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Phoenix Jones has been unmasked

Comments

  • IronweaverIronweaver
    if u do convins fashist akwaint hiz faec w pavment neway jus 2 b sur
    His story is really tragic, but that doesn't make him any less insane.
  • IcalasariIcalasari
    No rainbow star
    ^ Although to be fair, he isn't just some guy off the streets. He's an MMA Fighter. That makes him a bit better off than an average person would be...
  • IronweaverIronweaver
    if u do convins fashist akwaint hiz faec w pavment neway jus 2 b sur
    And that makes him even more potentially dangerous. Vigilantism is a dangerous thing, and the level of the potential danger for others depends solely on the vigilante himself. I would never trust an insane person to protect me, no matter how well-meaning.
  • IcalasariIcalasari
    No rainbow star
    ^ I'd say the insane part comes less from what he does and more from the fact that he deals with criminals knowing that they have guns
  • MadassAlexMadassAlex
    One foot in front of the other, every day.
    in reality he is an intelligent, articulate, compassionate and
    dedicated young man who sees the world around him as his responsibility
    to protect. He’s incapable of ‘turning a blind eye’, ‘leaving well
    enough alone’, and not getting involved.

    “That’s all I’m trying to do. I’m trying to teach that citizens are the
    solution to the problems in our society. We need to take care of each
    other and view each other with compassion. The real enemy out there is
    apathy and if you ask me, that’s what Phoenix Jones is fighting
    against.”

    He might be naive -- I don't think so -- and quite the idealist, but he's far from unstable or insane. Through that article, Phoenix made his values clear to me, and those are what's important. He's a champion amateur MMA fighter that doesn't just beat the bad guys to a pulp to begin with, which is extremely telling of his compassion and peaceful methods under trying circumstances. Try keeping your composure when sincerely threatened with violence. It isn't easy. And a martial artist is more likely to end the situation by breaking their aggressor simply because they want to defend themselves, and violence in self-defense is lawful.

    But Phoenix goes to the trouble of capturing the criminal on camera and getting them hauled in by the authorities. Those aren't the actions of a madman or an attention-seeker, but someone who cares about the safety of their city. You cannot begin to fathom how dangerous and difficult this can be unless you've been struck by a stranger with a weapon.

    The nature of fighting and violence dictates that no-one is entirely safe. His MMA abilities are not some magical shield, but a tool. And like any tool, one slip can ruin a whole project. I applaud the man for going out of the way with the correct training, the correct lawful considerations and the correct attitude towards reaching for justice.
  • IcalasariIcalasari
    No rainbow star
    ^ Which is why after reading that article I felt sorry for him
  • GelzoGelzo
    Pony Sleuth
    What I don't understand is all the negative reaction towards him. Sure, this is a little eccentric- maybe even quixotic depending on how you see it- but I don't think he's really doing any harm, right?
  • MillerCrossMillerCross
    You can change. You can.
    Vigilantism is seen as something of a touchy subject as it sets up more people to dare and try to fight crime on their own. However, most people don't understand that fighting crime is not as easy as going up to a guy and punching him.
  • CrimsonCrimson
    edited 2011-10-27 20:39:00
    Give us fire! Give us ruin! Give us our glory!
    ^^He's a vigilante for one thing. Which is all well and good in comics, but something that is to be taken seriously in real life. That, and while he means no harm, he DOES have the potential to do a lot of harm, both to himself and others.
  • vandrovandro
    He who laments and can't let go of the past is forever doomed to solitude.
    The potential to do harm is seen as more important than the potential to do good, that's always bugged me. People don't strive for right, just for not bad.
  • GelzoGelzo
    edited 2011-10-27 20:49:11
    Pony Sleuth
    Everyone has potential to do harm to themselves or others. I dunno how many times this week I could have shoved someone into traffic. From what I've heard he hasn't nor is likely to do anything that's seriously wrong.

    I also really doubt that someone's awareness of an MMA fighter with body armor acting as a vigilante is going to motivate them to pick dangerous fights, at least no more than idiocy and machismo already does.

    ^Fair point.
  • MillerCrossMillerCross
    You can change. You can.
    Then there's the whole legality of method and justice on your own hands angle to it.

    Eh, I don't disagree with you, but you asked a question, and that's your answer. Whether you agree that is a valid answer, that is a whole different deal.
  • GelzoGelzo
    Pony Sleuth
    Sure. Then, I'm just responding to the idea regardless of whether you agree with it.

    I think it's good that he has video documentation of his actions. Aside from the evidence it provides, it should help keep him accountable.
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