Re: The Dark Knight
KettrenJ@aol.com
Fri, 10 Oct 1997 16:36:17 -0400 (EDT)
May I fine-tune the vigilante definition, just a bit? I think that the
vigilante's actions are not necessarily against the wishes of the public -
the two may indeed be in synch. But the vigilante is acts on his own
initiative, convinced that he represents the will of the people, either
because he thinks knows what the public's wishes are or thinks he knows what
they would be, had the public, (as was later mentioned), all the "inside
information". The vigilante does not, however, act under color of authority.
And there's where Neil's behavior differs. Although he tended to act rather
cowboy- like, in his frequent disregard for rules, he did have the authority
to run his department rather independently. I always got the impression that
his style was a problem for Whitehall only when he screwed up - otherwise his
superiors, despite their eye rolling and obligatory protests, looked the
other way.
Joyce