Have you seen The Boys? There’s an actual fan club of Homelander. The series creators are trying to cut it down because it’s the exact opposite of the message they try to bring. Vilans are people’s new heroes now. Like Trump and Musk for example.
By dehumanizing them you’re no different. Treat your enemies with respect, they are human too, just dumb pieces of shit. Don’t lower yourself to their level. Be better than them.
That’s the excuse for Hamas to commit terrorist acts on Israel. It’s also the excuse for Israel to commit the worst war crimes of this century by far. Lowering yourself to the level of the enemy makes you just as bad. Be better.
I think very little of them, I’m disgusted by them, I hate them with everything I’ve got, but I will not dehumanize them or justify crimes against humanity against them. No matter whether they would do that to me. They deserve consequences for their behavior. They need to be sentenced for their crimes. Legally, democratically, within the law. If we don’t, how are we any different? They think they are better humans than others, you know, like the nazis. Untermenschen. If you’re not a nazi, fascist or racist, you won’t dehumanize others.
The thing is, I’m not pleading for their respect. I won’t get it. I just won’t lower myself to their level so I will not grant them the argument “see, they are doing the same”.
Reflexive simplistic judgement without willingness to pull apart or confront uncomfortable ideas that may threaten orthodoxy; most antifascist thought.
Tbh, I do agree with him that we shouldn’t dehumanize. Fascists are humans, who deserve to be put down. There. Easy. No dehumanization, and you can still say that they deserve bullets blowing their brains out the back their heads.
The Boys is great because it explores how horrific a world like that would be, and how close that world is to ours.
Thankfully I’ve not seen people fawning over Home Lander. I see people say they exist, but I do wonder if that’s drive-by people mistaking fandom of the show for fandom of Homelander.
The guy is a forever child whose insecurity makes him a monster. You’re shown how all his
“romantic” relationships are about him being mothered. He literally keeps breast milk in his fridge. He’s an infant given god like powers. There is nothing inspirational about him.
I love his character, the actor really does a great job. But he’s super evil. He’s a great representation to the real world, as many people think there’s no collateral damage too great to justify reaching their goal. Dehumanizing others, committing war crimes, hunger for power, forcing their beliefs onto others. I despise people like that.
But there are people who think otherwise: See this
I guess I wasn’t trying to say there’s absolutely no-one that idolises homelander. Some people watch Star Wars and want Darth Vader to win. There’s not many of them, and social media tends to amplify the “edge lord” opinions.
Just that I thought sometimes pearl-clutchers can see people enjoying something that contains horrific aspects and interpret it as meaning those people support horrific things.
I think there’s a pretty big difference between someone rooting for the dark space wizard against the light space wizards in a story set in outer space, vs taking the side of a psychopathic superman in a show that’s literally about calling out fascist chuds and male power fantasies, in a world that is meant to directly mirror our own.
Scifi and fantasy also try to mirror the real world. In star wars, the whole story about the empire and the rebellion is basically the story of any great Empire in history. It becomes too big, crooked people take over, it becomes corrupt, it becomes too restricted, too evil to keep power, rebels will fight against oppression and the empire will fall. With a new government filling the vacume, and the whole story starts over again. Heroes become villains. Good guys become bad. They all have their reasons, they all have twisted justifications for their actions. Whatever filter is used, it’s mirroring society. Whether it’s space scifi, fantasy or super heroes.
I’m well aware of the obvious parallels to the real world in Star Wars. The Boys is an accurate reflection of our real world, and how “supers” would behave in an unregulated, ultra-capitalist society.
You can like Darth Vader for looking badass and having a red light saber, without being a fascist. You can’t really say the same for people who actually like Homelander and think he’s a good guy.
I like Homelander because he’s so fucked up, so sick and twisted, such a well written roll and perfectly performed. But I like dystopian worlds, as entertainment. I like Gaspar Noé movies. But I can’t say Homelander is a good guy, no. Just pure evil.
But it’s the same with Darth Vader. Who would think he’s a good guy? You can like him for being cool and evil, but saying he’s the good guy is the same as saying Homelander is a good guy, isn’t it?
The comics are from long before Trump. (2006-2012) Homelander is just what happens when you give a flawed person Superman powers. That’s the whole premise of the Boys. “What-if superhumans were real people with real flaws?”.
He’s the manifestation of “absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Have you seen The Boys? There’s an actual fan club of Homelander. The series creators are trying to cut it down because it’s the exact opposite of the message they try to bring. Vilans are people’s new heroes now. Like Trump and Musk for example.
People are stupid
Fascists aren’t people in most of the ways that matter.
They do have viable organs tho, if we wanted to address the shortage in an easy and ethical way.
By dehumanizing them you’re no different. Treat your enemies with respect, they are human too, just dumb pieces of shit. Don’t lower yourself to their level. Be better than them.
