# An extraordinary power of your choice **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 20, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998 "2004-07-20T14:36:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lemon\_martini2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3be4f8/32.png) [@lemon\_martini2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lemon_martini2)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/1 "2004-07-20T14:36:13Z")
Congratulations!You have won an extraordinary power of your choice.This can be anything-the ability to time travel,communicate with animals,communicate with the dead,be invisible etc.etc.What will you choose? Me,I’m going for the ability to make people do whatever I want just by thinking it. 🙂 and guess what I’m thinking now? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/2 "2004-07-20T14:43:19Z")
Welcome to the boards lemon\_martini2. You may find this a bit annoying at first, and I hate to even break it to you, but we _just_ had a thread like this a couple days ago. Also, this forum is for, well, Great Debates. You’re looking for In My Humble Opinion. I [humbly] suggest lurking and hanging about for awhile before you dive into anything face-first around here. We have some pretty strange customs but I think you’ll have a good time once you get familiar with them. Hope you like it. ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/3 "2004-07-20T14:43:29Z")
> [@lemon\_martini2](#): > > 🙂 and guess what I’m thinking now? Yes, master…I…will…post…to…this…thread… I have this sudden, uncontrollable urge to say: I choose the ability to stop time at will but still move freely, like that guy in the old Twilight Zone episode with the magical stopwatch. Only my power would never break. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/4 "2004-07-20T14:44:37Z")
Complete Biomolecular Self-Control. AKA - Shapechanging Deluxe. Reference : Plastic Man. Why? Numerous side-effects. Immortality, for one. Includes Elasticity and Shapechanging. One can also fake other powers, like flight, by shaping Wings. ---
**Author:** ![Albert\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@Albert\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Albert_Rose)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/5 "2004-07-20T14:52:53Z")
[Crow T. Robot]I wanna decide who lives and who dies![/Crow T. Robot] Seriously… I would like this power – “Anything I want to happen, happens.” Then I could finally paint that frikkin’ room in my house correctly. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/6 "2004-07-20T15:24:29Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > Yes, master…I…will…post…to…this…thread… > I have this sudden, uncontrollable urge to say: > > I choose the ability to stop time at will but still move freely, like that guy in the old Twilight Zone episode with the magical stopwatch. Only my power would never break. 🙂 Hey you took my power! Hmm…OK If I can’t stop time, I’ll choose the ability to make people like me instantly. Enough to give me gifts, money, themselves, etc. But I can turn it off at will (so no stalkers!) ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/7 "2004-07-20T15:40:42Z")
> [@Elenia28](#): > > I’ll choose the ability to make people like me instantly. Enough to give me gifts, money, themselves, etc. But I can turn it off at will (so no stalkers!) Hey you took _my_ power! But I’d like to add that they would like me enough to give me respect, adulation genuine affection also if and when I wanted it… I suppose if this came true though how would I know if people just liked me because of the power or without the power just as much - hmm. It would take some fine-tuning. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/8 "2004-07-20T17:06:44Z")
[Moderator Hat ON] I think this will do better in IMHO. [Moderator Hat OFF] ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/45deac/32.png) [@Evil\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_One)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/9 "2004-07-20T17:33:01Z")
Mind control, without a doubt. From there, all things are possible. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/10 "2004-07-20T19:19:15Z")
Mimicry and adaptation of others’ abilities a la Mimic. I’d have my own abilities in addition to yours and everyone else’s around me. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/11 "2004-07-20T19:20:08Z")
I’d like to be able to walk into a nightclub and see color-coded auras around the women’s heads, indicating their relationship status, interest in getting laid tonight, and IQ. Great timesaver. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/12 "2004-07-20T19:33:12Z")
Telepathy. It’s kind of cliche, I know, but oh-so-useful ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/13 "2004-07-20T19:45:15Z")
Flight. No Batmobile, no Invisible Plane… Self-powered flight. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/14 "2004-07-20T19:49:58Z")
I’d like the power to edit, lock or delete posts and move them from forum to forum. Failing that, I’d take the ability to heal injuries. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/15 "2004-07-20T20:49:00Z")
The problem with mind control, tempting though it is, is that I think it would ultimately make you unhappy. Purely for the fun of it, I have to go with telekinesis. (The ability to move objects with my mind.) Particularly if it’s easy and strain-free. (Plus, telekinesis + craps + Vegas = infinite riches) ---
**Author:** ![Padmaraga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f07891/32.png) [@Padmaraga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padmaraga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/16 "2004-07-20T21:01:12Z")
I’d like the ability to move myself (and anything I am touching/holding/wearing) around anywhere in time and/or space instantaneously. No more commuting, airplace flight, etc - think of the time and money I’d save! Got the afternoon off work? Great - I’ll just pop over to Paris pre-9/11/01 for lunch, see the sights, be back in my own bed to sleep. Or go see my friend in the Florida Keys next time I’m bored on a Saturday. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/17 "2004-07-20T21:08:11Z")
> [@Evil One](#): > > Mind control, without a doubt. From there, all things are possible. Well, you’d be screwed in California! I’ll take the ability to urinate over 100 yards! ---
**Author:** ![emekthian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecae2f/32.png) [@emekthian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emekthian)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/18 "2004-07-20T23:15:55Z")
I would like to ability to individually move and rearrange large numbers of subatomic particles, and to be able to tell how the movement of said atoms will effect things on a larger scale. I could rearrange atoms in people’s brains until they thought the way I wanted them to think, I could repair injuries on the molecular scale, I could kill my enemies by turning their lungs into solid blocks of carbon, nitrogen, etc., and then reform the atoms from their corpses into hot chicks whose brain chemistry makes them find me irresistably attractive, I could transport the atoms that make up my body to anwhere I wanted. I’d be a God! ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/19 "2004-07-21T00:13:07Z")
Technomancery and Machine Telepathy. Or, anything where’d I’d be able to absorb, process, and utilize inhuman amounts of data. “Crays are like _candy_ to me, ah-ha-ha! Now, I’m going to link my consciousness with the entire internet at once, just to prove that I can!” ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998/20 "2004-07-21T15:41:52Z")
I would like the powers to ease pain and end conflict. That’s all. Peace [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-extraordinary-power-of-your-choice/255998.md?page=2)