If you had the power of superman, what would you choose to do with your life? Virtually unlimited strength, the ability to survive a nuke, super speed, heat vision, the whole 9 yards.
Do you think the world would be a better place because you personally had the power of superman? Or do you feel that an honest look at yourself reveals an average, flawed being just as likely to ☺☺☺☺ it all up as to make the world a better place, and you'd therefore choose to be non-interventionist?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely (and rocks absolutely). So as an absolutely powerful being who answers to nobody, can you honestly say it wouldn't corrupt you after a couple of decade or so?
As the strongest man in the world, vulnerable to only kryptonite, would you be an interventionist superman who stopped unjust wars in the world, and run the risk of becoming dictator of the world?
Would you be a rockstar Superman who only intervened in the most dire circumstances, but otherwise live a hedonistic lifestyle with hot and cold running supermodels?
Would you seek to influence the world as a "God", by building a massive cult or following that would follow your leadership and teaching, and try to bring good to the world that way.
Would you simply rule the world by forcing governments to cooperate and form a world federal democracy with teeth (with authority backed by your limitless might)? And force world peace? World sharing of resources?
Is stopping crime a big enough role for you as Superman? If so, is the real reason that crime isn't solved, the lack of might in the hands of the police? Isn't the real problem, the lack of proof that the badguys committed crime? How does being superman make a dent on crime, if it's really not that different from giving the police better weapons and armor?
Is the world a better place because you have Superman powers? If so, is the real reason that the world isn't better, the lack of might in the hands of the just?
Would you be a Superman whose legacy can outlive you? Or one who just watched over the world from natural disaster?
Would your personal philosophy determine what kind of superman you'd be? Or do you think your personal philosophy is contingent on being a powerless schmoe, and you'd probably get a new philosophy and less restrictive rules as a superman?
Just some hard questions I've been thinking about since the Superman/Citizen thread.
I keep coming full circle to my thought that concentrating power into one person, no matter how well intentioned that person is, is not a major benefit to the world (unless he's going to solve the energy crisis or produce amazing wealth for the world of course). It would really rock to be that person though...:cool:
"The Samaritan trying to convince the Infidel that it is more fulfilling for an Übermensch to be a public servant. Guiding humanity away from self destruction.
The Infidel trying to convince the Samaritan that it is better for humanity if the Übermensch takes the reins and forces humanity to strive foreword."
I might go super vilain and stop once I get bored. Probably go back once I'd be bored again. I have a feeling I'd kill millions that I'd judge unworthy.
Thats why people don't want me to have superpowers.
My answers would be different if I was born on Krypton and sent in a capsule to help makind. But I assume we are talking about me waking up tomorrow with all new powers...
I (it) wouldn't change a thing.
Mankind needs to face and defeat its own demons...I don't want to be a new god.
We aren't evil because superpowers don't exist. We simply are. A superman existing cannot change the nature of man. We are capable of creating, and responsible for the existence of all the "good" and "evil" in the world. We humans ARE the rapists, the murderers, the doctors, the activists, the firemen, the soldiers, the pedophiles, the donors, the malingerers.
Mankind already has plenty of self absorbed tycoons, sports stars, and rockstars who live a hedonistic lifestyle...why would I want to be another one of them. I don't like Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen enough to start hanging around in their crowd.
If anything, I'd keep the powers a secret, I would just find some way to make some fast money without drawing too much attention, then move my wife and kid to a secluded island or mountain town and live there.
Since I have the powers of superman, do I get to keep my current mortality?
I don't want to live past my grandkids...and Superman I believe doesn't age like we do.
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Thanks to Xenphire @ Inkfox for the amazing new sig
“Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments
are we bound to prosperity and ruin.”
― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
"The Samaritan trying to convince the Infidel that it is more fulfilling for an Übermensch to be a public servant. Guiding humanity away from self destruction.
The Infidel trying to convince the Samaritan that it is better for humanity if the Übermensch takes the reins and forces humanity to strive foreword."
It touches some of the issues, but I'm more curious about what people would honestly think they would do given the power (and no special wisdom... It's the current version of you that plays Magic and posts on this forum).
Would we put our money where our mouth is in implementing our version of a better world? I'm honestly not sure what my answer would be at this point. Is this power a blessing or a curse? Sounds more burden than blessing.
My scenario would give normal lifespan, nothing special. And you acquire the power today... Or come to the realization that you have it today... So you can truly answer the question for and as yourself.
I'm sad to say that I would be sort of an anti-hero (if using the term correctly). I would do whatever i felt like but if I'm near injustice i wouldn't think twice to step in and assist the victims.
That said I feel like I would do more bad than good as there would be less good moments to present my virtue and awesomeness.
My answers would be different if I was born on Krypton and sent in a capsule to help makind.
I feel so unbelievably nerdy saying this, but if it were that background for me and I had Kryptonian technology at my disposal, I'd probably just be a much more capitalistic version of Power Girl (which is fair enough game since "the powers of Superman" apply to any Kryptonian). You know, use the technology for profit.
