Does Batman have a Positive Attitude?

[heyheysg]

So, some times you need a positive attitude to get through life, find goals etc and follow them. We all know that Batman has the willpower, imagination and money to get what he wants but how is he doing it? How does he go through his daily life, or is he just mechanically ridding the world of crime?

Another example would be the Punisher who has this idea that nothing can be redeemed and thus you must kill everyone.

 

[Spacewolf]

He might be a kight in sour armour he knows people are bastards but still belves in fighting the good fight
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/KnightInSourArmor

 

[Daystar Clarion]

He must have. Otherwise he'd just be killing all the criminals instead of putting them in jail, and then catching them when they escape, and putting 'em back in jail, and then recapturing said offenders when they manage to expunge themselves from confinement, and then placing them back into the confines of detainment when they exit incarceration...


Batman should probably just fix the prisons.

Would probably be easier.

 

[VaudevillianVeteran]

Batman is in a way, a anti-hero to me. He does what he believes is right and it started as a kind of vengeance for his parents. But I can't imagine him leading kids across the street from school or picking up litter after a busy day of foiling villains. He gets through the day, I imagine, remembering that he is Gotham's knight and he's saving people from a fate that he had.

 

[Royta]

I think it's his family, and mostly Robin that get him through it. In the comics he's usually a wreck when he operates solo, but when Dick Grayson is in the fray he gets less tense and opens up a lot more. Same with Alfred, Catwoman. They keep him sane and provide him with the positive vibe.

If he were truely alone, he'd really lose it (he'd probably be a permantent Zur En Arrh Batman).
http://images.tribe.net/tribe/upload/photo/a6e/9c7/a6e9c7cf-9c76-4774-a648-67e640b149e6

 

[plugav]

I think Batman (the Bruce Wayne version, not the Dick Grayson version) might simply be insane. Because does Bruce Wayne have a life beyond his self-appointed mission? Not really. He's Batman, the rest is just cover. Which is kind of how psychotics operate, you know. And I don't think you need a positive attitude when you're insane.

Batman should probably just fix the prisons.

Would probably be easier.

Indeed, by now he should have figured out that the villains will escape from prison/the asylum. And yet, with his limitless resources, he does nothing to make sure they're kept there. Or that Arkham is staffed with competent psychiatrists.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

If he didn't have a positive outlook or principles then he would just kill criminals.

 

[SwimmingRock]

I think Batman (the Bruce Wayne version, not the Dick Grayson version) might simply be insane. Because does Bruce Wayne have a life beyond his self-appointed mission? Not really. He's Batman, the rest is just cover. Which is kind of how psychotics operate, you know. And I don't think you need a positive attitude when you're insane.

Actually, Chris Sims (noted Batmanologist) debunked that myth about Batman showing that what he does as Bruce Wayne is meant to help people in a more legal, open and indirect way (ie charities and creating jobs) whereas Batman is simply the more direct extension of that idea.

In general, I would suggest reading up on the articles of Chris Sims on comicsalliance.com (I swear to God I don't work for them) for a better look into the fictional mind of Batman/Bruce Wayne.

OP, I would say he definitely has a positive attitude or he wouldn't put so much effort into protecting people from criminals. His whole mission in life is based on the idea that most people are good and decent, but that they're preyed on by criminals.

 

[MiracleOfSound]

The beauty of Batman is that he's never really sure if he's just as messed up and crazy as the baddies he goes after.

I mean.... he dresses like a giant bat and goes around beating the crap out of dudes.

But yeah, given all he's been through I'd say he has a relatively positive outlook on life.... I mean he really believes he can make a difference out there. I guess the joke's on him?

 

[Goofguy]

It seems to me that Batman must realize that there can never really be an end to his crusade. There will always be some insane criminals that require his special brand of justice.

So, I wouldn't say he has a positive attitude but it's not like he has a particularly grim and angry outlook on it all.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I guess you haven't seen the Batman The Animated Series episode called "I am the Night". That episode pretty much Batman having a mid life crisis (well ok it's not that, he started to doubt himself if he really can stop crime in Gothan).
Anyway long story short being who he is, he was able to find the resolve he needed to continue what he believe. So in another word yes he does have positive attitudes.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

I have to disagree with everyone.

I wouldn't say he has a positive outlook since he has a contingency plan for every single superhero in the JLA. In fact, it was pretty scary how much he planned out.

A truly optimistic man wouldn't need such things.

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

I have to disagree with everyone.

I wouldn't say he has a positive outlook since he has a contingency plan for every single superhero in the JLA. In fact, it was pretty scary how much he planned out.

A truly optimistic man wouldn't need such things.

You are mistaking practicality with pessimism. Superman has even given Bats a piece of kryptonite in case he ever goes rogue.

 

[Smooth Operator]

All the shit his job entails and yet he hasn't got a single lethal gadget or superpower, I say he hasto be extremely positive.

