Ever since The Flash first appeared on October 7th, 2014, unexplainable events and people with incredible powers have been spotted all across Central City and the surrounding areas. By documenting those amazing stories, I seek to bring hope to the people of Central City.
Recently, there has been an uptick of submissions/asks due to Iris taking up journalism again on the show, some of which seem to be under the impression that this is an official blog for the show (asking whether there will be a season five). Not too many, but every once and a while, enough that I have decided to break the news.
It is not.
This was a fan made blog made by someone ( @techno-sorcerer , then microraptorglider) who miraculously grabbed the url and invited a friend ( @quarticmoose ) to help out, since I thought this was something the show should have done, a gloriously wasted opportunity. It would be cool if they did it, though I think @chroniclesofcisco is official along with @thecwflash . I am flattered that this came across professional enough for someone to think that, but it’s just me.
Moreover, for all intents and purposes, this blog is dead and has been for some time. I fell out of the fandom, not out of spite but just since I was more enamored with the idea of the show than the show itself. I am no longer up to date on what is happening on the show to offer commentary on what is happening. I’m fairly certain my friend simply got busy. I at least have been keeping the blog around since I did enjoy what I made when I did it, and don’t want to just toss it out.
If the people at @thecwflash wanted to actually make this officially happen, I could change the url and/or archive what we did, so that they could officially have at it. If another fan wanted to pick up where I left off, then I’d ask to still have access to the blog (it was originally my project after all) but would gladly let someone else on board.
I hope everyone still watching is having fun, and I hope everyone enjoyed what QM and I put together here. I’m sorry for not responding to any of the asks or submissions, but without any idea of whats going on, I haven’t known what to say and just let them sit there, especially since- as said- I am primarily keeping this around for archival reasons at this point.
Unfortunately, I am unlikely to pick this blog back up anytime soon. This blog was originally designed so that I could post stories and news about meta-humans that were not being taken seriously by the public, but with the existence of meta-humans no longer questioned by the public, I can explore such topics in my professional work.
Moreover, my life has become increasingly busy reporting on the Flash and metahumans at Central City Picture New and helping my friends, who get themselves into all sorts of trouble. As such, I haven’t had the time to keep this blog running, even though I greatly enjoyed working on it.
However, I am not shutting down this blog either. It serves as a valuable archive of possible metahuman activity, both personally and for the world, and having a place where the public can share information on the topic is important. For that purpose, I am keeping my askbox and my submission page open.
I want to thank all my readers for their amazing support. Without you to spread the word, our city might not have risen to the occasion in such spectacular fashion again and again as we faced the challenges of a changing world. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Iris West
P.S. If you want more info on the subject, it may be easier if you contact off anon, especially if you would like to lend a hand to keep this blog active. More info in the tags
The final sentence, seemingly an indictment of secret indentities, really comes out of left field. Especially given that, just three paragraphs earlier, she points out that there is an active search going on for the identity of the speedster with the metal helmet, and acknowledges that he has yet to reappear. How likely is it, then, that his identity was compromised, forcing him out of the hero business? Or something worse could have happened to him, which we might never know. The right to privacy for masked heroes is an important one, and the issue is nuanced - too complex, really, to be adequately explored in 146 minutes, though if I had to take a wild guess, I’d say that the author of this article is #TeamIronMan.
I honestly don’t really understand this need to discredit the Flash and all that he has accomplished. Is it really so hard to believe that one person could have done everything he has? Do we really need to pick apart our heroes and insist that they are incapable of doing on their own?
Lastly, and I can’t believe I have to say this: yes, the Streak and the Flash are the same person. The author does not seem to be aware that anonymous heroes tend to not name themselves. I was the original blogger behind thestreaklives, and was in communication with the individual known as The Streak. He indicated to me that he wasn’t sold on the name - with the help of a friend, I came up with something better and re-named my blog, and that’s how saved-by-the-flash was born. Given the popularity of my blog, #TheFlash was soon trending. So there really isn’t any question of the Flash usurping the Streak’s identity, since both appellations were given to him by other people.