But if I just woke up tomorrow with those powers, and no alien backstory to affect me, I'd just live the life of some kind of goddess and only do things for those who either worship or compensate me. What should I care about the moralities of a bunch of ants scurrying about as if their concerns are mine? I'm not so good a person that I can ignore human nature. In a nutshell, Neutral Evil—I wouldn't be set on imposing order, but I'd certainly be selfish enough to count as evil.
I'm not going to lie, I would be a pretty evil person. That's not to say I wouldn't force some progress on the world, but it wouldn't be in a very friendly way.
I think I'd find it pretty impossible to stay away from a crime fighting, hedonistic/superstar lifestyle (as long as I knew they wouldn't give birth to people with my powers should they get knocked up). Having super-powered illegitimate children wouldn't sit well with me!
I think I'd find it pretty impossible to stay away from a crime fighting, hedonistic lifestyle (as long as I knew they wouldn't give birth to people with my powers should they get knocked up). Having super-powered illegitimate children wouldn't sit well with me!
Imagine it - you'd be able to play any position on the field far better than any mere mortal, and without the risk of injury to yourself. All you'd have to do is resist the urge to throw opposing players into the endzone, and you'd have it MADE.
Never tell anyone about your powers, just quietly be the absolute best player of all time without even needing to practice.
Seriously, I can't imagine a single problem with this plan.
I feel so unbelievably nerdy saying this, but if it were that background for me and I had Kryptonian technology at my disposal, I'd probably just be a much more capitalistic version of Power Girl (which is fair enough game since "the powers of Superman" apply to any Kryptonian). You know, use the technology for profit.
But if I just woke up tomorrow with those powers, and no alien backstory to affect me, I'd just live the life of some kind of goddess and only do things for those who either worship or compensate me. What should I care about the moralities of a bunch of ants scurrying about as if their concerns are mine? I'm not so good a person that I can ignore human nature. In a nutshell, Neutral Evil—I wouldn't be set on imposing order, but I'd certainly be selfish enough to count as evil.
I really hope Superman doesnt read Ayn Rand. You put youself above humanity then blame your poor behavors as caving into your humanity. If you were really so far removed from the concerns of ant like humans, than I would hope you or any superman/women Could ignore human nature.
I would exploit super speed to keep my actions off the radar. Locate a unsettled island in the South Pacific, and build a Fortess of Solitude. I spend my days enjoying my powers and my time with family and friends. I would try not to Interfere unless another hero needed help.
I really hope Superman doesnt read Ayn Rand. You put youself above humanity then blame your poor behavors as caving into your humanity. If you were really so far removed from the concerns of ant like humans, than I would hope you or any superman/women Could ignore human nature.
Well, the way I see it is this: If it were the case that I as a human being suddenly woke up with Kryptonian powers, I'd still be human psychologically. But that degree of power would remove me from most human concerns. I'd certainly not be immune to the corrupting influence of power, so you get the case where I'd have a very human response to superhuman powers.
And I was serious about the autodeification thing. Being an actual goddess would be irresistible.
Imagine it - you'd be able to play any position on the field far better than any mere mortal, and without the risk of injury to yourself. All you'd have to do is resist the urge to throw opposing players into the endzone, and you'd have it MADE.
that sounds like a good idea initially, especially the part about not telling anybody about your powers (and dont get a twitter account, or you may end up blurting about your powers some night when you're drunk).
But don't you think that even after less than a season you'd get bored? Heck, even after a couple of games, don't you think you'd be going through the motions? About as exciting as playing against the computer on Madden on XBox360 at the easiest setting? 3 quarters into the first game, I'd already be wanting to be doing something else besides spending 2 hours in pads pretending I can't run 1000x faster, watching guys desperately, hopelessly trying to catch me, and seeing teammates get injured sacrificing their bodies to block for me. They're all excited, I'm just being fake about being excited, and I'm really just trying to "break the record" and "get the ring" without revealing that I have superpowers.
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I think I might start out keeping it a secret, and just using my power for personal gain, under the radar... But there are so many ways that you can end up deviating from that little plan:
You're watching TV, and you decide that maybe saving some people from the tsunami, fixing the reactor... Or stopping some massacre somewhere would be a better use of the evening... And it is a RUSH! Saving lives in politically and morally unambiguous situations, your feel like a benevolent God. It's addictive.
But after a few months of cherrypicking morally unambiguous situations, your find yourself realizing that the world seems little better off, and that far bigger tragedies could be prevented if you just had the confidence in your conviction to do what you THINK is right. Take down Ghadafi? Topple the Ayatullahs?
You do so, and at some point you ☺☺☺☺ up big and you end up creating anarchy somewhere... A failed state that's entirely your fault... You see no way to fix it or stabilize it other than to reveal your powers and Put yourself in charge. Welcome to the monarchy... And responsibility... As many other dictatorships topple at the existence of a Godlike power on earth.
And you find yourself thinking: "playing around without responsibility was far easier and more enjoyable... But does great power come with great responsibility?"
And of course, even if you do manage to create a "better world" for some (worse for others) than the one you were born into, how do you create a "better world" that will survive your eventual death? and the contingencies for when you inevitably get old and demented, probably long before your body dies.
