Whether you know it or not, everyone has a role model in life whom they try and be just like. Many children over the past 75 years have chose Superman. Many individuals believe Superman is a negative role model. Author of an online article that I used for my research says, "If you had to pick a superhero as a role model who would you choose? If you chose Superman you might be setting yourself up for failure and tremendous disappointment (Torok)." Torok does have a valid argument on the fact that Superman is in a sense, perfect and we, as normal human beings are far from perfect, therefore, leading children to false hopes and expectations. An argument against this may be: If children are getting to the point where they are becoming depressed because they cannot see through a solid wall, just like Superman, is not completely the child's fault. The parent in this case, should not let an obsession go that far. Children pretending to be Superman, wearing his cape and fighting evil for fun is a complete different story. As a parent, children need to know when enough is enough. Too much Superman could lead these children down the wrong road, but is not very likely to happen.
Torok makes a comparison in his article written about Superman being a bad role model for children. He says, "Comparing yourself to Superman is like comparing your net worth to Bill Gates and wondering where you went wrong (Torok)." This comparison is true, but, not all children are comparing themselves to Superman. Most, if not all are just looking up to him because they want to do good, just like him.
The last point about Superman and being a bad role model is again, another comparison. Torok writes that Superman is too much like God; therefore, comparing yourself to God isn't easy. Yet, Torok does not mention how children look up to God just as they look up to Superman. Children look up to God because he helps them. He is that sense of relief in hard situations just as Superman is. God is a good role model, right? If Superman is being compared to God, isn't he a good role model as well?
No matter how I look at the way Torok explains, I can't seem to figure out how Superman is a bad influence. How can he give so many people false hopes? Children should grow up to understand that Superman isn't real, just like Santa, or the tooth fairy. I do understand that is easier for me to say because sometimes it's harder for children to differentiate the real world from the "superhero" world. Superman, just like any other superhero is a great influence, teaching children how to grow up and be a great person.