# What do ordinary people know about Batman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2018, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716 "2018-11-18T01:37:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/21 "2018-11-18T12:46:45Z")
People who follow the celebrity channels believe that Bruce Wayne is the world’s clumsiest skiier. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/22 "2018-11-18T19:23:17Z")
Some think Batman is a real jerk, too: [https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/530/557/08b.jpg](https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/530/557/08b.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/23 "2018-11-18T19:47:11Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Some think Batman is a real jerk, too: [https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/530/557/08b.jpg](https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/530/557/08b.jpg) Wow, I never realized he is a southpaw. That must make it even harder to keep his identity secret. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2018, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/24 "2018-11-18T21:54:57Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Some think Batman is a real jerk, too: [https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/530/557/08b.jpg](https://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/530/557/08b.jpg) > [@eschereal](#): > > Wow, I never realized he is a southpaw. That must make it even harder to keep his identity secret. He’s just using a time-honored method of disguising his handwriting. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/25 "2018-11-19T15:35:43Z")
> [@Kamino\_Neko](#): > > Depends on the continuity and sometimes the time period within it, but as things currently stand in the main universe…most do. He generally interacts with the people he saves, is a public member of the Justice League, and has a lot of flashy gear, rather than doing anything that would look like he’s a metahuman, or even equipped with tech beyond what Wayne Enterprises (or LexCorp, or Queen Industries, or Stagg, etc) could build. I recall one episode of _Batman: The Animated Series_ where Bullock, Montoya, and a rookie cop who were involved in a sting gone bad were being questioned by Internal Affairs. They did the Rashomon deal where each of them gave a different account (Bullock tried to cover his own mistakes and blame Batman for the screwup, Montoya gave a more-or-less honest account but erroneously thought Batman had been killed, and the rookie gave an account where Batman’s tricks and gadgets came across as magical/superpowered feats). > [@Don\_Draper](#): > > There was a great one-off story from the early 70s era in which Bruce Wayne takes a group of young, under-priviledged kids from Gotham City on an overnight camping trip. Around the campfire, the kids begin talking about Batman and each kid takes a turn telling what they think they know about the Batman. The stories, as campfire tales told by kids often do, become more and more outlandish in the telling as the kids begin imagining the Batman as some kind of mutant bat-creature (akin to Man-Bat) or someone more like Superman. As I recall, the story ended up with Bruce slipping out into the darkness and then making an appearance as Batman. The kids were not impressed and saw him as just Bruce Wayne in a silly Batman costume. As the kids went to sleep, he mused that he struck fear into the hearts of the guilty, not the innocent. > [@Lumpy](#): > > One thing people think they know about Batman, and that he does nothing to dispel, is the belief that he will summarily kill criminals. Comes in handy when dangling informers off the edge of a skyscraper. I recall that he sometimes bolsters this false impression by saying that he’s never been _caught_ killing anybody (which I suppose is a technically true statement). ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/26 "2018-11-19T17:52:53Z")
When they rebooted the Justice League for the New 52, they did a scene where Green Lantern meets Batman. He was astonished to find that Batman has no superpowers at all. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/27 "2018-11-19T21:26:18Z")
Of course, the various Green Lanterns also have no superpowers at all, just a gadget (albeit a _very_ nice one). ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/28 "2018-11-19T22:12:08Z")
My favorite superhero has to be Defendor. His power was ultra-DK. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/29 "2018-11-19T22:14:20Z")
Translate that? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/30 "2018-11-19T22:45:44Z")
