Isn't Batman a hypocrite?

[micrometers]

This is something I've always wondered, and that is sort of addressed in Chrisopher Nolan's Batman films.

But Batman spends an enormous fortune in order for him to fist-fight criminals. If he had used that enormous fortune to provide good careers instead, then there would not be so many desperate crooks around, but also no reason for him to beat them up.

But by making Batman so fantastically wealthy unlike most other super-heroes, the closest is Tony Stark as Ironman except he doesn't go after petty crooks like Batman, isn't it obvious that Batman is largely responsible for the crime that he fights? And that by being so rich at the expense of the poor in Gothan he is sort of abusing the lower classes for his own satisfaction?

 

[BoomerD]

It sounds like you don't really know the story behind Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Yes, it's rich...but that wealth came from his murdered parents...and since money makes money, he keeps reinvesting his wealth to create more wealth to fund his crime fighting.

Why would you think the crime and poverty of Gotham City are his fault/doing/responsibility?
Do you think rich people cause poor people to become criminals?

 

[DaTT]

Didn't he get into it because his parents were killed by street thugs? Or was that just the Hollywood version....never much into superhero comics.

 

[micrometers]

It sounds like you don't really know the story behind Batman/Bruce Wayne.

Yes, it's rich...but that wealth came from his murdered parents...and since money makes money, he keeps reinvesting his wealth to create more wealth to fund his crime fighting.

Why would you think the crime and poverty of Gotham City are his fault/doing/responsibility?
Do you think rich people cause poor people to become criminals?

well, criminality is in large part a result of desperation, no? If conditions in Gotham are so bad that there is a crime wave, then yes, I do think that Bruce Wayne by being this crazy rich playboy billionnaire contributes to the desperation. After a certain point, wealthy interests become so entrenched that the small guy simply cannot compete against them, and many turn to crime.

 

[MovingTarget]

Because even a fictional character like Batman knows trickle-down economics doesn't work...


/flamesuit

 

[BoomerD]

well, criminality is in large part a result of desperation, no? If conditions in Gotham are so bad that there is a crime wave, then yes, I do think that Bruce Wayne by being this crazy rich playboy billionnaire contributes to the desperation. After a certain point, wealthy interests become so entrenched that the small guy simply cannot compete against them, and many turn to crime.

Then the only solution to the crime spree is to start executing all criminals.

The 1% will NOT be denied.

 

[MichaelD]

Nuke'em from orbit! It's the only way to be sure.

 

[Patranus]

What the first film. The plot essentially revolved around that entire premise.
The entire plot revolves around him using his money via Wayne corp. to revitalize the city seeing the "good" in people (like his father) while the villain thinks the city needs to be reset.

Someone didn't pay attention.

 

[micrometers]

What the first film. The plot essentially revolved around that entire premise.
The entire plot revolves around him using his money via Wayne corp. to revitalize the city seeing the "good" in people (like his father) while the villain thinks the city needs to be reset.

Someone didn't pay attention.

Yes, I noticed that Nolan paid a lot of attention to that. Especially when the super-villain said that he used economics to bring down Gotham -- which does absolve Wayne of responsibility for the city's poor state since it was a result of the super-villain's scheming.

Still, it is interesting that he paid so much attention to that. That is probably the only Batman film I've seen which paid any attention to class and economics.

 

[Patranus]

Yes, I noticed that Nolan paid a lot of attention to that. Especially when the super-villain said that he used economics to bring down Gotham -- which does absolve Wayne of responsibility for the city's poor state since it was a result of the super-villain's scheming.

Still, it is interesting that he paid so much attention to that. That is probably the only Batman film I've seen which paid any attention to class and economics.

But in the first film Nolan goes to great lengths to say how much father Wayne loved the city and gave back - the building of the tram as an example - and that was lost when he was murdered by the city he loved. Jr Wayne gets pissed and runs away but realizes at the end and buys Wayne corp.

 

[angminas]

So, if I have two cheeseburgers and you only have one cheeseburger, it's my fault if you go on a homicidal rampage.

 

[Jeeebus]

He's no more hypocritical than Alanis Morisette is ironic.

 

[arkcom]

So, if I have two cheeseburgers and you only have one cheeseburger, it's my fault if you go on a homicidal rampage.

1%ers like you are the reason criminals like the Hamburglar exist.

 

[angminas]

1%ers like you are the reason criminals like the Hamburglar exist.

Not for long. The entire Gotham police force has been mustered. We will catch up with the Hamburglar, and I will see him fry.

And as for being a 1%er? I'm lovin' it.

