10 Mistakes Iron Man Made That We Can All Learn From | ScreenRant
Tony Stark is Iron Man, a revered hero and self-professed genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist. However, he's also human, and he's prone to making mistakes now and again. Audiences saw Tony's many successes, and failures, from the very beginning in Iron Man all the way up to Avengers: Endgame.
From these mistakes, no matter how big or small they are, come some important life lessons. Tony definitely learned from his many mistakes, and audiences can benefit in the same way, though they are spared from some of the difficult times and huge stakes that Tony went through due to those mistakes.
10 He Failed To Communicate With Peter
In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Peter anxiously awaits Tony Stark's call for another mission. Peter wants to prove himself as a superhero and essentially puts all other things in his life on hold, choosing to focus on his "Stark Internship." Peter lands in all kinds of trouble trying to get to the bottom of weapons trafficking, including nearly drowning and losing everyone onboard a ferry.
Both times Tony Stark helps him, but Stark confiscates his suit after the ferry incident. Had Tony Stark been more communicative with Peter, the teen might have avoided those mishaps. Peter had a lot to learn, but so did Tony Stark in the world of mentoring.
9 Wasted Away Time
Tony was busy building weapons and partying; he didn't realize that he was missing out on so many other things in life until he was being held captive alongside Yinsen. Yinsen himself, in his dying moments, urges Tony to not "waste" his life. Tony had been given a second chance thanks to Yinsen saving him, and he took that opportunity and those words to heart, knowing what he had to do and finding a real purpose for himself afterward.
While Tony's situation is an extreme example, what audiences can take away is the fact that there are so many things to experience in life, and by wasting it away on things that don't matter, they're missing out.
8 He Struggled To Really Connect With Others
Tony Stark went through a lot in his life. He had a difficult relationship with his father, and he was young when his parents died. Later, he would learn that they were murdered. No doubt his experience with his parents, especially after he lost them, affected how he connected with others. Tony only had a few trusted people in his life in Iron Man, those being Pepper, Rhodey, and Obadiah Stane.
Stane ultimately betrayed Tony, which couldn't have helped matters. However, Tony took a long time to really connect with others, especially where it concerned his feelings for Pepper. He waited a long time to be with her and have a family. When he did connect with others, it was really meaningful, and for audiences, they can learn to not take as long as Tony did.
7 Took Advantage Of His Friends
When audiences first met him in Iron Man, Tony was very selfish and self-involved. All he cared about was partying and womanizing. He didn't consider anyone else. He made Rhodey wait for him for quite a long time before he boarded his plane to Afghanistan and he didn't remember Pepper's birthday.
He didn't pay attention to them or consider their time and feelings; he simply took advantage of them. He was a better friend after his awful experience in Afghanistan, but the way he treated his friends is a lesson to be learned, especially if you have friends as good as Rhodey and Pepper.
6 He Provoked Bruce Banner
While on board the ship in The Avengers, Tony zaps Bruce, much to Captain America's consternation as he reminds Tony of how dangerous that is. Tony was the only one that didn't tiptoe around Bruce, which he seemed to appreciate, but the thing is, it was a big risk, especially with all the people onboard.
That said, there is a time and a place for provoking Bruce and potentially angering Hulk, and Tony picked a bad time; in fact, he should've left well enough alone. Had Bruce not been in control, it could've ended a lot differently. The lesson here is to not poke the bear, so to speak.
5 He Revealed That He Was Iron Man
Instead of abiding by S.H.I.E.L.D.'s advice that he go with the story provided to him at the press conference, Tony instead reveals that he is Iron Man. It's something he did in the spur of the moment; in the years to come, with the public knowing who he was, it certainly brought a set of problems. It also changed his life drastically, forever.
Had he followed S.H.I.E.L.D.'s instructions from the get-go, he may have struggled with keeping his superhero identity a secret, but at least he'd get to live that part of his life in private. A secret as hefty as a superhero identity might have fared better for Tony if only trusted people in his life, like Pepper and Rhodey, knew. That said, audiences can learn from Tony that some secrets are better kept among trusted friends and family.
4 Gave Home Address To The Bad Guys
Tony Stark makes a big, big mistake when he gives out his home address to The Mandarin in Iron Man 3. His home was destroyed, and he risked both his and Pepper's lives in the process. Thankfully, neither of them were killed, so they were lucky in that regard.
However, Tony's judgment was considerably off given he told the bad guys exactly where to find him. This example is an extreme case, but it teaches a valuable lesson in that audiences should never let suspicious characters, or people they don't know well, know where they reside for safety reasons.
3 Fought Over The Sokovia Accords
A lot was going on in Captain America: Civil War. One of those was the division of The Avengers due to the Sokovia Accords. Tony was in support of having their team supervised, while Captain America was completely against the idea. Tony was very insistent that his way was right, and that Steve and those that supported him should follow suit.
It leads to a massive battle and a new chapter in the lives of the Avengers, and it certainly created quite a rift between Captain America and Tony Stark. The thing is, Tony can't force someone to think like him or believe in the things he does, and he failed to see Steve's side. Audiences can learn from his mistake in that regard.
2 He Didn't Tell Anyone He Was Sick
In Iron Man 2, Tony is slowly dying due to poisoning from the palladium core in his arc reactor, but he doesn't tell anyone about his condition. Naturally, he was devastated over his inevitable death, especially since he couldn't find a substitute for palladium. However, he grew reckless, and he could have injured a lot of people at his birthday party had Pepper and Rhodey not intervened.
His friends were angry with him for making bad choices, and they certainly deserved to know what was really going on. Had Tony confided in someone, he might have found help sooner in finding a cure, and he would've had support along the way, which would've made that difficult time easier. Keeping things a secret doesn't always fare well, and it's an important lesson.
1 He Created Ultron
Some things are better left alone, and Tony Stark had to learn that the hard way. He convinced an initially reluctant Bruce Banner to help him on the project that would eventually unleash Ultron, and Tony Stark and the Avengers had to go after Ultron, who was intent on destroying humanity.
It was a risk that Tony should've considered more thoroughly, and it ended up being something that heavily weighed on his conscience. The lesson here is to weigh risks and if something is uncertain, it may be best to leave it alone until more is known about it.
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