# Superpower: Memory Erase
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 26, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180 "2018-04-26T19:26:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/1 "2018-04-26T19:26:59Z")
Obviously inspired by another recent thread about a superpower.
You have the power to select and erase individual small episodes from anyone’s memory at any time. The catch? Each memory episode must be overwritten with something else, and the “something else” is always a realistic photo of you as you are at the time when you used the erase function. Any time the target would have thought of that memory, they will see your picture instead. You can try to erase their memory picture of you if you want - it will just put a new picture of you in place of the older one. Once their original memory episode has been erased, it won’t come back.
Will you use it?
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### Author:  [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/2 "2018-04-26T19:47:16Z")
Um, I think it would be confusing as hell to your target, but not enough of a drawback to prevent using towards your own gain, or in helping others overcoming trauma. I guess?
I don’t see the point of “your picture”. Is this supposed to be a detriment to the target? Are you hideous? I can’t see this as being a detriment other than a WTF moment for for the target.
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### Author:  [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/3 "2018-04-26T20:11:27Z")
> [@Ashtura](#):
>
> I can’t see this as being a detriment other than a WTF moment for for the target.
WTF moment and knowing that the WTF specifically involves you.
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### Author:  [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/4 "2018-04-26T20:31:30Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#):
>
> WTF moment and knowing that the WTF specifically involves you.
Yeah, but what do they “do” with that? It’s a superpower, so they could never prove anything, kind of like an unprovable roofie.
If it’s for ill-gotten gain, you probably don’t care for the person much, so a WTF moment, would, at most, make them avoid and distrust you in the future. If you left no incriminating evidence behind, you’d be in the clear. You’d be a moron to use it in a way that couldn’t be covered up (though I’m sure some morons would).
If it was to erase a trauma, even your own, you could explain what you were doing and why, and get consent. That part wouldn’t be erased. That’s probably what I’d use it for most. I’m not convinced though that having bad memories are always bad. They can aid in your decision making process.
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### Author:  [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/5 "2018-04-26T21:09:27Z")
Didn’t Bill Cosby have some weird superpower like this?
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/6 "2018-04-26T21:18:01Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#):
>
> Will you use it?
I would not use it.
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### Author:  [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/7 "2018-04-26T22:26:09Z")
I’d use it immediately after showing them a realistic photo of me.
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### Author:  [@Delicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delicious)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/8 "2018-04-26T22:52:42Z")
I’d use it on politicians as they were giving speeches, they’d try to remember the next talking point but just get me baring my buttocks
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### Author:  [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2018, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/9 "2018-04-26T23:08:54Z")
> [@Delicious](#):
>
> I’d use it on politicians as they were giving speeches, they’d try to remember the next talking point but just get me baring my buttocks
That wasn’t a serious response - stop making an ass of yourself. 😃
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### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2018, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/10 "2018-04-27T01:31:09Z")
Can I wear a mask in my photo?
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### Author:  [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2018, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/11 "2018-04-27T02:11:31Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#):
>
> Can I wear a mask in my photo?
Better yet, can I be standing in a darkened closet?
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### Author:  [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2018, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/12 "2018-04-27T15:28:10Z")
To the last few posters: No, it will be an accurate, current, properly lit photo of your face only.
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### Author:  [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2018, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/13 "2018-04-27T15:54:59Z")
Well, I can sort of think of a way I’d use it. I frequently deal with people (especially when teaching) who I (jokingly) describe as needing a squirt of “brain erase.” By this I mean that I really need them to forget what they THINK they know and follow what I’m saying/describing in order to understand an important point. (For example, students THINK they understand the legal requirements for some action but actually don’t. They need to go back to a point where they will listen to what the requirements actually ARE.)
In these cases, it might be helpful for them to forget the erroneous information and how they got it. In the place of this would be me…as the instructor giving them new and correct information.
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### Author:  [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/14 "2018-04-27T16:55:06Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#):
>
> Can I wear a mask in my photo?
Rubber nose and glasses
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### Author:  [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)
#### Post date: [April 27, 2018, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/15 "2018-04-27T17:06:04Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#):
>
> To the last few posters: No, it will be an accurate, current, properly lit photo of your face only.
So… clown makeup? It’d be accurate and current.
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### Author:  [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)
#### Post date: [April 28, 2018, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/16 "2018-04-28T22:26:45Z")
No. Too big a violation of a person.
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### Author:  [@CCitizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CCitizen)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/17 "2018-04-29T01:59:19Z")
I would use it to punish anyone who is disrespectful to me for any reason. I would take exception to the Rich and Powerful – they are dangerous.
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### Author:  [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2018, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/18 "2018-04-29T02:13:47Z")
I can’t think of a silly way to use it so I wouldn’t.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2018, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/19 "2018-04-29T11:20:28Z")
January 4, 2019. Nancy Pelosi is once again Speaker of the House, second in the line of succession to the Presidency.
Donald Trump and Mike Pence both get brainwiped. As a result of their inability to remember so much as their toilet training, they are both removed from office, Pelosi becomes President, and the world is a much better place as a result.
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### Author:  [@MonkeyCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyCat)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/superpower-memory-erase/813180/20 "2018-04-30T02:59:38Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#):
>
> Obviously inspired by another recent thread about a superpower.
>
> You have the power to select and erase individual small episodes from anyone’s memory at any time. The catch? Each memory episode must be overwritten with something else, and the “something else” is always a realistic photo of you as you are at the time when you used the erase function. Any time the target would have thought of that memory, they will see your picture instead. You can try to erase their memory picture of you if you want - it will just put a new picture of you in place of the older one. Once their original memory episode has been erased, it won’t come back.
>
> Will you use it?
Sure. If there’s some ultimate good that can come from them losing a certain memory, I’ll do it. They’ll definitely be confused, though. I don’t think they’ll straight up get angry, because there’s absolutely no context related to the image. It’s just a picture of me.