Like...be so fr...He is often presented as "trying to do the right thing in bad circumstences" but half the time HE IS RESPONSIBLE LIKE BFR!
And he always on about "trying to fix it" or "just trying to help" but he never tells the truth, never faces the consequences of his actions, at least not intentionally until they blow in his face, and he doesn't truly take responsibility.
Like...I am currently rewatching smallville and I am in s2 ep22. He just told Helen that "if you believe I am capable of this kind of deciet why'd you even marry me?" and right after she walked up he pulled from his hidden vault a vile of blood which he took from her office.
He always on about trust and truth and "do you trust me Clark?" but why tf would he? Everytime he is asked a question his answers are always vague or answering the question with a question like...pissing me off.
Him trying to solve his issues "privately" has NOTHING TO DO WITH WANTING TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE, he just dont want people to see him as he is. The show presents his character as a tragic "doomed to become what people think he is" but the truth is that they were right he is a bitch...doesn't help that he looks that way everytime he asks...that stare...Somehow Lionel looks so much more trustworthy than Lex...and its not just about him being a manipulator its because at least he doesn't pretend to be something he is not, at least not on the long term.