- Iris West
[Article Text]
OP-ED
SPEEDSTER CENTRAL
Just how many speedsters are there?
by Kat Farrell March 26, 2016 5:40 pm
Lately, it seems as though meta-humans with the ability to run at super-human speeds – colloquially called “speedsters” – are just crawling out of the woodwork. The most well-known speedster, the Hero of Central City, calls himself the Flash; he first came to public attention in his fight with Leonard “Captain Cold” Snart and Mick “Heatwave” Rory over a year ago. However, there had been rumors of his existence for several months prior, circulating through the internet under the hashtag #TheStreak. Moving too fast for the eye to see, he was little more than a red blur moving through the city, leaving yellow lightning in his wake.
At the same time, there were also sporadic accounts of sightings of “red lightning” streaking through the city, though these were never associated with acts of heroism the way Flash sightings were, and were never linked to single individual. Most often, the reports were attributed to the Flash, as our resident speedster and the only man, to our knowledge, capable of moving at those speeds.
Recent events have called that assumption into question, with the verified appearance of three new speedsters on the block. The first was a nightmarish apparition in black who attacked the Flash and brought him low, publicly dragging his beaten body in front of new cameras. There was very real concern that the Flash had been killed in the altercation, but he eventually bounced back, while the black speedster has not been seen since.
The second new speedster appeared only twice, both times to confront the meta-human Geomancer. Although the Flash was not present at the scene to confirm that he and the new speedster with the helmet are in fact two separate people, it seems unlikely that the Flash, who takes such care to guard his identity, would give up his mask for a revealing tin hat. The speedster has not been seen since, his true identity a burning question that has yet to be answered, despite the apparently simplicity of tracking down an unmasked face.
Most recently, a string of supersonic thefts were pinned on the Flash, before the blame was shifted onto the female speedster who was last seen destroying Central City Bridge. Witnesses fleeing the scene of destruction did note that there were two speedsters on the bridge, and that the Flash was the one who had moved them to safety, so again there is no chance that people mistook the Flash for someone else.
This means that Central City has been visited by at least four different speedsters, possibly more. After all, we have no proof that the Red Streak and the Flash are really the same person – maybe the Flash taking credit where credit is not due. For that matter, how do we know the Flash is just one person? It may well be that more than one person has taken it into their heads to don the cowl and call themselves the Flash. Perhaps he is like Shakespeare, and more work is attributed to him than he actually performed.
So long as the Flash hides his identity behind a mask, the people of Central City will be left with nothing but questions.
Since metahumans are still a pretty new thing, how do you figure out how to write about them? Like how do you know the right words to use and stuff? And do you have any advice for a new-ish writer trying to find their voice?
Good question! (Sorry for the belated response!)
In the beginning, writing about meta-humans involved checking my assumptions at the door. I could not reject out-of-hand any story I heard for being ‘impossible.’ Finding the stories in the first place involves a lot of pattern-recognition, and looking for instances where two or more people tell the same story, without referencing each other. Checking timestamps is important - if a story goes viral before corroborating evidence is established, then any new witnesses are more likely to be making things up. I’ve found that talking to people face-to-face is a good way to learn what really happened; people will embellish a lot to spread their story online, but will have a harder time keeping it going in real life.
My blog was one of the firsts to begin blogging about the meta-human phenomenon; the first, to my knowledge, to do so exclusively without devoting time to other ‘conspiracy theories.’ Consequently, it has a pretty wide readership, and I try to be socially responsible in my writing, to not place undue blame or incite panic, even while the world as we know it it is being turned on its head. Early on, I speculated about how the criminal justice system will need to adapt to deal with meta-humans. Later, as the number of meta-human sightings increased, I made sure to emphasize that being a meta-human does not make someone a criminal, or even a bad person, but that the actions being committed (robbery, assault, destruction of property, etc.) were the real crimes, and already on the books.
