# WHAT would be the world's worst super power? (As in super heroes) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941 "2005-10-19T16:59:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/21 "2005-10-19T21:37:54Z")
When there was a thread titled “Crap future X-men movie mutants” I suggested this: Meta - a mutant with the ability to turn normal people into mutants, but their only ability would be the ability to turn other people into mutants. ---
**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:** [October 19, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/22 "2005-10-19T22:06:44Z")
> [@hildea](#): > > **Really** good X-ray vision. You can see through the clothes of the attractive guy next to you on the train. And his skin. And muscles and bones. And the people behind him. And the walls of the train. And the walls of the tunnel. And the crust of the Earth. If you look down you see through the core of the planet and out on the other side. Through every planet and star and spec of cosmic dust – until your gaze meet the unfathomable edge of infinite space. > And you can _never_ turn it off. > > Come to think of it, maybe that’s what every blind person on the planet has? Wasn’t this a movie plot? Another horrible power: You can see behind you. What this means is, you can see your own back, as if you were a person standing very, very closely behind you. Useful to see if you have a stain on your back, but that’s it. Or: you can make all of your hair all over your body fall out at once. A fun one would be making eveything bounce like rubber. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/23 "2005-10-19T22:15:54Z")
Worst super power? Earlobes tingle in the presence of cottage cheese. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/24 "2005-10-19T22:17:07Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > When there was a thread titled “Crap future X-men movie mutants” I suggested this: > > Meta - a mutant with the ability to turn normal people into mutants, but their only ability would be the ability to turn other people into mutants. or the corrolary, a mutant with the power to turn other mutants into regular people how about the ability to translate the language of common household pets into the language of horseshoe crabs the ability to command the loyalty of nitrosomonas and nitrobacter bacteria ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/25 "2005-10-19T22:37:54Z")
The Decimator: Has the ability to destroy one-tenth of anything, but only that much. When the enemy/evil headquarters is decimated, he goes for it again, but he can still only get rid of one-tenth. This continues on in Zeno’s Paradox fashion, so that he can never really destroy anything, just reduce it. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2005, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/26 "2005-10-19T23:31:02Z")
> [@davenportavenger](#): > > The Decimator: Has the ability to destroy one-tenth of anything, but only that much. When the enemy/evil headquarters is decimated, he goes for it again, but he can still only get rid of one-tenth. This continues on in Zeno’s Paradox fashion, so that he can never really destroy anything, just reduce it. In other words, by repeated applications, he can destroy nearly one-ninth of something. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/27 "2005-10-20T01:03:06Z")
I like the ones where there is probably a good use for them, but it is hard to work out. Like the ability to change dairy products from one type to another. Milk to cheese to yoghurt to butter etc. Smell impersonation would be interesting, you can smell exactly like anything else. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/28 "2005-10-20T03:14:21Z")
The ability to sneeze on command. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/29 "2005-10-20T03:57:02Z")
The ability to [keep any fire going, while underwater](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=340394). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/30 "2005-10-20T04:04:01Z")
In the movie _Mystery Men_ they had a superhero whose power was the ability to turn invisible - but it only worked when nobody was looking at him. ---
**Author:** ![Yumblie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/76d3ee/32.png) [@Yumblie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yumblie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/31 "2005-10-20T04:06:22Z")
You could have the power of the human torch from the Fantastic Four, but you can’t control it. It just happens randomly, like spontaneous combustion. Worse yet, you’re not immune to it, so every so often throughout your day you’ll suddenly burst into flames and then have to throw yourself to the ground to put it out. ---
**Author:** ![davenportavenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@davenportavenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davenportavenger)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/32 "2005-10-20T04:18:16Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > In other words, by repeated applications, he can destroy nearly one-ninth of something. Exactly. What about wrong-way telepathy? I think Alfred Bester had this idea first. Although it would come in hand if the bad guy tied you up and stuck a sock in your mouth and revealed his secret plan and then the hero came in and you had to tell him the secret plan. Also if you’re funny you could make people laugh in embarrassing situations. But that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Hung\_Mung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/33 "2005-10-20T06:35:16Z")
> [@Evil Captor](#): > > Super Sleep Power. Not the power to make others sleep. The ability to personally go to sleep anytime, anywhere, for as long as you lke, and wake up feeling refreshed and alert, without revealing to others that you are, in fact, asleep. Except for the part about not revealing that he was asleep, my grandfather had this power. At least he did until he didn’t wake up from it. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/34 "2005-10-20T07:20:33Z")
> [@](#): > > The Decimator: Has the ability to destroy one-tenth of anything, but only that much. When the enemy/evil headquarters is decimated, he goes for it again, but he can still only get rid of one-tenth. “I am the Decimator! Tremble before my ability to cause significant property damage and drive up your insurance rates!” ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/35 "2005-10-20T07:20:52Z")
Super Spleen Man - SSM’s spleen has the power to filter twice as much stuff as a regular man. Toenail Man - His toenails become invisible at will. The Block Drawing Man - Has the power to draw a not-so-perfect line drawing of a block in less then 4 hours **with his eyes closed**. Half inch taller man - Can grow one half inch taller at will. The Shade Shifting Bone Man - Can change the colour of his bones. The Human Bee Gee - Has the ability to sing any Bee Gee’s song forward **or backwards**! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/36 "2005-10-20T11:40:25Z")
> [@davenportavenger](#): > > The Decimator: Has the ability to destroy one-tenth of anything, but only that much. When the enemy/evil headquarters is decimated, he goes for it again, but he can still only get rid of one-tenth. This continues on in Zeno’s Paradox fashion, so that he can never really destroy anything, just reduce it. How about Mathematical Fuck-Up Man? He fails to realize that 0.9 \* 0.9 \* 0.9 is already a sight smaller than 0.888…, and gets several people to agree with him on a message board without any of them spending thirty seconds doing a few sums. :dubious: Alternatively, I always liked “Man-Spider”. He’s a spider who has the proportionate strength of a spider-sized man, plus all the special abilities of a man. ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/37 "2005-10-20T12:36:53Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > When there was a thread titled “Crap future X-men movie mutants” I remember that thread, it seems to have vanished (Winter of our Lost Content?). The mutant power I still remember from it: “Meteor Attractor Boy – only used his power once.” ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/38 "2005-10-20T18:10:28Z")
Yeah,the Decimator isn’t so bad – he can’t destroy anything completely, but with enough chances, he can destroy anything to whatever degree you want. After 7 shots, the whatzit is now less than half a whatzit. Somewhere around 22 shots and it’s only a 100-milliwhatzits. (how about the Superpower of being able to correct math mistakes in pointless joke threads?) ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/39 "2005-10-20T18:23:22Z")
Retroejcaculation! ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2005, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941/40 "2005-10-20T21:34:38Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > I remember that thread, it seems to have vanished (Winter of our Lost Content?). The mutant power I still remember from it: I remember that too. My favorite one was: The power to shake exactly two pills out of any jar containing two or more pills. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-be-the-worlds-worst-super-power-as-in-super-heroes/326941.md?page=3)