 

[soulcougher73]

Because even a fictional character like Batman knows trickle-down economics doesn't work...


/flamesuit

Dont have to be fictional to know that shit dont work

 

[ShawnD1]

But Batman spends an enormous fortune in order for him to fist-fight criminals. If he had used that enormous fortune to provide good careers instead, then there would not be so many desperate crooks around, but also no reason for him to beat them up.

Maybe you didn't realize it but Batman's main enemies are not poor. In Batman Begins, the guy Bruce is after is a leader of organized crime. The guy he defends the city against is not poor. The Joker is not poor; he actually sets fire to a pile of money in the latest movie. Joker was also rich enough to have hired thugs in the the 1989 batman too. Penguin has all kinds of wealthy stupid devices like his penguin boat and hired thugs and a base that has penguins everywhere.

 

[Fritzo]

This is something I've always wondered, and that is sort of addressed in Chrisopher Nolan's Batman films.

But Batman spends an enormous fortune in order for him to fist-fight criminals. If he had used that enormous fortune to provide good careers instead, then there would not be so many desperate crooks around, but also no reason for him to beat them up.

But by making Batman so fantastically wealthy unlike most other super-heroes, the closest is Tony Stark as Ironman except he doesn't go after petty crooks like Batman, isn't it obvious that Batman is largely responsible for the crime that he fights? And that by being so rich at the expense of the poor in Gothan he is sort of abusing the lower classes for his own satisfaction?

Gotham is corrupt to the core. Any money pumped into the community would go towards organized crime.

 

[JTsyo]

I sure Wayne corps provides a lot of jobs for the city. Some people can't make a living with a honest job, they just aren't up to it. They'll jump on a high risk high reward opportunity. I'm sure it was an useful trait to have in the hunter/gatherer days but not one for a civilized society.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

How is it we do nothing to get rid of Superman when he's in the USA? He's an illegal alien.

 

[LikeLinus]

This is something I've always wondered, and that is sort of addressed in Chrisopher Nolan's Batman films.

But Batman spends an enormous fortune in order for him to fist-fight criminals. If he had used that enormous fortune to provide good careers instead, then there would not be so many desperate crooks around, but also no reason for him to beat them up.

But by making Batman so fantastically wealthy unlike most other super-heroes, the closest is Tony Stark as Ironman except he doesn't go after petty crooks like Batman, isn't it obvious that Batman is largely responsible for the crime that he fights? And that by being so rich at the expense of the poor in Gothan he is sort of abusing the lower classes for his own satisfaction?

Because the Joker looks like someone who can hold down an 8-5 job and wear a tie.

You're missing the point that not everyones problems are solved by having a job. Sometimes people do bad things because...wait for it....they're just bad people. Looking at the grand scheme of things, the real bad guys he goes after are not pickpockets or people who need a meal. lol

 

[ShawnD1]

How is it we do nothing to get rid of Superman when he's in the USA? He's an illegal alien.

We leave him alone because he speaks proper English and doesn't answer every question with "kay"

 

[killster1]

thanks for the laugh, wont go to the point of calling you a idiot but ... HAHAH

 

[PingSpike]

Gotham is corrupt to the core. Any money pumped into the community would go towards organized crime.

This is really the best answer. It is beyond saving through the natural channels at this point, the police forces, political and business structure are all so corrupt that even Bruce Wayne's enormous fortune cannot influence the change needed. So in desperation he creates Batman to circumvent the failed system. Bruce Wayne can't pay the criminal elements to go away, they would simply return or be replaced. And Bruce Wayne can be intimidated. But Batman's identity is a secret so he can't be intimidated and he doesn't have to answer to the corrupt system.

At least, that's the idea I think. It still doesn't explain why there are so many super villains around though.

 

[PingSpike]

Because the Joker looks like someone who can hold down an 8-5 job and wear a tie.

You're missing the point that not everyones problems are solved by having a job. Sometimes people do bad things because...wait for it....they're just bad people. Looking at the grand scheme of things, the real bad guys he goes after are not pickpockets or people who need a meal. lol

Although he will certainly thump on pickpockets if given the opportunity. How else can batman level up?

 

[micrometers]

Because the Joker looks like someone who can hold down an 8-5 job and wear a tie.

You're missing the point that not everyones problems are solved by having a job. Sometimes people do bad things because...wait for it....they're just bad people. Looking at the grand scheme of things, the real bad guys he goes after are not pickpockets or people who need a meal. lol

Yes, the Batman faces off against super-villains like all super-heroes must.

But he does spend a significant amount of time and effort going after petty criminals. Probably more than other super-heroes.