# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Winnipeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ec9cab/32.png) [@Winnipeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnipeg)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/41 "2009-03-12T23:44:56Z")
It would be rather neat if I could control the size of my genitalia so as to delight, and sometime surprise, my partner . ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/42 "2009-03-13T00:13:47Z")
> [@Euryphaessa](#): > > I’d like to be able to reach inside my pocket and always pull out exact change when purchasing something. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > I’d like to never need sleep. Both of mine were already taken! Here’s what I would add for the trifecta: The ability to turn off pain at will. At first I thought that I would like the ability to never feel pain, but then I remember stories like this one: > **[CNN.com - Life full of danger for little girl who can't feel pain - Feb 3, 2006](https://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/conditions/02/03/btsc.oppenheim/)** _Life full of danger for little girl who can’t feel pain_ > [@](#): > > When she was a toddler, Gabby scratched her cornea and was given eye gel, the standard prescription. Because her doctors and parents were unaccustomed to treating a child who doesn’t feel pain, no one anticipated what would happen next. “The thick gel had a reflux reaction to rub your eye,” Steve said. “When you don’t feel pain, you don’t know how hard you’re rubbing, and pretty soon she had damaged both eyes.”… One eye was so infected it had to be removed; otherwise her other eye might’ve become infected too. Gabby got a prosthetic eye, and the sight in her remaining eye is dim. So sometimes pain is a good thing. But when the doctor is going to do something ahead of time that you know is going to hurt, it would be good to be able to tell your body “turn off the pain receptor in the right arm for a couple of minutes.” Come to think of it, these aren’t really mundane powers, are they? Mundane power: the ability to file all my paperwork at home (bills, receipts etc.) with a snap of my fingers. Bonus if another snap of my fingers enters all my expenses into my checkbook program for me, correctly categorized. ---
**Author:** ![Landshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/77aa72/32.png) [@Landshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Landshark)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/43 "2009-03-13T00:48:12Z")
I’d be happy with the ability to remember dates of past occurrences. I’m absolutely horrid about that. Fortunately that seems to be the only memory related area I’m weak in. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/44 "2009-03-13T09:12:40Z")
I’d like the ability to shake out the exact number of pills I need from the bottle every time. ---
**Author:** ![rinni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f6c823/32.png) [@rinni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rinni)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/45 "2009-03-13T13:34:24Z")
Along with the usual superpowers, I’ve always wanted to be able to make animals understand me, to attract animals as friends, and know no animal would ever harm me. You know, to make birds fly to me and land on my fingers, and friendly mice scurry up to my shoulders. To be the person at camp who calmly reasons with the bear while everyone else hides in the trees. To be the person who makes the owner of the grumpiest cat in the universe say, “Wow, he never likes ANYONE!” ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/46 "2009-03-13T22:08:03Z")
A good memory, hand-eye coordination, and/or a talent for art or music. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/47 "2009-03-13T22:24:07Z")
I don’t know if it’s mundane enough, but I’ve had a couple dreams where I had the power to just wave my hands and cause moisture to condense out of the air and create a very small rain shower, just over the plants to water them, without having to haul the hose around. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/48 "2009-03-13T23:40:20Z")
I’d like the ability to enjoy cleaning. My apartment is a perpetual mess because I just hate cleaning. Also, the ability to let someone know when they’re being annoying or tiresome without hurting their feelings. And the ability to know when _I’m_ being annoying or tiresome. Finally, my sex life would be so much better if I could make myself feel horny whenever my boyfriend is, and vice versa. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/49 "2009-03-14T00:10:03Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > I’d like the ability to count a quantity of things greater than twelve without screwing it up, … Have you tried taking your shoes off first? I’d like the ability to turn off my appetites at will. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/50 "2009-03-14T04:03:50Z")
Today I decided I would also like the power to instantly make a pimple disappear just by touching it, especially ear pimples, which last for days and hurt every time I touch it (which I can’t seem to stop doing with the one I have currently). ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/51 "2009-03-14T21:25:24Z")
The power to pay attention when people are speaking to me. This would make my wife very happy. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/52 "2009-03-15T01:00:03Z")
I’d like to be able to empty my bladder without having to go to the bathroom. Er, you know what I mean. Like when it’s the middle of the night, and nature comes callings, I’d like to be able to snap my fingers and make it go away, instead of having to get up and pee. ---
**Author:** ![chowder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/977dab/32.png) [@chowder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chowder)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/53 "2009-03-15T08:05:13Z")
> [@CallMeKate](#): > > Ohhhh sirrr, you are a gentleman 😛 Here’s lookin’ at ya kid. Your place or mine? ---
**Author:** ![aaslatten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f14d63/32.png) [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/54 "2009-03-15T14:28:10Z")
> [@The\_Weird\_One](#): > > I’d like the ability to enjoy cleaning. My apartment is a perpetual mess because I just hate cleaning. > > Also, the ability to let someone know when they’re being annoying or tiresome without hurting their feelings. And the ability to know when _I’m_ being annoying or tiresome. > > Finally, my sex life would be so much better if I could make myself feel horny whenever my boyfriend is, and vice versa. Ah, yes, the always-horny superpower. I had that when I was 17, as I recall. What kind of cruel trick of nature is that? ---
**Author:** ![CallMeKate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3d9bf3/32.png) [@CallMeKate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CallMeKate)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/55 "2009-03-15T22:53:00Z")
> [@chowder](#): > > Here’s lookin’ at ya kid. > > Your place or mine? oh my my. ---
**Author:** ![maikai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@maikai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maikai)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/56 "2009-03-16T01:27:17Z")
I’d like to be able to tell if people asking me for money on the street are in genuine need or are just lazy bums. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/57 "2009-03-16T14:59:58Z")
The ability to sleep and wake up rested. The ability to walk - even up and down stairs - without risk of tripping over my own damn feet and killing myself. :mad: More in the tone of the thread: the ability to change lanes on the highway due to traffic conditions, and NOT have the new lane come to a screeching halt making me wish I’d stayed put. ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/58 "2009-03-16T17:13:33Z")
Extremely mundane: I wish I could put my fingers in my mouth and do that super-high-pitched whistle. I have tried for years to do that. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/59 "2009-03-16T18:55:06Z")
The power to change the fabric, style and color of my clothes. I’d only buy white shirts and jeans and just change them. Need a new suit? Easy! A T-Shirt with the funny phrase I just thought of? Cake! New sneakers? Abracadabra! ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2009, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118/60 "2009-03-16T19:24:29Z")
The ability to physically revert anyone, including myself, back to the stats on their drivers license. (Weight and Hair color as posted, etc.) Then again, I think I weigh slightly less than I did when I got my Drivers License. And Ironically, I already thought about having this power before seeing this thread. I’m weird like that. I know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mundane-powers-you-would-like/489118.md?page=4)