Latest Portland vs Seattle Debate: Our Real Life Superhero is Better than Yours
“In this corner, wearing the black and gold costume, welcome Phoenix Jones of Seattle! And in this corner, also wearing a black and gold custom, make some noise for KnightOwl of Portland!”
No, they aren’t wrestlers or boxers, they are real life superheros (RLSH). No special powers, weapons or modes of transportation but they do run around town in spandex superhero costumes in an effort to help the public.
Only 1 problem: according to the Wall Street Journal, they don’t like each other and don’t approve of the other’s methods. The Journal shared their story on Friday, February 25th:
The RLSHers, many of whom stick to charitable works like delivering food to the homeless, are concerned that Mr. Jones’s physical approach might not reflect well on the superhero community, which has worked hard to convince people that it isn’t just a group of comic-book geeks with inflated notions of their own importance but, rather, a force for good in the world.
“For the first time, we have someone who agrees with our overall purpose but doesn’t agree with our methods,” says Knight Owl, a Portland, Ore., member of the RLSH world who, like the others, refuses to give out his real name.
“I suppose it was bound to happen, but it’s definitely a growing pain within the community.”
Read the full story from wsj.com by clicking here. To learn more about Portland’s superhero, KnightOwl, click here. Unfortunately, just like Batman, Phoenix Jones does not have an online profile for us to link to. You’ll just have to send up the signal in Seattle and see if you are lucky enough to catch a glimpse. Or visit his Wikipedia page.
you have your information incorrect.
i participated in the WSJ article, but the author put a slant on our community and made PJ look to be victimized, including by me.
as soon as i saw how the article turned out, and was subsequently RE-published and contorted further, i contacted phoenix jones and he and i still remain on a very much congenial state.
please remove or retract this article immediately, or i will contact your editor on the matter of slandering my good name that i have worked extraordinarily hard to maintain with the community over the last three years.
This article and the one in the WSJ are complete loads of crap. Knight Owl and Phoenix Jones have patrolled together and each has respect for what the other does. Some RLSH have differences between each other but there is NO "Portland vs Seattle" rivalry. That is just something that journalists with no talent and no desire to research a real story make up to draw traffic.
Victim, RLSH supporter and tech researcher
Your article is inaccurate on several points, not the least of which being the main premise.
As someone who lives in Southern Illinois, I have no direct stake in any of the sporadic debates or disagreements between Real Life Superheroes who live in the Pacific Northwest. I've spoken with many of these people online and have met several in person, including some from Portland and some from Seattle.
First of all, the Wall Street Journal article and your own article exaggerate the level of conflict. Yes, some people have had some personal disagreements — but for the most part, people are focused on the work, not on interpersonal drama.
Second, Knight Owl and Phoenix Jones are not actually fighting with each other. The WSJ article just chose to put a combative spin on the story. I'm Facebook friends with both Phoenix Jones and Knight Owl, and both seem to agree that they're not on bad terms with each other. Rather than simply exaggerating an already exaggerated tale spun by the WSJ, you should try communicating with the people in question. Given the distortion present in this article, though, I wouldn't blame them if they don't want to talk to you.
I hope this writer is not PAID. This article is more suited to the Weekly World news, than a reputable newspaper.
I know both of them and you have it all wrong buddy. In fact the last time I saw them both together they weren't disagreeing on anything. Check you sources next time and actually ask the people your talking about. Attention to all who read this the man is a average journalist who is making stuff up!
Wow, what a shitty piece of hit-press! Designed, of course, to watch our “community” react. I hope KO and PJ sue your shirts off for libel.
THIS is why I never, ever, ever have relations with the media.
For shame, Portlander.
It never ceases to amaze me how the local media still troll for news that directly distracts from the corruption of our in Seattle and Portland’s benevolence.
I have lived in Seattle for the past 14 years. I frequently visit Portland and many of my childhood friends live there. Other readers know all too well that both the Seattle and Portland government’s are cancer ridden with infighting. Both governments commonly ignoring problems yet at the same time use the media toilet to puke out promises to fixe these issues. Much of the overhead goes to staff from "nonprofit" (i.e. thieves) organizations. From Portland to Seattle the homeless problem and drug industries have thrived under your watch. Yet you sit there, getting paid to write this first grade level article, ignoring the greater issue.
The RLSH and RCSHM could have been founded on debating each other, who cares? Is it possible that those individuals do more in a given month than the city you feed on?
On any given day I can go to the same street corners and buy drugs that I could 14 years ago in both Portland and Seattle. On any given day I can go to the same street corners and see the same groups of homeless people I have seen, talked to and donated to 14 years go. Many people from the RLSH and RCSHM have seem the exact same thing. Why not do a follow up to these stories instead?:
"Union Gospel Mission has seen demand for meals jump 61% from August 2009 to August of 2010, while donations are down 12% in comparison to last year." The Portlander Sept 30, 2010
"Campers back at City Hall urging more shelter for homeless people" The Portlander Oct 13, 2009
"And, it is why I used 68 percent of one-time resources to fund requested basic needs and public safety requests: homelessness, hunger and housing programs received $3.8 million; the Police Bureau received $3.2 million; and Fire and Rescue received $2.2 million." The Portlander May 10, 2010
Well known homeless woodcarver shot by police without provocation. Seattle Times Sept 2, 2010 "oops"
""It's not like they don't have the space; the city is shutting down parks and structures," he said. "All this moving gets to be a lot of stress on people — stress on their hearts, not just on their bodies." Seattle Times November 14, 2010.
"Seattle police today arrested 22 people for trespassing during an hourlong, peaceful sweep of Nickelsville, the illegal homeless camp that was set up on city property before dawn Monday." Seattle Times September 26, 2008
"Wednesday’s editorial criticizing the tactics of SHARE/WHEEL implies the poor and homeless should simply shut up, remain invisible, and wait patiently and quietly until constructive long-term solutions finally resolve the tragedy of homelessness [Northwest Voices- “Homeless theatrics,” Opinion, Sept. 30].
LOL!
Actually it really doesn't make a difference whether the article is accurate or not. The RLSH are a bunch of Posers and Cosplayers who are more interested in taking nice photos of themselves and trying to gain publicity. REAL Hero crime fighters like Myself are always taking a risk and laying down Our lives for innocent People.
Dr.Unknown?