video;

[munies]

[ so it turns out, even after being here for so long ( a year now, which is- it's a lot. it's a long time. so she's not thinking about that now! ) it's still really difficult for Teresa to feel comfortable talking to the camera, to post to the network. she's not shy, really, she doesn't mind listening in and responding to other people, but being on the opposite end is wildly intimidating, for some reason. but! far it be from her to step down from a challenge when she's got something on her mind ]

So, I understand the concept of secret identities. I understand the need to protect the person behind the superpowers, and protecting those close to them. I understand the desire to live a normal life outside of what you can do when you use your abilities. It's all- I get it. I promise.

But why here? Why, when everyone is equipped with powers of all kinds without fail, do people still go by an alter ego? I probably sound like I'm trying to make some kind of dig at those who choose to go by a superhero alias, but it's a genuine question. I mean, I highly doubt every one of you just really enjoys wearing a lot of spandex and leather every day, so... What's the real advantage of wearing a mask in a place like this?

[ she's already got a few vague ideas - it's not like she'd know, personally, but she has a couple of friends who rock costumes when they're out using their abilities. it's one thing to take a guess, and another to hear it from someone else, so. that's what this is. super curious, this one. ]

This is coming from someone whose world was full of a lot of codenames, and secrets, and a number of other carefully controlled things I won't get into, so I guess I'm just curious about this because I believe having the choice to be open about who we are and what we can do here is one of the best things about being here. No hiding, no secrets. So... Why?

Comments

text; id reads batman

[chiroptophobic]

Here is no different than anywhere else, but it's complicated by the density of people drawn from our own worlds, and the threat that they often pose.
Exposing who we are exposes our mundanity, more than anything else.

texting now too!

[munies]

So the main contributing cause of maintaining a secret identity here is... ego?

VOICE;

[triangleman]

Oooooh, I dunno! Is that really limited to folks with masks and tights, thought? Everybody needs a little privacy!

video;

[munies]

Well, no. I get the need for privacy, I don't get the need to act under a different persona when we were all brought here, apparently, to use our abilities to help protect this world.

Text;

[pastdoesntdefine]

And what if my "code name" IS my name, now?

Text;

[munies]

I ask myself the same thing every day.

In my case, it's the name I grew up with. I had my code name way longer than I went by my given name.

I think at this point, if I did try to go by my given name? It would just feel like a weird nickname, not so much a code name.

video;

[moneylogues]

Beats me. People get real weird about identities and most of the time, it's kinda bullshit. Some people got issues. And then a lot of people just really want a cool nickname, even if it makes them look like total tools.

You know back home I was working with a guy named Sharkface? Tell me that doesn't sound incredibly dumb.

video;

[munies]

[ she laughs, and- okay, she wasn't expecting to laugh at any of the responses, because yeah, people do get real weird about identities. she was expecting some defensiveness, maybe. but anyway, this response makes her laugh, and that's kinda great because it eases some of the tension out of her expression ]

Sharkface! Unless the man literally had a shark face, somehow, I'm not sure why he would be excited to have a nickname like that.

And yeah, I mean- I understand why people enjoy nicknames. I'm not completely hating on somebody that wants to go by something other than their real name. The need for an entirely secret identity is a little lost on me.

Video

[tactile_telekinesis]

I think for some people it's for protection. For themselves or loved ones or whatever. I mean if someone has a girlfriend from back home show up, you're not gonna want people to know about them where they can be either used against you or hurt because of you. Even if they suddenly had powers as well. You're still gonna feel like shit you got 'em hurt.

I don't have one though so...I dunno.

[munies]

[ Teresa gets wanting to protect someone, she does. she knows that keeping secrets can sometimes serve to keep someone else out of trouble. but she also knows how badly that kinda thing can backfire ]

Those are all pretty selfish reasons.

video;

[superposition]

[Qubit's never been one of those who wears a literal mask, but the question still applies.]

The reasoning varies from person to person, but in my experience it's essentially a matter of boundaries. Even with all our abilities, we can't possibly be everywhere or respond to every demand made of us. Keeping our private and public lives separate is one way of dealing with that.

[munies]

That makes it sound like it's just a result of self imposed personal responsibility.

I'm also not sure I'm getting why using your powers to help people means giving up a sense of privacy.