When writing about meta-humans, I try to be careful to emphasize where the story is coming from. If I did not personally witness the event, I have to take anything people tell me with a grain of salt. Now that meta-humans have gained more recognition, this is, perhaps, less critical, but by the same token people might be more inclined to make stories up now that there’s a good chance they’ll be believed. That’s where having multiple witnesses is really useful.
As far as advice to new-ish writers goes, I have to make the obligatory nod to practice, practice, practice, which you’re probably tired of hearing. But practicing doesn’t have to mean doing the same thing over and over - when it comes to finding your voice, it actually means just the opposite: take risks, try new things, experiment!
Beyond that, I have good friends who will read over what I write, and point out parts that don’t make sense or could be misconstrued. Correcting mistakes is a good way to learn what works and what doesn’t. A lot of the time ‘finding the right words’ means a lot of trial and error and rewrites; the rest of the time, it means accepting the work is good enough to get the point across, and that it is time to stop worrying about the little details. One thing that helps is figuring out why you are writing. I don’t mean a deep or profound reason, since we can always learn more about ourselves and our motives, but rather what kind of effect do I want to have on the world. Do I want to keep people safe and informed? Do I want to make people smile or laugh? Which word is right depends on what you want to do with it.
What's your first impression of your new boss Scott?
First impressions being what they are, I’m not going to rush to judgement on my new boss. Especially not on a public blog that he is likely to read ;-)
I will say that he’s got pretty big shoes to fill. Everybody here at CCPN remembers Eric Larkin, and what an amazing EIC he was - you always knew that he was willing to go to bat for his reporters. But he got to that level after years of strong leadership; it didn’t happen instantaneously.
I believe that Scott Evans is concerned with turning out the highest-quality paper possible, though there might be some disagreement on what, exactly, that means. In this age of internet news, there’s a great concern for confirmation bias, and I appreciate that Evans is willing to take a contrary position if it means making sure that all the sources check out and all avenues of research have been exhausted.
I am generally an optimistic person, so what I might perceive to be his excess cynicism could rub me the wrong way, but it won’t interfere with my ability to do my job and do it well.
I’m really hooked on How To Get Away With Murder. The characters are compelling and complex, and the suspense keeps me on the edge of my seat. As I’ve mentioned before, I love mysteries, the more unpredictable, the better. Can’t wait for next week’s episode!
What is your favourite pizza topping? What is your least favourite pizza topping? Are there any pizza toppings that you're just "meh" about?
I have a sweet spot for buffalo chicken, but I generally like to explore and try new combinations out. So, if I like the food off the pizza, I’ll be willing to try it on a pizza. I’ve even tried strawberries on pizza once, though I have to admit that there’s a reason it’s not usually offered.
That said, I don’t like every topping, even among the usual ones. For example, I’m not too big on olives on or off pizza. When they’tr on a pizza with a lot of veggies I usually can’t taste them as much, but a friend of mine loves his pizza with pepperoni, olives, and jalapenos. If I’m eating with him, we’ll get his order, and he’ll get my extra olives.
As for toppings I’m meh about, pineapples certainly aren’t high on my list. I don’t hate them like some people do, but they don’t really do it for me either. Still better than strawberries though.
When are you going to tell Barry you love him? I'm not getting any younger here.
You’re very clever anon. This ask reminds me of a nicer version of the “when will you stop beating your wife?” question in that there is no proper way for me to answer this question without first confirming that I love him, and considering this blog isn’t exactly a secret, that would be similar to telling him. (The example question is something a friend who studied linguistics once told me.)
I could of course cheat and say that I tell Barry I love him everyday. He’s my best friend and favorite person in the world. He’s an adorable nerd and is always trying to help people. But, I don’t think that’s what you meant ;)
However, I will tell you that when (and if) I confess my love to Barry it will be on my terms, not yours.
Goodquestion! Generally, I really like character-driven stories, especially thosethat don’t follow predictable patterns and can keep me guessing. My love formystery novels started when I was quite young – I think I was 9 when I firstpicked up Agatha Christie, and Miss Marple remains my favorite sleuth. Oh! And Iabsolutely love Madeline L’Engle’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time.’
