Clark didn't really want to discuss that topic because on this matter he agreed with Barry, while Batman and Diana shared the same view, representing two implicit philosophies within the Justice League on 'how to be a superhero'.
No one could convince the other.
Talking about it now would definitely be a waste of time.
But since Batman had already brought it up, Clark couldn't avoid it. He could escape once, but constantly evading it wasn't a solution either.
"Bruce, I know you're doing this for our own good, but people really aren't as dark as you think."
Superman walked over to Batman's side, forcing himself to look at the incomprehensible program on the screen.
"Human beings are born dark because it's entropy that shaped humanity, which is the source of chaos," Batman quickly retorted, not taking his eyes off the screen: "Just like a baby, even though they know nothing at birth, they fight with their siblings for food and their parents' affection. It is family education, common sense, social ethics, and laws that make humans human during their growth, not chaotic beasts."
"Or become Batman, right? By the way, how are things going on the Laughing Bat's side?" Clark snapped his fingers with a smile.
"Deathstroke has taken the initiative to handle the Laughing Bat, Diana and Barry are with him, as well as Arthur and Oliver. He took away half of the Justice League's strength." Batman spoke unemotionally, as if merely stating the facts without showing any particular emotion: "Don't try to change the subject, I'm not that stupid."
Superman's futile attempt was uncovered, and he scratched his head, spreading his hands: "Alright, I still maintain my previous view, that when I see people in need of help, I must lend a hand."
"I have no objection to that, because it's a form of justice. However, how to determine whether someone truly needs help is the crux of our discussion," Bruce typed the final line of code and tried running it on the backup machine: "Only when people face something they absolutely cannot do themselves do they need help. Helping someone rescue a cat from a tree or weed their garden doesn't mean they truly need your presence."
Superman and Barry both had this problem of being overly eager to help, immediately stepping in when they saw others busy, and 'let me handle it' had almost become their catchphrase.
"But if an elderly person needs to weed their garden, which could take them an entire day, it would take Barry or me only a second, which is really a small gesture," Superman said, crossing his arms, his bulging muscles stretching the blue uniform to its limits.
"You can help once, you can help twice, maybe up to the hundredth time, but what about the hundred and first time?" Batman sighed: "If people develop the habit of relying on you, when you don't show up the hundred and first time, do you know what those who have become accustomed to it will think? They won't appreciate the hundred times you helped before, they'll only notice that this time is different. Small matters might just result in a few complaints, but for significant issues, they could turn to resentment."
Superman sighed, his smile fading slightly: "I know, Bruce, but that doesn't mean I won't do the right thing. I'll strive to do well those hundred times and try for the hundred and first. If I truly can't lend a hand at that time, I trust those I've helped will understand my circumstances."
Batman nodded noncommittally: "Okay, I don't intend to make you stop doing this, maybe like Barry said, it doesn't take up much time."
"So, can we talk about serious matters?" Superman was delighted.
"No, there's another issue today, and that's how you're making people lose their sense of existence and their motivation to progress," Batman turned back coldly: "Take your help today in clearing abandoned vehicles from the road, for example. At that time, all municipal tow trucks were deployed, and firefighters were on the streets. They could have moved those vehicles themselves, yet you intervened."
"I saved them energy and time, there's nothing wrong with that; now Metropolis traffic has returned to normal. Bruce, if you will, I can help Gotham too..."
"No, what you can do, so can I, and so can Deathstroke, but do you know why we don't do it? Because it would take away the jobs of municipal workers and firefighters!"
Batman still wore a stoic expression, but his tone carried a hint of begrudging disappointment.
"I don't understand, they still have their positions and their paychecks. I have to work seven days a week at the newspaper, and if someone could occasionally cover for me without affecting my attendance, I'd definitely thank them. You know, even Superman gets tired, and going to work absolutely wears me out the most."
Superman told a joke to lighten the atmosphere, as Batman always made things overly serious.
"Yes, just like whenever there's a fire in Midtown, Barry immediately rushes in to rescue everyone before the fire trucks even start. Barry even bought blankets and drinks for the unfortunate people. Over time, Midtown's fire department response time is slower than WWII-era Italian military; people have lost their drive and sense of responsibility."
"Is it... because of us?"
"Do you know what they might think? I do. 'Anyway, if there's a fire, a superhero will come save people and put out the fire, so it doesn't matter if we're a bit late; it's all just a formality.' Yes, it has developed to the point where they're too lazy to act, and they might as well build a lightning lamp on the fire station's roof to signal Barry to solve the problem whenever there's a fire."
