Superpowers

[muchabstracted]

So if you could have any superpower, what would it be? Right now I think I would choose to know a large (but not infinite) number of languages. I reserve the right to change my answer if one of you is more inspired.

Unrelatedly, if you felt like posting to LJ and yet had nothing to say, what would you post about?

Comments

[sovay]

Right now I think I would choose to know a large (but not infinite) number of languages. I reserve the right to change my answer if one of you is more inspired.

No; I think that might be my choice as well. Either that or the ability to breathe salt water.

Unrelatedly, if you felt like posting to LJ and yet had nothing to say, what would you post about?

Dunno. I just posted a collection of fragments that had been kicking around my brain for the last week or so, which is more or less the same thing.

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that my answer ought to be the languages one -- as I said below, what it would be and what it should be don't seem to care about each other -- but then I realized that it would deprive me of the fun of learning them. Which says something or other about my brain.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

No, that is legitimate. I thought about that, in that I realized I didn't care at all the process of learning languages, and felt vaguely ungeeky about it.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

The ability to breath saltwater would be awesome. I think that would be much better than scuba diving.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Oh, be that way.

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

Moving things without touching them. I can't tell you why that's what it would be -- I can certainly think of more interesting and useful ones -- but it would.

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

I should amend -- moving things without touching them and without regard for the usual laws of gravity.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure it's possible to move things without touching them, unless you are defying the laws of gravity in some way. :P

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but sliding power alone totally doesn't count.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

What about with air hockey? You could win a lot of money.

OH! Or pool. Dude, you could pay off your loan with that.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Ha. Good point.

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

It would be cool to be able to heal things à la Mr. Linderman.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

*looks up Linderman on Google*

Really? A crime boss who can heal other people? I guess it comes in handy when you want to heal your people or, you know, un-bruisify that person you just tortured...

[shirei-shibolim.livejournal.com]

I think it's a cool break from comic book clichés. You expect bad guys to be able to perform telekinesis, control minds, shoot lightning and the like. You don't expect them to have completely benign powers.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Maybe I should watch Heroes...

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

Not fair, you took the languages option and now I can't. And I've got a mind-fogging cold or flu bug that means I can't think of any better superpowers.

How about reading anyone's handwriting, in any language or writing system?

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

You can take it too, it's not like it's one apiece. I would have thought you enjoyed the process of learning languages, though.

Reading anyone's handwriting would be very interesting, particularly in manuscript form. Does that mean you can automatically understand all written language, too?

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

That strikes me as an excellent superpower. Especially in certain fields. Research aside, it would make yourself an invaluable asset to any university, necessitating that they offer you ridiculously lavish employment packages.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

I think that would also be an excellent superpower for a secretary, but I'm not sure I can see rymenhild wanting to be in that position even with such an advantage.

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

I was thinking archival sources. Besides, if you're indispensable, you can make them hire your for whatever you want to be hired for!

[loveablebaruch.livejournal.com]

To be able to heal all illnesses and injuries.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

I wonder if that would make med school easier or harder?

[loveablebaruch.livejournal.com]

The professors might take an interest in me until I would be abducted by the government.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Well, obviously you'd have to fly under the radar.

[loveablebaruch.livejournal.com]

Agreed tho it might be a bit difficult to keep it that hidden. After a while I would simply disappear and then the number of US soliders and high ranking officials dying would dramatically sink.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Maybe if you only pull out the superpower when no one is looking, when medical science fails?

[loveablebaruch.livejournal.com]

and that is the other thing I want to do-- fly.

[obopolsk.livejournal.com]

I used to say I wanted to be able to change my height at will (I'm sick of not being able to reach top shelves) -- but several people have pointed out to me that that's a stupid superpower.

I think I might have to steal your languages answer.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

But you would be the most in demand basketball player ever.

[fleurdelis28.livejournal.com]

It would also be a REALLY popular party trick.

[meghatronn.livejournal.com]

As frustrated as I am right now not being able to talk directly with all of my clients due to language barriers, I think a better superpower would be to be able to say exactly the right thing at exactly the right time, all the time. Not necessarily to have the exact knowledge, but to always talk in an un-stuttering, articulate, soothing manner with the phrasing and content that clicks with the other person's brain. As the social worker knows, fluency does not always equal communication.

Unrelatedly, if you felt like posting to LJ and yet had nothing to say, what would you post about?

This is assuming I have something to say the rest of the time? :)

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

That would also be excellent for radio hostess!

[solconeja.livejournal.com]

China.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

*nods* Not the US? What would you do with China?

[lyriendel.livejournal.com]

Hm. High on my list: teleportation (like in the book Jumper), technopathy (like Micah in Heroes), or superhuman intelligence. If I had to pick one I'd probably pick technopathy. It'd sure make my job easier, without also obligating me to solve all the world's problems.

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Ha. It would be a major drag to have to solve the world's problems. Though I don't think even superhuman intelligence could do it.

[rhianona.livejournal.com]

isn't that what memes are for? Pointless posting... or you could just say hi or you could post something completely random like a quote and ask people to discuss. *g*

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

That's true! That is what memes are for! Does my question count as a meme, or a random discussion question? I'm not sure on the exact definition.

I wonder what sort of quote would be the most likely to garnish responses. Hmm.

[rhianona.livejournal.com]

I have a friend, classicist who posts random latin phrases. *G* Without translations.

[jessruth.livejournal.com]

Hi, fellow bridesmaid! thanks for a fabulous party. friend me?

[muchabstracted.livejournal.com]

Hey! *friends* How was the trip back?

Also, that's the best icon ever.

[jessruth.livejournal.com]

Yay for friending! Thanks.

Trip back was smooth - I spent the afternoon with *my* Mom, and reunited with my sweetie at home.

I found the icon on www.kosherham.com - laughed my head off and decided I needed to make an icon out of it.

See you in July!