I’vealways been fascinated by the way our minds work, and for that, I highlyrecommend reading ‘The Invisible Gorilla,’ and 'Think Fast and Slow.’ I got a copyof 'Outliers’ for my birthday, but I haven’t had the chance to read it yet.Looking forward to that!
hi iris, i was wondering what your opinion is on the starling city vigilantes, so the green arrow, spartan, black canary and speedy?
Thanks for the question! Ultimately, I believe that the Star City vigilantes are a force for good; they’ve saved countless lives, at great risk to themselves. I know that we don’t have the full story, and may never have the full story (a consequence of operating in secrecy), but what we do know - what bits and pieces of information we can glean from would-be victims, saved by these heroes - all points towards a group of individuals working to make their city a safer place.
The escalating situation in Star City, whose crime rate has been on the rise for several years, cannot be laid at the feet of its vigilantes, no matter what certain news outlets might be trying to sell you. If anything, their valiant efforts have curbed the worst of its effects.
This isn’t a blanket endorsement of vigilantism. As a practice, it will always raise certain very troubling concerns; lack of oversight and accountability are just a couple, and the degree to which they employ violence should always come under scrutiny. But regarding those four you mentioned - Green Arrow, Black Canary, Spartan, and Speedy - yes, I do believe they are heroes, deserving of our respect.
What do you know about earth 2? Did Barry tell you everything that happened?
Do I know you? ;)
Not many people know about that stuff, and unfortunately going in detail would involve secrets that aren’t mine to tell. That said, I will answer at least vaguely that a friend of mine provided information on how my life could have turned out.
It is interesting to ponder what our lives could have been like under different circumstances, though often it is just speculation. And, even if one were to find out, what would one do with that information? For example, when I was younger my dream job was to be a cop, but at my dad’s request I backed down. However, even if I would have enjoyed being a cop, I also love being a reporter, so I have no regrets on that front.
That isn’t to say that it wouldn’t influence my decisions at all, but the information is certainly a lot to process. Just because something could happen under different circumstances does not mean it could happen under the circumstances you are in now. Or, supposing that it could happen, that you are ready to take that risk and make it a reality. However, despite my hesitance, the possibilities do intrigue me, and I’m open to pursuing the possibilities, just not right away.
- Iris West
P.S. If you do know me in real life, it would probably be better to message me directly as to avoid spilling secrets. Or, you could talk in code, like one of my more chilly anons has did here and here. [Not that I know the anon ;)] In such cases, it can be useful to avoid things like personal names. It’s amazing how much you can say without revealing things, so don’t let that discourage you from sending things in.
I really haven’t given television much thought.It’s certainly a very different kind of reporting than what I’m used to, but I greatly enjoyed the public speaking class I took in school, so… whoknows? ;)
As I’ve mentioned before, what Ilove best about my job is the humanconnection, and the ability to have a positive impact, both of which I’d stillhave if I switched over to network news. Now that I’m thinking it over, I’m definitelywarming up to the idea of doing televised news. However,I can’t really see myself sitting behind a news desk, not even for a lead anchorposition. I enjoy going out in the field too much, and asking questions.
Hello, Ms. West; I was wondering if you had any advice for dealing with bullies. One of my friends is having a pretty hard time at school and they can't really talk to anyone about it since the guys being jerks to them are pretty popular with the teachers, and the students. I've tried helping them out, but my tactics are more 'Try to injure the guys who are hurting my friend once we get off school property' which makes it worse for them. It would be much appreciated if you could help out.
In my experience, there’s no silver bullet that stops bullying. Each situation is different, and I don’t know all the nuances here, so take what I say with a grain of salt.
Moreover, bullies tend to be persistent and are often good at manipulating the system and garnering sympathy when called out. I wish I could say dealing with the bullies would be easy, but I and a close friend were bullied in middle and high school, so I’d be lying if I said it was easy.