Superman took a deep breath and furrowed his brows. What Batman said seemed to have become a reality, and as the saying went, the people of Midtown and Metropolis had been spoiled by Barry and him.
Batman always grimly pointed out the darker side, and most of the time, he was right.
"Maybe we could talk to them? Give them a pep talk, explain that the city still needs them."
"Sure, and then they'll think you helped them before and won't help again in the future, and start to resent you. Laziness is part of humanity's self-destructive tendency; it's human nature. Everyone prefers to get something for nothing, and once that opportunity is gone, they blame the heavens and others. By the way, you do indeed have human nature, and I'm glad."
"This... you don't look happy at all." Clark was dumbfounded. This sounded like a big problem: "So what should we do?"
"Let humans do what they're capable of, and don't let your good intentions lead to a bad outcome." Batman turned around and leaned against the mainframe, which was ready: "If you really have goodwill, then when you see able-bodied beggars, don't give money. Report them immediately—that's truly saving them."
Clark was silent for a moment, then eventually shook his head slowly: "No, I can't do that. I believe in the goodness of human nature. You're treating assumptions as factual statements, misleading my judgment."
Batman took a step to leave, planning to exit via the sewer: "You've heard my opinion; whether or not you listen is up to you. But with what Earth has been facing recently, we really need humans to have the motivation and confidence for self-rescue, which is exactly what's being worn away by you all."
"I'll pay attention to limits in the future, but if someone needs saving, I won't care if they're good or bad, nor will I care if they'll resent me later. Life is what's most important." Superman embraced Batman and flew him out of the sewer, the smell down there wasn't pleasant.
He had only been there a short while, but already felt an uncomfortable urge to take a good shower.
"Although I don't kill, some people deserve to die. Everyone has to pay for their actions, even me, and that's justice." Batman landed on the ground, shook his cape, and walked towards Ron.
"If you only try to save the good and not the bad, that justice becomes biased, rendering it meaningless." Superman still disagreed with Batman's philosophy.
After hundreds of instances of being swayed by Batman, Superman had developed a strong resistance to his rhetoric.
He didn't know why Bruce brought this up today, but he wouldn't blindly comply.
Justice League is a place to agree to disagree, where everyone has their own sense of justice.
Wonder Woman's reckless justice, Batman's dark justice, his own benevolent justice, Lantern Hero's orderly justice.
The key is justice; the rest is not important.
"Heh, Diana calls killing 'saving their souls.' Justice has indeed saved the bad." Batman retorted, his black shadow stretched long on the ground by the high lights.
But Clark didn't pay attention to Batman's words, instead showing a look of utter surprise.
"Batman, did you smile? You just told me a dark joke." Superman grabbed Batman's shoulder to face him, then used his X-ray vision to check Bruce from top to bottom.
He didn't see anything wrong; no tumor in the brain, nor was there an imposter.
But why would Batman smile? It couldn't be.
"...I'm fine, maybe I've spent too much time with Deathstroke recently, picked up some of his bad habits." Batman turned away, shaking off Superman's hand, who used no strength due to their camaraderie: "You know, I've passively learned a lot from you all as well."
Superman hadn't detected anything unusual, nor realized Batman was changing the subject; his attention was drawn: "Sounds like you get along well with him? He does seem very different from our Deathstroke."
Batman intended to deny it, but remembered that Deathstroke had saved Thomas, so he changed his tune: "Still needs observation, but I believe Diana won't let him stray, and based on a man's vanity, few men would disappoint the opposite sex with a queen-like beauty around—it's a human reproductive instinct, like a peacock spreading its feathers, all about showing off and courtship."
Superman shrugged, he knew Diana teaming up with Deathstroke was part of Batman's dark plan, using human nature to stir things up, really....
"Let's hope Deathstroke shares your taste then. Honestly, Louise's strong woman index is already my limit; I really can't imagine what an Amazon would be like."
Batman raised a hand to greet Ron: "Influencing from the side, steering Deathstroke's behavior towards the Justice League doesn't mean they need that kind of relationship. With Diana's personality, she wouldn't accept such a plan, so she knows nothing. I'm merely indulging her spontaneous actions."
"So in other words..." Superman raised an eyebrow, hooking Batman's shoulder, wanting to gossip a bit.
Batman, like a piece of wood, let him drape over his shoulder, responding coldly as if the earlier laughter was an illusion: "I didn't say anything... Ron, gather all nearby Justice League, Justice Community members, we need to concentrate our forces."