# If you had super-powers for an hour... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 17, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107 "2003-09-17T11:46:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/1 "2003-09-17T11:46:25Z")
…what would they be? And what would you do with them? It can be any power, or combination of powers, but you only get to keep them for one hour. Me, I think that I’d like to try having insect eyes. See what compound vision is like. And a lot of insects can see ultraviolet light, which would probably be pretty neat. What would you guys do? ---
**Author:** ![j\_sum1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8baadc/32.png) [@j\_sum1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j_sum1)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/2 "2003-09-17T12:06:30Z")
Live without sleep. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/3 "2003-09-17T12:23:26Z")
Teleportation+invisibility+super strength+super speed = Fort Knox here I come. (= ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/4 "2003-09-17T12:30:29Z")
The power to remake the universe instantly to one where I’m head honcho numero uno. Yeah, then everybody would invite me to all the cool parties. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/5 "2003-09-17T14:11:13Z")
Well I wouldn’t be this [guy](http://news.lycos.com/news/story.asp?section=OddNews&storyId=782678), that’s for sure! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/6 "2003-09-17T14:13:10Z")
The ability to control a persons mind and the address of Jennifer Aniston’s house 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/7 "2003-09-17T14:18:57Z")
Hmm, an hour, you say? _Any_ powers? Okay. I’d do all this on my lunch hour at work. First, I’d have X-ray vision and look at my more attractive co-workers (yes, I know that’s juvenile). I’d then fly Superman-style over to my worst enemy’s house and destroy everything he has (I’d turn invisible while I was at it). Using mind control, I’d make him perform some stupidly criminal act that would get him thrown in prison for life. If I had magical powers I’d produce a billion dollars worth of currency for myself. At that point I’d be pretty well set for life. With the remaining time I’d probably just continue flying around. As the hour ended I’d return to work and act like nothing had ever happened (other than quitting work since I’d just made myself a billionaire). ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/8 "2003-09-17T14:43:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Live without sleep. You must have a really tough life if you can’t live without sleep for the hour that you will have the powers already. For myself, I wouldn’t want something that would necessarily alter the rest of my life. So, I think the super power I would want would be something like being truly happy for the entire hour while flying. However, afterwards I think I will realize how sad I was before and fly as high as I can at the end of the hour so I will plummet to my death. Hmmm, I see a short story. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/9 "2003-09-17T15:30:50Z")
See **dwc1970** post. I’m with him. ---
**Author:** ![verbenabeast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c4cdca/32.png) [@verbenabeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/verbenabeast)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/10 "2003-09-17T16:52:25Z")
I would like supra-genius mad scientist evil cunning… then I would invent SUPER-HAMSTERS and WONDER-GERBILS so the sdmb would _never_ run slowly again!!! ::laughs maniacally::: what? ---
**Author:** ![Vlad\_Dracul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/50afbb/32.png) [@Vlad\_Dracul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_Dracul)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/11 "2003-09-17T17:23:10Z")
I’d take the limitless power of Q, the Spectre, or some such omnipotent character. I would spend the hour creating a magical talisman that makes its possessor omnipotent… and I’d embed the talisman deep in my own body. When my power went away at the end of the hour, my talisman would continue making me omnipotent for the rest of my immortal life. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/12 "2003-09-17T19:29:57Z")
Let’s see… one hour…hmm, I’d only need ONE power, I’d want to be at the most crowded beach on the 4th of July. Then I’d telepathically summon every shark, barracuda, killer whale and giant squid in the ocean to attack the puny surface dwellers! That will teach them to laugh at the POWER of AQUAMAN! Bwahahahaha! ---
**Author:** ![Papaveraceae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e8c25b/32.png) [@Papaveraceae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papaveraceae)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/13 "2003-09-17T21:02:56Z")
I would give myself the power to give another person an orgasm via telepathy. Think of the amusing possibilities. That boring office meeting is no longer dull at all. One can now pick up dates with ease. And revenge is sweet. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/14 "2003-09-17T21:04:13Z")
I’d have the power to pause time. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/15 "2003-09-17T21:25:20Z")
Apathy. After all, if I have that, who gives a shit about the rest o’ that stuff. ---
**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:** [September 17, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/16 "2003-09-17T22:34:36Z")
I was thinking something just like 1970-boy, too. But I suppose a “me too” post isn’t very fun to read, so how bout this? Ability of “super-suggestion” and “super speed”. I’d zip all over town and tell people that they had to obey my command the next time I saw them. Bank and casino guards, hot women, bartenders and lawyers would all have to do my evil bidding!! I predict 98% of these will be about getting rich and laid. * * * Money isn’t everything, but it will buy whatever you want if you have enough. ---
**Author:** ![Taran](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Taran](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taran)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/17 "2003-09-17T22:45:20Z")
I think **clayton\_e** wins. Unless the paused time counts against your total, in which case nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![SanguineSpider](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/18 "2003-09-17T23:15:56Z")
I’d like to be able to freeze time and not have it count against my “total”. I’d freeze it and rob a bank or ten. As I rob these banks, I’d fade out and become invisible so no one could recognize me. I’d have to be able to walk through the walls to get in and out QUICK and stealthy-like! I don’t care if a bank suffers, they’ve been taking my money for years! A little thing called “fees” for this and “fees” for that… bleh bleh bleh! And anything I wore or held would also fade out (big bags for the money hidden in my coat). ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/19 "2003-09-18T03:29:45Z")
Well, I would want super luck - basically I could go buy some lotto tickets, and every one of them is a winner, go hit the local casino, and have some fun there for the next hour. ---
**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107/20 "2003-09-18T03:51:19Z")
Well, I would want super luck - basically I could go buy some lotto tickets, and every one of them is a winner, go hit the local casino, and have some fun there for the next hour. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-super-powers-for-an-hour/202107.md?page=2)