# Suggestions for superpowers and eco-terrorism. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 10, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675 "2012-06-10T03:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/1 "2012-06-10T03:18:52Z")
I’m working on a story about a group of people with various abilities use them to try to prevent deforestation, save endangered species, prevent pollution, and generally try to prevent humans from impacting the environment, and I’m hoping to come up with something more original than slagging machinery or arson. So, if you had a superpower, like influencing peoples thoughts, or becoming invisible, or telekinesis, how might you use that to be a better eco-activist, or eco-terrorist? These guys are going to be fairly radical, and won’t scruple to get people killed, but I don’t want killing loggers or executives or developers to be their main method. p.s. I do not endorse property damage or threats in the name of any cause, I am just trying to write interesting fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/2 "2012-06-10T03:30:44Z")
Well, if their goal is to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment as much as possible, then seems like they should only be interested in killing all of humanity in a way that impacts the environment as little as possible. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/3 "2012-06-10T13:57:33Z")
> [@Rand\_Rover](#): > > Well, if their goal is to reduce humanity’s impact on the environment as much as possible, then seems like they should only be interested in killing all of humanity in a way that impacts the environment as little as possible. True, and I may have a few of them advocate that, but on the whole, I’d like to make them NOT EVIL. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/4 "2012-06-10T14:06:37Z")
Infiltrate mega-corporations to dig up info on what kind of damage they’re doing, what kind of PR campaigns they’re running to convince the public they’re benevolent, and how they’re buying politicians to protect them by legislation. If, of course, any of that is actually happening. And in fiction, I assume all of it will. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/5 "2012-06-11T12:53:07Z")
Use powers like telekinesis, illusion casting, sonic control, et cetera to fake hauntings in woodlands and forests. Work it like a Scooby-Doo villain. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/6 "2012-06-11T13:04:20Z")
> [@XaMcQ](#): > > True, and I may have a few of them advocate that, but on the whole, I’d like to make them NOT EVIL. 😛 Well, which is it- “NOT EVIL” or “Eco-Terrorist”? ---
**Author:** ![Imago](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/85e7bf/32.png) [@Imago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imago)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/7 "2012-06-11T13:31:42Z")
Both. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/8 "2012-06-11T14:00:06Z")
One of them could be a “technopath” who can psionically control computers and electronics; corporations they dislike could suddenly find all sorts of interesting things happening to their records…or bank accounts. More subtle than just blowing things up. Another could have power over plants, and animate the local forest to slow and harass loggers and such. Take a saw or axe to a tree, and the wood of the tree clamps down on the blade immobilizing it. Tree roots slide out of the earth and insinuate themselves into vehicle treads and undercarriages, immobilizing them. Plants overgrow buildings overnight, trapping workers inside until they can be cut out. Thorn bearing bushes suddenly lash out at passerby. Animal control. Think _The Birds_. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/9 "2012-06-11T14:38:00Z")
Why are you equating ‘environmental activist’ with ‘eco-terrorist’? You know, the definition of ‘terrorist’ is not “anyone who does anything that might reduce the profits of giant corporations”. I mean, if you could control people’s thoughts, why hurt anyone? All you’d need to do is make Senators think that they’ve been given very large campaign contributions from groups in favor of climate change legislation, limiting logging and mining on public lands, etc. Environmental problems solved! ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/10 "2012-06-11T14:42:42Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Why are you equating ‘environmental activist’ with ‘eco-terrorist’? “These guys are going to be fairly radical, and won’t scruple to get people killed”; **XaMcQ** isn’t talking about the nice, reasonable types. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/11 "2012-06-11T14:54:41Z")
I’m sure you don’t want to copy Poison Ivy from Batman, but she’s pretty much immune to everything. Really, though, if you’re going to be busting into buildings and skirting security a lot, the ability to shapeshift into a blob could be useful. A green one, even. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/12 "2012-06-11T14:56:08Z")
How about the power to reanimate dead animals and sic them on people? You could have a herd of horn-less zombie-rhinos charging into a camp of poachers for instance. Hilarious results if this is carried out just before the thanksgiving turkey is carved. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/13 "2012-06-11T19:59:36Z")