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That’s the excuse for Hamas to commit terrorist acts on Israel. It’s also the excuse for Israel to commit the worst war crimes of this century by far. Lowering yourself to the level of the enemy makes you just as bad. Be better.
I think very little of them, I’m disgusted by them, I hate them with everything I’ve got, but I will not dehumanize them or justify crimes against humanity against them. No matter whether they would do that to me. They deserve consequences for their behavior. They need to be sentenced for their crimes. Legally, democratically, within the law. If we don’t, how are we any different? They think they are better humans than others, you know, like the nazis. Untermenschen. If you’re not a nazi, fascist or racist, you won’t dehumanize others.
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Whether they deserve it or not, I won’t dehumanize them; because I don’t want to become someone who dehumanizes others.
I will certainly fight them, I will resist them, but I will not consider them anything but human.
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Right - fight them! Resist them! But do not let them push you into being inhuman yourself.
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Keep pleading for their respect when they have a gun to the back of your head. I’m sure that will work.
The thing is, I’m not pleading for their respect. I won’t get it. I just won’t lower myself to their level so I will not grant them the argument “see, they are doing the same”.
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Who said I won’t attack them? Of course I would, and have. But within the law, without dehumanizing them.
You call me pathetic, although I’m actively fighting against the far right, oppression and crimes against humanity.
You, on the other hand, show you are just as bad as they are.
lol
their death camps will be perfectly legal
Reflexive simplistic judgement without willingness to pull apart or confront uncomfortable ideas that may threaten orthodoxy; most antifascist thought.
Tbh, I do agree with him that we shouldn’t dehumanize. Fascists are humans, who deserve to be put down. There. Easy. No dehumanization, and you can still say that they deserve bullets blowing their brains out the back their heads.
The Boys is great because it explores how horrific a world like that would be, and how close that world is to ours.
Thankfully I’ve not seen people fawning over Home Lander. I see people say they exist, but I do wonder if that’s drive-by people mistaking fandom of the show for fandom of Homelander.
The guy is a forever child whose insecurity makes him a monster. You’re shown how all his “romantic” relationships are about him being mothered. He literally keeps breast milk in his fridge. He’s an infant given god like powers. There is nothing inspirational about him.
He’s a great villain though.
I love his character, the actor really does a great job. But he’s super evil. He’s a great representation to the real world, as many people think there’s no collateral damage too great to justify reaching their goal. Dehumanizing others, committing war crimes, hunger for power, forcing their beliefs onto others. I despise people like that.
But there are people who think otherwise: See this
I guess I wasn’t trying to say there’s absolutely no-one that idolises homelander. Some people watch Star Wars and want Darth Vader to win. There’s not many of them, and social media tends to amplify the “edge lord” opinions.
Just that I thought sometimes pearl-clutchers can see people enjoying something that contains horrific aspects and interpret it as meaning those people support horrific things.
I think there’s a pretty big difference between someone rooting for the dark space wizard against the light space wizards in a story set in outer space, vs taking the side of a psychopathic superman in a show that’s literally about calling out fascist chuds and male power fantasies, in a world that is meant to directly mirror our own.
Scifi and fantasy also try to mirror the real world. In star wars, the whole story about the empire and the rebellion is basically the story of any great Empire in history. It becomes too big, crooked people take over, it becomes corrupt, it becomes too restricted, too evil to keep power, rebels will fight against oppression and the empire will fall. With a new government filling the vacume, and the whole story starts over again. Heroes become villains. Good guys become bad. They all have their reasons, they all have twisted justifications for their actions. Whatever filter is used, it’s mirroring society. Whether it’s space scifi, fantasy or super heroes.
I’m well aware of the obvious parallels to the real world in Star Wars. The Boys is an accurate reflection of our real world, and how “supers” would behave in an unregulated, ultra-capitalist society.
You can like Darth Vader for looking badass and having a red light saber, without being a fascist. You can’t really say the same for people who actually like Homelander and think he’s a good guy.
I like Homelander because he’s so fucked up, so sick and twisted, such a well written roll and perfectly performed. But I like dystopian worlds, as entertainment. I like Gaspar Noé movies. But I can’t say Homelander is a good guy, no. Just pure evil.
But it’s the same with Darth Vader. Who would think he’s a good guy? You can like him for being cool and evil, but saying he’s the good guy is the same as saying Homelander is a good guy, isn’t it?
Is he doing a great job? I thought he was just portraying himself.
Nah for real, if he’s not a psychopath in real life, he must be a tremendous actor.
Anthony Starr is knocking it out of the park. Amazing performance.
homelander was based on trump, and they were obviously parodying Conservatives in the show.
The comics are from long before Trump. (2006-2012) Homelander is just what happens when you give a flawed person Superman powers. That’s the whole premise of the Boys. “What-if superhumans were real people with real flaws?”.
He’s the manifestation of “absolute power corrupts absolutely”.