I remember hearing about a Batman story in which Batman catches a criminal, and Bruce Wayne gets called upon to serve on his jury trial. When the judge asks Wayne if there’s any reason he shouldn’t serve on the trial, Wayne answered honestly, “I’m Batman.” But nobody believed him. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2018, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/31 "2018-11-19T23:41:56Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course, the various Green Lanterns also have no superpowers at all, just a gadget (albeit a _very_ nice one). Unless their high level of will-power counts as a superpower. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/32 "2018-11-20T02:17:56Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > I remember hearing about a Batman story in which Batman catches a criminal, and Bruce Wayne gets called upon to serve on his jury trial. When the judge asks Wayne if there’s any reason he shouldn’t serve on the trial, Wayne answered honestly, “I’m Batman.” But nobody believed him. Because they were all expecting him to say, “I’m THE Batman.” D&R ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/33 "2018-11-20T02:32:10Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course, the various Green Lanterns also have no superpowers at all, just a gadget (albeit a _very_ nice one). Green Lantern rings were the sort of thing I was referring to in the last part of my first post. While in the DCU Earth tech is somewhat more advanced than in the real world, the Green Lantern rings might as well be magic compared to what humans can make. In current continuity, even Cyborg is beyond human capabilities - a Father Box (Apocalyptian version of Mother Box) was incorporated into his prosthetics. Batman, on the other hand, while he uses advanced tech, it’s mostly not even on the level of ‘STAR Labs is theoretically working on this’…it generally tops out at ‘it’s not technically in production, yet, but Wayne Industries has demoed this’. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/34 "2018-11-20T05:04:55Z")
Ordinary people know the Batman never would have _been_ in a hospital… ---
**Author:** ![JB99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/439d5e/32.png) [@JB99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JB99)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/35 "2018-11-20T05:14:16Z")
That’s a good point. Most super-hero gadgets fall under the category of ‘technology indistinguishable from magic.’ Batman’s utility belt has any device required by the plot, some plausible and some not. Even the simple things (like using a grappling hook gun) would require superhuman resilience to avoid damaging his own body. One super-power Batman seems to have is the ability to induce unconsciousness in anyone he touches. It’s pretty bizarre. You’d think with all that kicking and punching, he would occasionally have a bad guy get Hillary Swanked, even if unintentionally. People can and do die from being punched or falling and striking their heads. Batman might not shoot anyone, but if his violence is even a little bit realistic there are going to be piles and piles of dead and crippled criminals all over Gotham. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/36 "2018-11-20T05:38:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Translate that? He was not smart enough to realize how dangerous his situation was. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/37 "2018-11-20T05:42:01Z")
> [@JB99](#): > > One super-power Batman seems to have is the ability to induce unconsciousness in anyone he touches. It’s pretty bizarre. You’d think with all that kicking and punching, he would occasionally have a bad guy get Hillary Swanked, even if unintentionally. People can and do die from being punched or falling and striking their heads. Batman might not shoot anyone, but if his violence is even a little bit realistic there are going to be piles and piles of dead and crippled criminals all over Gotham. That’s something literally every single person in the DC universe can do, though. Hitting someone in the head just isn’t that dangerous in comic books - or, indeed, any sort of action/adventure story. How many times did Sam Spade get clocked from behind, and wake up with no worse injury than a headache and a lump on his head? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/38 "2018-11-20T16:56:26Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > That’s something literally every single person in the DC universe can do, though. Hitting someone in the head just isn’t that dangerous in comic books - or, indeed, any sort of action/adventure story. How many times did Sam Spade get clocked from behind, and wake up with no worse injury than a headache and a lump on his head? I blame professional boxing, where he-men were supposed to shake it off and not be crybabies. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2018, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/39 "2018-11-20T17:15:47Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > My favorite superhero has to be Defendor. His power was ultra-DK. > [@Chronos](#): > > Translate that? > [@eschereal](#): > > He was not smart enough to realize how dangerous his situation was. Alas, the villain discovered his secret weakness: bullets. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2018, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716/40 "2018-11-22T01:14:59Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > My favorite superhero has to be Defendor. His power was ultra-DK. > [@Chronos](#): > > Translate that? Presumably, ultra-Dunning-Kreuger, right? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-ordinary-people-know-about-batman/824716.md?page=3)