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Badass Normals and Why we love them so.

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Fomar Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#1: Apr 19th 2012 at 10:23:20 AM

First off what is Badass Normal? A Badass Normal is Normal human or non-human with physical and mental capabilities. Within in the spectrum of ability exhibited by real world earth humans, though usually at the upper end of that spectrum. Who survive if not thrive in a world where beings in possession of truly superhuman abilities exist. Badass normals are so beloved because they stroke the Human Ego. Unless there are superhumans living on earth incognito like many works of fiction postulate. Then Every one of us is a baseline human. No matter how benevolent and well meaning a Superhuman is they are an affront to human pride. By simply existing A superhuman says that we baseline humans are not good enough to achieve something; and that no matter how hard we work or how well we prepare that we will never measure up. The Badass Normal looks at the Superhuman and says "F*ck You!".

Also many Superhumans in fiction are born into the world with their abilities. An allusion intended or not to a concept largely rejected by western society, American in particular;The Chosen Elite. Having grown up our entire lives being told that "all men are created equal" and "everyone is special in their own way" and"anything can be achieved through hard work an dedication". The Idea that some people are born into to the world better than others; is something that is going to just tick people off.

The truth of matter lies between the two. Talent(inborn ability) and Skill(acquired capability) feed into one another. Talent without training is useless and you can't be trained to proficiency in a Skill without Talent in that Skills required areas. And to a degree Sufficient Skill can compensate for a lack of Talent, however there is a limit to this.

In the wide worlds of fiction things are a little different. Talent and Skill are often treated as interdependent of one another. And a consequence of this independence is that Skill can completely to compensate for a lack Talent. Thus the Common Man(Badass Normal) triumphs over the The Chosen Elite(Superhuman).

Lastly is the Self-Made man a figure respected by all and viewed with near religious reverence in my country the USA by both the Left and Right albeit differently. It's easy to see why the the Self-Made man is such a respected icon. He was not born more Talented than anyone else. He was given no favors nor did he for ask any. And yet he still succeeds achieving greatness solely through the means available to all men, if only they had the will to use them.

The Badass Normal is seen as synonyms with the Self Made Man. Superhumans succeed because they operate on a level beyond normal men. Badass Normals succeed while still being, well normal men. Thus Badass Normals are perceived to be the greater heroes because they succeed through humble(human)means. while Superhumans do not and are often useless when deprived of what ever it is that makes them Super.

Ultimately it goes back to Human Ego and Human spirit. Humans are stubborn willful and proud, it is highly insulting to say that being human is not enough to accomplish something. That their is something better than what humanity is right now and that to succeed we should go off and become this better thing.

And if may go off on a tangent, Human pride is the reason why Transhumanism is often portrayed negatively in fiction...despite the perfectly logical idea to use science to improve the human condition.

The instinctive response of most humans when told that they aren't good enough isn't"okay your right i am inferior let me go do what ever i can to improve my self". The response is"f*ck you, f*ck your parents, f*ck your cloths, f*ck the vehicle that you used to get here! You think I'm not good enough well f*ck you! I'll succeed as myself and if myself isn't good enough? I'll succeed anyway!" That attitude is seen as being embodied in the Badass Normal and that is why people love them!

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that many Badass Normals have a dirty little secret?

" Magic is a method of talking to the universe in words that it cannot ignore."
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#2: Apr 19th 2012 at 12:07:56 PM

[up]

I think you've hit the nail on the head to some extent. Although there might be others who can refute your claims.

Also, many superhumans in fiction greatly respect the Bad Ass Normal for keeping pace with them despite not having powers of any sort. Perhaps recognizing that a man who reached such a plateau through pure skill is worthy of such respect.

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