 

[Cheery Lunatic]

I have to disagree with everyone.

I wouldn't say he has a positive outlook since he has a contingency plan for every single superhero in the JLA. In fact, it was pretty scary how much he planned out.

A truly optimistic man wouldn't need such things.

You are mistaking practicality with pessimism. Superman has even given Bats a piece of kryptonite in case he ever goes rogue.

That was with his permission though.

None of the other JLA had any idea that Batman was making plans exploiting their every weakness.

 

[Neverhoodian]

If it's the DCAU Batman we're talking about, I'd say he's not a very positive man:

Spoiler

Bruce is a man of his principles, but those same principles cost him his humanity. The promise he made on his parents' grave wasn't just for vengeance, but also to try his hardest to make sure nobody else has to go through what he did.
To this end he gives his all, willfully neglecting any semblance of a normal life. He knows that he will never be truly happy as Batman, yet he honors his vow anyway. The only times he'd had some sort of positive outlook for his life is when there are others he can count on for support...

...but it doesn't last. Bruce comes to the conclusion that having companions around will only bring pain and suffering like what happened to Tim Drake (Youtube wouldn't let me embed this one)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JEa71aS3oU&feature=related

...so he works alone until his retirement. It's worth noting that he does lighten up a bit when Terry McGinnis takes over the mantle of Batman, since it gives Bruce the peace of mind that the fight will continue, even when he's gone.

That's how I view it, anyway.

 

[Nerdstar]

I think Batman (the Bruce Wayne version, not the Dick Grayson version) might simply be insane. Because does Bruce Wayne have a life beyond his self-appointed mission? Not really. He's Batman, the rest is just cover. Which is kind of how psychotics operate, you know. And I don't think you need a positive attitude when you're insane.

Batman should probably just fix the prisons.

Would probably be easier.

Indeed, by now he should have figured out that the villains will escape from prison/the asylum. And yet, with his limitless resources, he does nothing to make sure they're kept there. Or that Arkham is staffed with competent psychiatrists.

not true he investes hevely in the prisons as bruce wayne, eveytime arkhams been demolished he helped rebuild it heck in the arkham reborn storyline he funded the whole projecrt and upgraded security, so it not like hes not trying.

 

[plugav]

snip

snip

Well, you're probably right. It's been some time since I've read Batman regularly or watched the show.

I still don't think of Wayne as having a positive attitude, though. He's not the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, he's the Dark Knight instilling fear into the hearts of criminals. He's got no super powers, he doesn't do the act because he can, but because he feels that he must. He could just donate money to the police, but he doesn't trust them to do "his job." After all, they weren't there to save his parents, were they?

Funnily enough, the Battle for the Cowl suggests that he's right. No one but the Batman can ensure peace in Gotham.

 

[bluewolf]

Hell no, but that does not under any circumstances make him any less awesome.

 

[Nerdstar]

well you forget there's a reason he doesnt kill criminals not only

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snip

Well, you're probably right. It's been some time since I've read Batman regularly or watched the show.

I still don't think of Wayne as having a positive attitude, though. He's not the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, he's the Dark Knight instilling fear into the hearts of criminals. He's got no super powers, he doesn't do the act because he can, but because he feels that he must. He could just donate money to the police, but he doesn't trust them to do "his job." After all, they weren't there to save his parents, were they?

Funnily enough, the Battle for the Cowl suggests that he's right. No one but the Batman can ensure peace in Gotham.

well you forget there's a reason he doesn't kill criminals, not only because hes instilling fear into the hearts of criminals, but hes instilling hope into the citizens of Gotham, i remember a batman story(cant remember the title thohe sorry) were this poor working class dad steals something on Christmas eve to help his family. inadvertently causing his him to gt into trouble with one or two of the rouges but batman eventually finds out who's doing beats up the rouges and tracks down the dad to his crappy little shack in the BAD side of gotham(if that's even possible) and buts trough the door, and there's the dad siting there his son behind him playing with a fire truck he then says mournfully to bat man that hes sorry he stole it he was only doing it for his family and that he already return the loot before batman even set off on his hunt, to which batman reacts by standing there for a second with his usual grim dark look on his face then he says verbatim "don't do it again" and leaves and as hes leaving his cape blocks the view for a sec and when it clears we see a large wad of cash (at least 100 thousand)on the dresser and on the next panel we see batman swinging away with a slight smile on his face. needless to say that manly tears were shed after that. if the man didn't have a positive attitude he wouldn't have done that and would have just killed the guy right then and there(that's what the punisher would have done and i believe we can agree that THAT man most definitely doesn't have a positive attitude)

as for suggesting that he's right. that's not necessarily true either if you remember it was there inaction at taking up the mantle that caused crime to pile up and when dick did do it more or less stabilized.(you need the symbole not the man to help gotham)