[ yeah Teresa so doesn't have superheroes in her world. it's not- clicking. ]

video;

[givetheslip]

Some may have a legitimate reason, but I expect many enjoy the dramatics of it. Not that they'd admit it.

video;

[munies]

It just seems like- If you're the only person with a special ability in a crowded room, or a crowded city, I understand the need to keep it a secret. I've done that before. But here? There are people that can light themselves on fire and stay that way for hours and not die. Nobody's going to be ostracized for having abilities.

[ video ]

[disorder_heaven]

IMO? [ Yes, those letters are spoken aloud. ] Half for show, half out of fear. If I had crazy powers and actively used them all the time in public, I certainly wouldn't want all my random acquaintances associating me with that.

[ video ]

[munies]

[ wait now that's a different side of things ]

What do you think constitutes as crazy powers?

video.

[glowsferatu]

I can't entirely speak to the desire for disguise, personally. Obviously, there's no hiding some people. [ She waves a hand over her face, the whole grey, horned alien thing does kind of stand out. ] In my experience, many of the people who work to maintain a separate identity do so as a way of sidestepping registration or masking some other crime, but that isn't in any way applicable to all cases.

Some of us simply operate under a nom de guerre without any pretense of secrecy. That itself may seem a little pointless, but it projects a certain narrative and image, something that can be more effective as one is in action. A criminal isn't as likely be intimidated by some alien imPort whose name they'll probably mispronounce as they might be Echidna, the mother of monsters.

[munies]

That seems a little [ what's a nice word to use here ] theatrical. Though I'm not sure that should surprise me, considering this place tends to lean that way in general.

Although you've brought up the main point why I'm so skeptical of secret identities - for the most part, anyone that went by a codename was hiding something, and it was never good. I know that's not the case for everyone here, but there's still a part of me that makes the association, I guess. It's hard to shake that feeling.

[ video ]

[hostage]

When the bad guys know who you are and where to find you, then it's easy for 'em to figure out all your weaknesses. And sooner or later, they're gonna use that. Like burn your house down or threaten the people you care about. So it's something you gotta ask yourself, if you decide to show your face: Do you got something to lose and is all this hero shit worth losing it? Not everybody can risk it.

[ video ]

[munies]

Shouldn't that only be a problem if you were the only "good guy" in a city full of "bad guys"? [ a beat ] The fact that we're Imports already puts us on the map as someone people here either hate, or admire. Fighting back anonymously, in a way, doesn't really change that. Does it?

text

[wonk]

we still need sleep

or most of us do i guess

and this way nobody blows ur house up in the middle of the night while u tryna catch those zs

[munies]

Has that actually happened before? I've heard "secret identities prevent house fires" so many times now that it's starting to sound like a bad slogan.

video; id reads green lantern

[aviate]

I do it because some of the guys I know care a whole lot more than me and it's easier to figure them out if someone can just follow me and see where I go.

[Which is only partially true considering he's reached open secret with his own identity.]

Also more than one person has asked me to sign their doll of me and I don't need people like that camping outside my door.

[munies]

You're saying your reputation from home followed you here?

[ that first part she's actually curious about. it could change her perspective, maybe, so she's genuinely curious. which is why she doesn't mean to laugh at that second part, but there's an amused huff there, for sure ]

We're all treated like celebrities here, to some extent. Wearing the costume just heightened that. I mean, you wouldn't have a doll made of you if you hadn't worn a mask to begin with, y'know? You could be treated just like everyone else.

text - ID reads Kid Flash

[runningstart]

popular superhero consensus is because villains can show up with vendettas

also one of the goals around here is to figure out how to keep our memories going home

and lastly bc it is cool and mysterious

[munies]

[ ah yes see someone she should have just asked about this instead of posting to the network. oops. retrospect 20/20 blahblahblah ]

You believe maintaining your secret identity here will help you remember this place if/when you get sent back home?

Is it reeeally that cool?

voice

[hsalf]

People want to protect themselves and anyone else they know who may come later.

A lot of people are also accustomed to it. Wish to keep their dual lives separate - no different than how people may keep their home and work lives apart.

[munies]

It's a little different. People generally don't try to keep their job a total secret and refuse to acknowledge it even exists unless they're in uniform. [ a beat ] Usually.

I don't think I would love the idea of someone keeping up a secret identity to keep me safe, either. There's something sort of arrogant about that reasoning.