At the same time, standing up for your friend is very important, especially if you are there when the bullying takes place. This doesn’t have to be you sweeping in and beating the bully up mid act, especially because that could get you suspended, where you won’t be there to have your friend’s back. In fact, the first thing you should do is ask your friend how you can help. Show your friend that they do have someone to talk to about it: you.
There might be something small you can do that would make your friend’s day better, and your friend is more likely to know what will help them than you. If your friend wants to cry on your shoulder let them. If your friend would rather not talk about it and have a distraction, bring up a shared interest to brighten their day. Remember: your goal is to help your friend.
If your friend is ok with it, calling the bullies out can be an important step. Bullies thrive on people staying silent, and not just because it takes somebody speaking up for the authorities to take action (which is true) but also because it is self-perpetuating. Each time someone stays silent, they are telling everyone else that they support the bully (because actions speak louder than words), so it makes everybody more scared to take action, while bolstering the bully’s confidence.
That doesn’t mean that I have any illusions that you’ll stand up for your friend once and immediately lead a Mocking Jay style revolution against the bully. People can be inspiring, but people can also be shitty. But, you can make an impact on how the bullying plays out, and if nothing else, your friend at least knows you are in their corner, which can mean the world to somebody going through a tough time. At the same time, you have showed the bullies’ that they can’t rely on you to stay silent.
However, if your friend doesn’t want you to call out the bullies out, don’t. It may seem heroic, but they know more about their situation than you do, and they are more likely to know if you standing up for them will come back to haunt them. In any case, telling your friend that you saw it and that you disprove can make generalized words of support concrete. Anyone can say “~*~* I’ll always support you! :) ~*~*” once; actually doing so whens something goes down shows you’re a real friend.
Finally, if your friend says its ok, you can cautiously scout out where support may lie among the administration and student body. Popularity can be overwhelming, but it is rarely unanimous. Allies among the administration can step in during emergencies or even give your friend a place to eat away from the bullies. At the same time, we all know the administration can only do so much to change student attitudes, can’t be there all the time, and can sometimes do more harm than good, so having allies in the student body who can be there when you aren’t would also be a good resource.
In searching for support, you don’t have to carry around a big sign that says ‘Students X,Y, and Z are bulling my friend F’. If your friend says that having lunch in a classroom would be nice, then you can ask teachers about that without bringing up the bullying directly. That isn’t to say you can’t bring the bullying up, just that there are multiple ways of going about this, and some may seem more reasonable in a given situation than others.
As my last note, I just want to remind you that you are there to help your friend. That seems obvious, but it is something that can get so easily lost if you focus just on the bullies. The bullies are of course a part of your friend’s situation, and you cannot ignore that. But, helping your friend comes first.
Today is the first day of Ask Iris, and I’ve spent my evening crafting answers to your questions. The first ones should be posted soon.
If you haven’t sent a question in yet, I will be answering more tomorrow evening as well. Questions can be personal in nature or be asking for advice. In addition, I always accept questions about the Flash, metahumans, unexplained events in Central City, or about my blog and reporting.
For those of you who missed my previous announcement, I’m celebrating reaching 100+ followers by asking all sorts of questions about me personally or giving out advice in an event I’m calling Ask Iris. So, here’s another reminder that I will be answering asks Monday and Tuesday evenings. I already have some, but keep sending them in!
-Iris West
(Also, I will probably post my article about the new Flash here soon enough. In the meantime it is available on the Central City Picture News website. In any case, you should be glad to know that even if the Flash we know and love isn’t there to help us all the time, there are still those who are willing to step up and do what’s right. Whether or not we see more of this new Flash, we certainly owe him our thanks.)
Here’s a reminder to send in your questions for the ‘Ask Iris’ Event. I will be answering just about any question including personal questions about me and questions asking for advice. Questions will get answered on Monday and Tuesday Evening this next week.
Also, please boost this post or the earlier one, so that people know to send stuff in!