Give them five rings that give them power over the elements and over the minds of animals, and which create an avatar of the planet when their powers are combined. …what? ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/14 "2012-06-11T22:17:59Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Infiltrate mega-corporations to dig up info on what kind of damage they’re doing, what kind of PR campaigns they’re running to convince the public they’re benevolent, and how they’re buying politicians to protect them by legislation. > > If, of course, any of that is actually happening. And in fiction, I assume all of it will. There are people without superpowers who do this, and write books and blogs and newspaper columns about it. For the most part, nobody cares. I can’t for the life of me think of a superpower that would persuade the public to put pressure on their leaders to call for change if jobs might be lost, energy prices might go up, etc. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/15 "2012-06-11T22:24:58Z")
> [@MegaBee](#): > > Use powers like telekinesis, illusion casting, sonic control, et cetera to fake hauntings in woodlands and forests. Work it like a Scooby-Doo villain. I like the idea, and I will probably use it, but these beings and their abilities aren’t going to be a secret, so when spooky things happen, people will have a pretty good idea who to blame. ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/16 "2012-06-11T22:26:19Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > One of them could be a “technopath” who can psionically control computers and electronics; corporations they dislike could suddenly find all sorts of interesting things happening to their records…or bank accounts. More subtle than just blowing things up. > > Another could have power over plants, and animate the local forest to slow and harass loggers and such. Take a saw or axe to a tree, and the wood of the tree clamps down on the blade immobilizing it. Tree roots slide out of the earth and insinuate themselves into vehicle treads and undercarriages, immobilizing them. Plants overgrow buildings overnight, trapping workers inside until they can be cut out. Thorn bearing bushes suddenly lash out at passerby. > > Animal control. Think _The Birds_. Some good ideas there, thanks! ---
**Author:** ![XaMcQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/f9ae1b/32.png) [@XaMcQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XaMcQ)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/17 "2012-06-11T22:38:41Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Why are you equating ‘environmental activist’ with ‘eco-terrorist’? > You know, the definition of ‘terrorist’ is not “anyone who does anything that might reduce the profits of giant corporations”. > > I mean, if you could control people’s thoughts, why hurt anyone? All you’d need to do is make Senators think that they’ve been given very large campaign contributions from groups in favor of climate change legislation, limiting logging and mining on public lands, etc. Environmental problems solved! Ha! I like it, but it won’t work for my needs. As for your question, I don’t equate the two. Activism is a good thing. These people are going to be using tactics that inspire fear and destroy property, and possibly even get others killed, and that is terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/18 "2012-06-12T02:22:17Z")
How about an empath/ psychic transmitter who can establish mental connections between animals and humans – his or her flavor of eco-terrorism could be using this power to link, say, people who start forest fires with the animals their fires kill, or polluters with animals whose habitats they’ve polluted, so they feel the animals’ dying sensations. ---
**Author:** ![Emerald\_Hawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Emerald\_Hawk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emerald_Hawk)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/19 "2012-06-12T16:34:52Z")
How about a necromancer who can raise the dead, and uses his army of zombies to protect forests from logging companies and keep miners away from coal mines. These shambling undead are relentless and tireless, and can only be killed by a shotgun blast to the head. Eventually, however, the necromancer realizes that his zombies supernaturally violate the laws of physics, in that they have no need for energy to power their muscles. He then commands hundreds of thousands of them to pedal on stationary bikes hooked up to huge generators, providing infinitely renewable energy to everyone, solving global warming and saving the planet. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675/20 "2012-06-12T16:54:15Z")
Use the ability to emulate chemical and biological reactions to induce fatal allergic reactions. Chop down a tree? Die from anaphylaxis. “Curse” that logging camp with probability manipulation? What are the chances that all of the safety features on that saw will fail at once? It’s 99.9% now. Uplift some wildlife and let them deal with the intruders. Excercise the right to arm bears! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggestions-for-superpowers-and-eco-terrorism/624675.md?page=2)