TITMT – Anything But Ordinary

It’s that time again. Janet’s Tell It To Me Tuesday asks the following.

If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
Feel free to get creative here. No there aren’t any extra credit points involved, but a little ingenuity never hurt anyone, right?

Heroes does a decent job of pulling off the repercussions of super powers in the real world and as Sid points out in his answer the power you have may carry a tremendous weight. When Jesus performed miracles he was often mobbed. A college buddy, Jeff, when asked this question always said that he would take invulnerability because anyone with super powers in this world would eventually be hunted down and dissected or killed. My adolescent self often chose x-ray vision and/or invisibility for the usual adolescent reasons.
So what about me? I’m tempted to cop out and say the power of Dr. Strange, who could do pretty much anything, but I think that that circumvents the intent. I think I’d choose the ability to change my molecular density, a la the Martian Manhunter. On one end of the spectrum I’d be able to walk through walls. On the other end I’d be able to make myself as hard as diamond (maintaining flexibility somehow). This would naturally extend to whatever I was touching. That would effectively make me indestructible and able to go anywhere, but it’s not too flashy. Hopefully I’d use it to help out wherever that sort of thing might come in handy. Mostly I’d probably be using it to get a beer out of the fridge without opening the door or sharpening knives on the back of my hand, stuff like that. Honestly I’m not very heroic and having a super power wouldn’t be likely to change that.
While not a super power per se, the other thing that appeals to me is having Batman’s intellect/detective abilities. The scale to which the comics take it certainly seems at least supra-human if not super-human. Now that, that I think I’d actually use.

  • http://www.sidfaiwu.com/blog/ Santini73

    You know Scott, I appreciate your honesty, it is very refreshing. As you saw from Sid’s blog I would like one of the tele’s (telepathy, telekinesis or teleportation) although I cannot say how I would use them and that bother’s me now that I read your so poignant point that the power reflects you as a person. Now I have to sit and reflect on what I would actually use if for and if I would fall into the temptation to use it for things other than the good of society…Thanks!

  • http://www.spiritualtramp.com Scott

    Isn’t it funny how a little question like that can resonate on a much deeper level?

  • http://www.sidfaiwu.com/blog/ sidfaiwu

    That’s why my wife and I ask these sorts of questions of our friends occasionally. It’s a great way to learn more about them and to start interesting discussions.
    I like the utility of your chosen power, Scott. Since it extends to anything you touch, you wouldn’t even have to undress to use the bathroom; you’d just make it pass through your pants! No more cold seats! Could you make yourself so sparse that you can turn to liquid or even a gas? How much detailed control do you have over your molecular density? Can you cause the desert that you regret eating fall out of your body before you digest it? Can you cause an infection to fall between the gaps in your body? When I fantasize about having super powers, I actually find it fun to define limitations on my powers. I was wondering if you had ever considered these.
    Hey Santini73, after you think about how you’d use those powers, think about posting your conclusions on my blog. I think it would be interesting.

  • http://www.spiritualtramp.com Scott

    My wife would tell you I’m gaseous enough.
    Control that fine would certainly be nice and certainly desirable. Ideally I’d be able to select the density of any given part. Say diamond hard bones or fingernails or teeth.
    Oh and I NEVER regret eating a desert.

  • http://www.sidfaiwu.com/blog/ sidfaiwu

    “My wife would tell you I’m gaseous enough.” LOL!

  • http://mysteriouscloakedfigure.blogspot.com/ MCF

    Yeah the density thing that J’Onn has(as does the Vision for Marvel) would be a cool one. If you were J’Onn though you’d also have shapeshifting, flight, and telepathy…not too shabby.
    I like how writers handle Batman around other heroes, how his mind and training are high enough to make him equal, and in many cases superior, to people with powers.

  • http://www.theartofgettingby.com Janet

    I am quickly coming to realize it’s really hard to choose just one. It’s like being a kid in a candy store!

  • http://www.theartofgettingby.com Janet

    Testing 1,2 3. I wrote a response but I think it might have disappeared:(

  • http://www.spiritualtramp.com Scott

    Shapeshifting would be awesome, especially if you got the abilities of the shape. Heck even limited to one type of animal say only felines would work. I had an RPG character who had that power. He could take the shape of any feline or any combination of felines.

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