# Mundane powers you would like **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 11, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118 "2009-03-11T19:55:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/1 "2009-03-11T19:55:41Z")
I would like the power to make my hair stop growing or grow faster whenever I choose. I’ve got a pretty stylish haircut going right now and I’d like to keep it the same for a while. I’d also like the ability to make clean tears of paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, and tape. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/2 "2009-03-11T21:13:36Z")
I would like the ability to fall asleep on an airplane. I cannot do this not matter how tired I am. Apparently there is some part of my brain that keeps needs to be alert in that situation, nevermind how out of my control everything is. (I can pass out on an airplane, with some liquid aid, but that seldom works well in the long run). ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/3 "2009-03-11T23:22:26Z")
I’d like the ability to write quickly **and** legibly. ---
**Author:** ![Stauderhorse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Stauderhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stauderhorse)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/4 "2009-03-11T23:28:23Z")
The ability to punch people in the face without any repercussions; in other words, neither they nor anyone else would remember the incident after it happened. There are so many people I’ve come across who have dearly deserved a good punch, but if you do that too often, people start getting the idea that you’re a bit aggressive. Also, the ability to put your surroundings on mute would come in handy on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/5 "2009-03-11T23:38:49Z")
I’d like the ability to find good parking places, shady in the day time and well-light at night. I have long hair, so sometimes I wear ear plugs to put my surroundings on mute. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/6 "2009-03-12T00:30:07Z")
I would like to have the ability to magically snap my fingers and have whatever it is I’m out of on the day before payday appear. A pound of hamburg. A loaf of bread. Toilet paper. Cat food. A liter of Coke. A six-pack of beer. I am forever running short on some necessity the day before payday, with $2.38 in my wallet, an eighth of a tank of gas, and someone yammering they need whatever RIGHT NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/7 "2009-03-12T01:16:46Z")
I would like the ability to do instantaneous laundry. So often it seems that I come home just a bit too late to complete a load of laundry before the laundry room closes, and it can get a bit awkward with slightly-damp laundry spread out around the apartment. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/8 "2009-03-12T01:31:37Z")
I’d like the ability to see other people’s dreams and let them see mine. So often we dream things that are so striking and profound and yet are indescribable with words, not just because we can’t list out all the details but because the details themselves don’t make sense in the waking world. I wish I could just project what I saw into somebody else’s head, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/9 "2009-03-12T02:06:32Z")
I’d like to be able to stop eating forever. Or run for long periods of time (weeks+) without needing to rest, even at normal human speeds. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/10 "2009-03-12T02:37:44Z")
I’d like to experience buddhadharma at any point of the day, for as long as I wish. Or I’d love to be able to pick things up with my mind, psychokinesis, or sometimes telekinesis. How cool woudl it be to levitate an apple over to your kid, or pick up your glass that you left in the other room without moving or getting up. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/11 "2009-03-12T02:40:09Z")
> [@gallows\_fodder](#): > > I’d like the ability to see other people’s dreams and let them see mine. So often we dream things that are so striking and profound and yet are indescribable with words, not just because we can’t list out all the details but because the details themselves don’t make sense in the waking world. I wish I could just project what I saw into somebody else’s head, and vice versa. I wouldn’t mind seeing other peoples dreams but maybe just for a moment. Imagine if people could see your dreams - the connections, or disconnections, sacred, profane etc..etc… People would be put in jail I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/12 "2009-03-12T02:42:38Z")
I’d like to remember the face and name of everyone I meet. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/13 "2009-03-12T02:49:06Z")
> [@Cat\_Fight](#): > > I’d like to remember the face and name of everyone I meet. Plus their name. I’d settle for that. ---
**Author:** ![Euryphaessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Euryphaessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euryphaessa)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/14 "2009-03-12T03:03:35Z")
I’d like to be able to reach inside my pocket and always pull out exact change when purchasing something. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/15 "2009-03-12T03:33:03Z")
I’d like the ability to count a quantity of things greater than twelve without screwing it up, doubting myself, recounting, doubting the recount (which doesn’t match the count), and generally failing at the whole process. I’m a freaking college graduate- this should not be hard! ---
**Author:** ![Hometownboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@Hometownboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hometownboy)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/16 "2009-03-12T03:54:47Z")
The ability to melt speaker wire at 300 yards. We had a day of sunshine today (though still bitter cold) after a couple of weeks of mostly overcast, some snow, and the bozos with the loud radios had to roll their windows down and share their ghastly taste in "music.’ ::scrunches up face momentarily, rewarded by blessed absence of raucous sounds:: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/17 "2009-03-12T04:19:21Z")
I want a zoom function on my eyes, and a volume level on my hearing. ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/18 "2009-03-12T04:34:05Z")
I want the ability to say what I want to say. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/19 "2009-03-12T04:48:44Z")
> [@aaslatten](#): > > I want the ability to say what I want to say. But what did you _really_ mean? ---
**Author:** ![Coil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Coil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coil)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/20 "2009-03-12T15:17:26Z")
I would like to have the ability to swat flies just by looking at them. Preferably with some cool little sound effect added in when I do it. On a slightly more powerful level I would want to be able to interrupt TV or radio programmes and correct them for being stupid. Sort of a buzzing noise and then an announcement telling the person (usually a politician) that now they are just being willfully stupid. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118.md?page=2)