robot teachers… As a child I always suspected some of my uncharismatic grade school teachers were robots – or aliens.

  5. Stephen C. says:

    In Wisconsin, maybe it’s the winter ice.

  6. Linda Gorman says:

    The teacher’s unions will go for the robots provided they get the standard benefits package and pay union dues.

  7. Virginia says:

    Do robots get social security?

  8. Virginia says:

    What about superheroes? I bet they have a hard time getting individual insurance coverage. Talk about a risk factor.

    “Sir, it says here that you are severly allergic to kryptonite. And it says that you’re able to leap tall buildings and have been known to fly on occasion. Since these two things are associated with narcotic drug use, and because of your pre-existing allergy, you are denied coverage.”

  9. artk says:

    Actually, Virginia, it’s a good thing Superman never visited Arizona.

  10. Mo says:

    Boys don’t need strong manly heroes to look up to. They need sensitive altruistic ones! what trash

  11. jack says:

    It’s the reason why American movies are so trashy overall, I think. There is no realistic kind of heroism to see, only that of superheroes. “If you’re not a superhero, hey, it’s okay to be a slacker!”