# Would you rather get $1 million or three random superpowers? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564 "2024-04-20T23:29:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/61 "2024-04-21T15:25:40Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > As you already could, by materializing some claws from dimensional storage Or a giant birthday cake with crazy lit sparklers for the mugger ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/62 "2024-04-21T15:26:39Z")
Or you could maybe put the mugger _in_ dimensional storage! That’d surprise the heck out of him! ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/63 "2024-04-21T15:29:38Z")
The first three powers I got: _Literary manipulation_: tha ability to manipulate literary objects. So, I can move books around with my mind? Super librarian powers? _X-Ray vision:_ ok, now we’re talking’! Wait, the description says “the ability to see x-rays”. So no seeing through walls, just that x-rays become visible to me? _Movement Vision_ (the power to instantly take notice of things when they move): uh, is that even a superpower? I can pretty much do that already. Yeah, I’ll take the $1 mil. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/64 "2024-04-21T15:38:12Z")
> [@solost](#): > > Yeah, I’ll take the $1 mil. I wonder how strong the Manipulation power is: leave no fingerprints while bludgeoning someone to death with an encyclopedia? Fly around as if a backpack were a jetpack? Or does it just top out at, say, performing seemingly-impossible feats of stage magic for an audience? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/65 "2024-04-21T17:34:45Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Invisibility is a terrible superpower, as are most superpowers: Yeah, but if I also had an invisible knife… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/66 "2024-04-21T17:36:50Z")
Snoopy Power, the little kid in me has to say Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/67 "2024-04-21T17:53:36Z")
Tough choice, but I’m going with the $1 million, even though it’s not worth all that much in today’s inflation era. There’s just too high a chance I’d wind up with three superpowers that are either rather useless, or that I couldn’t use ethically/legally. If it were 3 powers that I could choose of my own selection, I’d go with those. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/68 "2024-04-21T22:29:09Z")
I opted for the three random superpowers, so here’s what I apparently get: **Vector Manipulation** The power to manipulate matter and interactions through their related vectors. **Oil Vision** The power to project oil beams/blasts from one’s eyes. **Cosmic Manipulation** The power to manipulate cosmic forces. The first and last one seem mildly related, but _could_ be useful for a party-trick-for-hire gig or holding the world hostage through the threat of annihilation by my super-outer-space controlled asteroid. That second one though, either I’m finding steady employment at a Qwikee-Lube or as a server at Olive Garden for endless salad garnish provider. I’m seeing some potential here. . . Tripler But _before_ I incinerate your fair city with a solar flare, _would you care for more breadsticks?_ ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/69 "2024-04-22T01:16:07Z")
> [@Tripler](#): > > **Vector Manipulation** The power to manipulate matter and interactions through their related vectors. Disappointing. I was hoping this had something to do with linear algebra. “All the powers on an H100.” “Ability to compute dot products in a single bound.” ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/70 "2024-04-22T01:51:40Z")
BTW, you can get a detailed description of the various superpowers here: > **[Superpower Wiki](https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Superpower_Wiki)** Here is the description of Vector Manipulation (which I had never heard of before): > **[Vector Manipulation](https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Vector_Manipulation?so=search)** > > The power to manipulate matter and energy through vectors. Sub-power of Mathematics Manipulation and Physics Manipulation. Refined and simplified version of Telekinesis. Euclidean/Geometric/Spatial Vector Manipulation Redirection Manipulation... ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/71 "2024-04-22T03:32:19Z")
> [@robby](#): > > BTW, you can get a detailed description of the various superpowers here Oh, great, maybe I can find a use for “Neon Vision!” > ## Limitations > > - Can’t control neon emitted from eyes. This just gets better and better. Says I can create “Neon blasts”. WTF is a “Neon blast” aside from a laser light show? Or a Slurpee flavor? ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/72 "2024-04-22T03:52:03Z")
I chose to believe that it makes all cars you see look like 90s Dodge/Chrysler Neons. 🙂 Although, if you’re EMITTING cars… from you _eyes_ no less, well, you have problems. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/73 "2024-04-22T04:10:14Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Life vision: The power to see/detect/sense the lifespan of other people. Yes! You could sell life insurance. > **[X Files: Clyde Bruckman: Closing Technique](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzCasWDzn6A%2F)** > > Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. ---
