Hypotheticals often don't have all the necessary information. So, let me touch on a few scenarios.
If I am Bruce Wayne, then yes, I become Batman, I have the dedication and the haunted past. That's what Bruce Wayne did, so that's what I'd do if I was him. Yup, that's a dick answer, but just saying, if I'm him I'd do what he did...
Now, first, let's ask the question: 'Do the Arkham-style villains happen pre-Batman or post-Batman?' In most cases, the latter, I doubt that's entirely coincidental, but to be fair, it's hard to argue for how Batman exactly inspired some of his villains. For instance Victor (Mr. Freeze) or Pamela (Poison Ivy) in many cases stumbled into their villainy. They became villains of circumstance. Though, I guess a lot of villains are tied to how some supervillain or Batman fucked up their lives... Anyway, there's something to be said for whether Batman made most of his rogue's gallery by being Batman, or if they would have happened anyway.
In the end, though, if I'm Bruce Wayne in position, maybe name, only, then I'm not going to become Batman. I don't think I have any more of a moral or ethical obligation than I think Donald Trump has to go fight crime. I do, however, believe I need to do something with my money, but it would be the socially acceptable 'help out inner city kids' and 'beef up the cops with funding' type bullshit. I don't know what I'd do... If possible, I might turn criminals against each other. I wonder if I could hire Slade to murder the fuck out of Scarface and the Joker...
Anyway, barring that, I'd probably retire someplace safe with a small community of people I love and trust. Maybe build a commune but minus all that hippie shit. If I can't better the world, I can at least create a small section of truly happy and loving people. Also, I'd have a car that shoots missiles, because why wouldn't you...
snowyowl wrote:Find (somehow, I'll skip the logistics) a dozen people you can trust, who are young, physically fit, and not afraid of getting their hands dirty.
<Snip>
Still not ideal, but a marked improvement on a single (human, fallible) Batman.
Now you have 12 heavily armed, highly dangerous vigilantes. I gotta say, 'skip the logistics' skips the most important part. Even Jesus couldn't find 12 dudes he could trust implicitly, and they weren't deadly mercenaries...
Horizon wrote:<General stuff Horizon said about silly ideas...>
Actually, Horizon, while those ideas are silly, it does get me thinking. Joker's entire schtick in 'The Dark Knight' for about half the movie was getting into the villains and manipulating them to do as he wanted and fuck with them. He didn't even have Bruce Wayne's insane resources... Maybe there's something to the idea of becoming the guy who waits until just the right time to twist everyone around my finger, and then burn them all from within...