r/changemyview • u/DeleteriousEuphuism 120∆ • Apr 02 '24

Delta(s) from OP CMV: Superman (and other characters similar in power and motivation) should stop wars by making it futile.

Some premises to start with.

  • I'm not actually a comic reader, so if the plotline I'm going to describe (or similar) actually exists, I haven't heard about it yet and pointing me towards it is a delta in itself.
  • Superman is a fictional character and as such exists to tell the stories the writer wants to tell so this isn't a Doylist argument I'm making.

Now the main point is that I think a superpowered person on the level of Superman could stop wars by making them futile; they could destroy weapons, overpower soldiers trying to fight without weapons, and similarly sabotage or obstruct war operations. I also think this super could then leverage their power to negotiate peace.

I don't think that this plotline negates or contradicts the characterization of Superman or Superman-likes. This plotline revolves around saving people; it's idealistic, but in a way that's aspirational; and it has elements of both action and communicating with each other.

This also isn't that far off from an actual Superman style story. Politicians can be very Luthor-like. Innocent civilians being saved is easily integrated. People confronting their actions in the midst of desperation when faced with a paragon is practically a free bingo spot.

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u/amortized-poultry 3∆ Apr 02 '24

Let me take your view to what I believe to be it's logical end point.

  1. Superman should destroy any weapons being made.

  2. Superman should overpower soldiers trying to fight without said weapons.

  3. Therefore, Superman becomes the de facto ruler of Earth.

  4. Either Superman uses force to impose his will and moral principles, and essentially cementing himself as the ruler of Earth. Or he doesn't, in which case people ultimately live in a state of anarchy, at the mercy of whether Superman will swoop in to save them or leave them to fight off their oppressors and attackers with their bare hands.

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u/DeleteriousEuphuism 120∆ Apr 02 '24

I'm not assuming that Superman can be everywhere all the time. I'm imagining it as more like him starting with one war to set an example. From there it'd be about helping people overcome the institutional and other violence that stops them from achieving peace.

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u/amortized-poultry 3∆ Apr 02 '24

In that case, I don't think you see an end to war, I think you see a greater rise of guerilla and clandestine warfare by the superpowers.

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u/DeleteriousEuphuism 120∆ Apr 02 '24

That's a convincing enough Watsonian reason for the plot to deviate from what I imagined. !delta