**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:** [April 22, 2024, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/74 "2024-04-22T04:26:20Z")
I chose the million. But I then checked my three random powers. Danger intuition is very nice. Social cloaking, the ability to blend into any group, is interesting. Plant manipulation is also a superpower, I suppose. In a Legion of Substitute Heroes kind of way. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/75 "2024-04-22T05:24:36Z")
Is it worth a million dollars to find out which three you get? Maybe. **Thermoreception** (The power to perceive heat signatures.) **Atomic Vision** (The ability to see the bonds between atoms.) **Supernatural Accuracy** (The ability to have drastically better accuracy than what is naturally possible.) So I can see bears in the dark, even outside of the tent. Everything with atomic bonds looks shimmery (distracting). And I’d be great at some carnival games. Unless that means I’d be great at correcting typos. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/76 "2024-04-22T06:02:34Z")
Definitely the superpowers, since another million bucks is not going to affect my life much - plus I can see making more from the powers. The ones I got were: Animal Manipulation - would be very handy at a racetrack. “And the winner is: Beeblebaum.” Density manipulation: If I were a bad guy it would let me go through doors and safes. As a good guy I could make the bad guys guns melt. Or tanks. Or buildings. Microwave vision: Seeing microwaves. Can’t see much of a use for that one at the moment. BTW, based on the variety of superpowers people came up with, I’m impressed at how many they have available. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/77 "2024-04-22T06:20:51Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Everything with atomic bonds looks shimmery (distracting). That means virtually _everything_! Everything around you, including the air, has atomic bonds. Well, except any noble gases, such as helium, neon, and argon. This has to be one of the least useful superpowers. > [@Voyager](#): > > Microwave vision: Seeing microwaves. Can’t see much of a use for that one at the moment. Another useless one. Unless some supervillain has the power to shoot microwaves out of his eyes, in which case it’ll help you find him. But then he’ll be able to blind you by shining them directly into your eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Kimble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimble/32/19185_2.png) [@Kimble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimble)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/78 "2024-04-22T06:35:09Z")
I took the 1 million before getting a good sample of the powers, then looked up the powers I could’ve had: - **Jet Propulsion** (The power to move via energy expulsion.) Flight’s always nice, although flight that can set everything around me on fire is less nice. - **Movement Vision** (The power to instantly take notice of things if they move.) If it alerts me to everything around me instead of whatever gets in my (optical) vision cone, that would be nice when I decide to fly at 40,000 feet and don’t want to get sucked into a plane engine. (I’m assuming the jets would keep me warm.) - **Prehensile Tail** (The power to have a tail that can be used as an extra limb.) A prehensile tail with fingers and opposable thumbs would be very handy. But just a tail? Meh. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/79 "2024-04-22T06:38:01Z")
I had to go for superpowers - anyone can have money, not everyone can be a super"hero". And I won the superpower lottery: Knowledge Replication (The power to replicate the learned knowledge and skills of others.) Magic Vision (The power to project magical beams/blasts from one’s eyes.) Poison Immunity (The power to be immune to all forms of poisons.) Know everything somebody else knows, can’t be poisoned, and laser beam eyes? I’ll make a great super"hero". ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564/80 "2024-04-22T12:30:44Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > > [@Yllaria](#): > > > > Everything with atomic bonds looks shimmery (distracting). > > That means virtually _everything_! Everything around you, including the air, has atomic bonds. Well, except any noble gases, such as helium, neon, and argon. This has to be one of the least useful superpowers. [Atomic vision](https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Atomic_Vision) seems to have a few useful applications, like finding stress points and being able to shatter anything. You could be the best diamond cutter in the world! 😉 > [@Voyager](#): > > Microwave vision: Seeing microwaves. Can’t see much of a use for that one at the moment. > [@dtilque](#): > > Another useless one. Unless some supervillain has the power to shoot microwaves out of his eyes, in which case it’ll help you find him. But then he’ll be able to blind you by shining them directly into your eyes. Yeah, this one looks pretty useless. Unless you’re a microwave oven repair person. On second thought, you could also detect many radar systems, which might be useful to a military pilot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-rather-get-1-million-or-three-random-superpowers/1000564.md?page=5)