# Invisible People **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475 "2009-06-30T14:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![laurenms10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@laurenms10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laurenms10)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/1 "2009-06-30T14:31:48Z")
I was having an intellectual conversation with my boyfriend about what type of super power we would possess if possible. I immediately said I would want to be able to become invisible whenever I wanted to. He agreed and proceeded to say that invisible people can see other invisible people…I disagree with this…what are your thoughts on this?:dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/2 "2009-06-30T14:36:46Z")
I would assume not. Though in a lot of TV shows/movies, this is the case, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![StaudtCJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StaudtCJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaudtCJ)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/3 "2009-06-30T14:41:33Z")
It would depend on the method of invisibility. If it was some sort of phase-shift, then invisible people should be able to see other invisible people, but visible people would be invisible. If it was a light-bending skill, then the light has bent. At that point, I would wonder if invisible people were functionally blind, for there would be no way for light to reach their retina. Interesting quandary. ---
**Author:** ![Claire\_Beauchamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@Claire\_Beauchamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claire_Beauchamp)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/4 "2009-06-30T14:43:39Z")
(a) I don’t think so and (b) before you invoke this superpower, please watch the _X-Files_ episode “Je Souhaite.” ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/5 "2009-06-30T14:47:28Z")
I think that invisible people would have to be blind, and thus, would be unable to see anything, much less other invisible people. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/6 "2009-06-30T15:13:09Z")
> [@StaudtCJ](#): > > It would depend on the method of invisibility. If it was some sort of phase-shift, then invisible people should be able to see other invisible people, but visible people would be invisible. If it was a light-bending skill, then the light has bent. At that point, I would wonder if invisible people were functionally blind, for there would be no way for light to reach their retina. Interesting quandary. Another possibilty is that the effect is on the minds of those for whom you turn invisible. In that case, they couldn’t turn themselves invisible to you, because they wouldn’t know where you are. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/7 "2009-06-30T15:29:11Z")
> [@pepperlandgirl](#): > > I think that invisible people would have to be blind, and thus, would be unable to see anything, much less other invisible people. I think that depends on the method of invisibility. Susan Storm, for instance, goes back and forth between visible and invisible will, can make visible objects invisible and invisible objects invisible, and can navigate easily while invisible (though other people she turn invisible sometimes have problems). Clearly photons are, collectively, her bitch. ---
**Author:** ![StaudtCJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@StaudtCJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StaudtCJ)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/8 "2009-06-30T15:44:26Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Another possibilty is that the effect is on the minds of those for whom you turn invisible. In that case, they couldn’t turn themselves invisible to you, because they wouldn’t know where you are. Would that actually be invisibility? I would consider that possibility more of a telepathy or mind-control thing. Professor Xavier’s “You don’t see me” vs. Sue Storm’s “invisibility” is the example dilemma. Would people who are “resistant to hypnosis” or have “psychic shields” be able to see the “invisible” person in the mind-clouding case? \*Having no personal experience with phase-shifting, light-bending, or mind-clouding, I find this an interesting question. I am not attempting to be sarcastic or derogatory. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/9 "2009-06-30T16:32:32Z")
> [@StaudtCJ](#): > > Would that actually be invisibility? I would consider that possibility more of a telepathy or mind-control thing. Professor Xavier’s “You don’t see me” vs. Sue Storm’s “invisibility” is the example dilemma. Would people who are “resistant to hypnosis” or have “psychic shields” be able to see the “invisible” person in the mind-clouding case? Yes, they would. Years ago I came up with explanations of invisibilty for a RPG system. One type of magic manipulated the environment, so I decided that is was a light-bending thing. Another type worked on the mind, so it was a hypnosis thing. The third kind was the gods making people not notice you. All this because I was getting tired of my players turning walls invisible so the could see what was behind them. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/10 "2009-06-30T16:59:05Z")
Is anyone else really freaked out by the concept of being blind and invisible? I’m taking back all my fantasies. ALL of them. Even the one from the movie “Teeth.” ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/11 "2009-06-30T17:29:43Z")
> [@StaudtCJ](#): > > Would that actually be invisibility? I would consider that possibility more of a telepathy or mind-control thing. Professor Xavier’s “You don’t see me” vs. Sue Storm’s “invisibility” is the example dilemma. Would people who are “resistant to hypnosis” or have “psychic shields” be able to see the “invisible” person in the mind-clouding case? > > \*Having no personal experience with phase-shifting, light-bending, or mind-clouding, I find this an interesting question. I am not attempting to be sarcastic or derogatory. [The Shadow](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shadow) had “the power to cloud men’s minds so they cannot see him.” ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/12 "2009-06-30T17:35:34Z")
In the Sci-Fi Channel show The Invisible Man, the main character could see other invisible people because he became invisible by being coated in an invisibility goo called Quicksilver. The Quicksilver reacted with light in a certain way to make the visible invisible (people, objects, you name it), but it also coated the invisible person’s vision with a silver sheen that allowed them to see other invisible people. Oh, and Quicksilver was harvested from Bigfoot and that’s why no one has ever found him. Because he’s invisible. God I miss that show. ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/13 "2009-06-30T17:51:34Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > In the Sci-Fi Channel show The Invisible Man, the main character could see other invisible people because he became invisible by being coated in an invisibility goo called Quicksilver. The Quicksilver reacted with light in a certain way to make the visible invisible (people, objects, you name it), but it also coated the invisible person’s vision with a silver sheen that allowed them to see other invisible people. > > Oh, and Quicksilver was harvested from Bigfoot and that’s why no one has ever found him. Because he’s invisible. > > God I miss that show. Off-topic, but was that he show with the guy with the crazy hair who had a tattoo of a tail-biting snake on his wrist, and the colors changed and once they changed all the way he’d be stuck invisible forever, or something like that? And his partner was a short guy with a receding hairline, and The Chick was a blonde scientist with a British (Australian?) accent? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/14 "2009-06-30T18:29:17Z")
> [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](#): > > Off-topic, but was that he show with the guy with the crazy hair who had a tattoo of a tail-biting snake on his wrist, and the colors changed and once they changed all the way he’d be stuck invisible forever, or something like that? And his partner was a short guy with a receding hairline, and The Chick was a blonde scientist with a British (Australian?) accent? Yes. That was the show. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/15 "2009-06-30T21:09:02Z")
> [@StaudtCJ](#): > > Would that actually be invisibility? I would consider that possibility more of a telepathy or mind-control thing. Professor Xavier’s “You don’t see me” vs. Sue Storm’s “invisibility” is the example dilemma. Would people who are “resistant to hypnosis” or have “psychic shields” be able to see the “invisible” person in the mind-clouding case? > > \*Having no personal experience with phase-shifting, light-bending, or mind-clouding, I find this an interesting question. I am not attempting to be sarcastic or derogatory. I don’t see why the telepathic thing wouldn’t count. There are many sorts of invisibility. Hell, all the comic-book speedsters have a version, even the ones who can’t do vibrating thing. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/16 "2009-06-30T21:38:06Z")
That’s a good point about the vibrating thing, **S t R**. Makes me think of the Star Trek TOS ep **Wink of an Eye** , in which hyperacceleration caused a form of invisibility. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/invisible-people/501475/17 "2009-06-30T21:49:26Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > That’s a good point about the vibrating thing, **S t R**. > > Makes me think of the Star Trek TOS ep **Wink of an Eye** , in which hyperacceleration caused a form of invisibility. It was hyperacceleration I meant. Quicksilver can’t do the vibrating thing; Superman doesn’t do it consistently. Both of them go invisible from time to time, though Supes has enough other powers he rarely needs to.