And as king of the world with superpowers, you know you're super, but maybe there is a poison out there that can kill you (every superman might have a kryptonite, right?) Maybe people will try to poison you... So would you become hopelessly paranoid and surround yourself with an entourage and security? Like an emperor of ancient China with a food "taster"? Hot and cold running supermodels, but mostly people too in awe of you to be really close? Only friends are your old friends. It's also a little like growing up in poverty and becoming a superstar billionaire.
And always the questions: "is the world really better off now? Do my people love me or fear me? Is there a God or an afterlife? I am so alone... How did it come to this?"
-
Even though superpower should be a positive thing, it's hard to escape the problems that come with (1) the awesome responsibility to act on one's conscience and (2) the utter lack of accountability, which is bad for any human.
I think I'd spend at least the first year very secretive, and tell nobody except maybe my closest confidante (my wife) and we'd have to really discuss and bounce around what the best thing to do would be. Maybe eventually get other wise and educated people's input in private too. I'd probably pose the question on a gaming message board or two just to get ideas as well, maybe frame it as a theoretical question, though I'm really looking for advice on how I should... er, I mean "would" use and reveal my powers, *IF* I had them.
I think I might start out keeping it a secret, and just using my power for personal gain, under the radar... But there are so many ways that you can end up deviating from that little plan:
You're watching TV, and you decide that maybe saving some people from the tsunami, fixing the reactor... Or stopping some massacre somewhere would be a better use of the evening... And it is a RUSH! Saving lives in politically and morally unambiguous situations, your feel like a benevolent God. It's addictive.
But after a few months of cherrypicking morally unambiguous situations, your find yourself realizing that the world seems little better off, and that far bigger tragedies could be prevented if you just had the confidence in your conviction to do what you THINK is right. Take down Ghadafi? Topple the Ayatullahs?
You do so, and at some point you ☺☺☺☺ up big and you end up creating anarchy somewhere... A failed state that's entirely your fault... You see no way to fix it or stabilize it other than to reveal your powers and Put yourself in charge.
I think I'd probably end up doing something similar to this... up until the last sentence. If I wound up creating a mess like you describe here, I don't think I'd stick around to try and right the situation. I intervened because I thought it was the right thing to do, but it turned out not to be. If it would be an enormous hassle to try and govern the place single-handedly (and it sure sounds like a hassle), I'd probably walk away and let the situation work itself out somehow. After a major disaster like that, I'd probably back off and not intervene in major world affairs anymore. I really don't want to rule the world, I'd just like to enjoy myself and try to make the world a little better for those around me.
Honestly, if I had the ability to permanently remove my superpowers, I would probably do that at the outset.... maybe after making enough money to be set for life.
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"For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love." --Carl Sagan
if i had powers of superman. i would be a villain. LOL. as so i can abuse my powers more. x-ray! x-ray! x-ray! LOL!
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A team should be as happy as a meal - TEAM HAPPYMEAL
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tronGR
Buy All the planeswalkers!!!
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
Honestly? I'd probably be an interventionist to the hilt. Not a dictator, but more of a fix-it man for a leader whom I trust. Covert, not wearing a cape/tights. I'll probably won't reveal anything to my boss. I'll just be the guy who gets the (dirty) work done and leave the moral quandary to the boss. Yes, this limitation will likely mean I won't use my powers to the fullest, but that's fine with me.
Of course, that means I will end up doing things that may be completely morally reprehensible to me. In that case I simply won't do it and make up some excuse. Sure, I'll get rid of those squatters for you, but don't expect me to actually _knowingly_ hurt innocent people. Since I never revealed the full extent of my abilities to my boss, I'm sure I can get away with it.
Beyond that, I'll likely live the way I do now. I'll amuse myself with x-ray vision (provided it doesn't cause cancer or something), maybe squeeze a coal into a diamond if things get rough, or fly (hidden) through traffic, but otherwise I won't be using my powers much. No using super strength to become a sports star, or blinging myself, or any of that sort of thing.
I think I'd probably end up doing something similar to this... up until the last sentence. If I wound up creating a mess like you describe here, I don't think I'd stick around to try and right the situation. I intervened because I thought it was the right thing to do, but it turned out not to be. If it would be an enormous hassle to try and govern the place single-handedly (and it sure sounds like a hassle), I'd probably walk away and let the situation work itself out somehow. After a major disaster like that, I'd probably back off and not intervene in major world affairs anymore. I really don't want to rule the world, I'd just like to enjoy myself and try to make the world a little better for those around me.
Honestly, if I had the ability to permanently remove my superpowers, I would probably do that at the outset.... maybe after making enough money to be set for life.
It's all a heavy burden when you have great power.
I mean, even if you decided to be completely "NON-POLITICAL", and limit yourself to a moral code of only doing the most non-political, morally unambiguous things possible, at what point should your workday stop? 8 hours? 9 hours? Should you take weekends off? ( of course, It's a bit analogous to any of us who have talent and power to do good acts... if my spending 1 more hour really saves 3 more kids, who can I justify not working 10 hour days? Or 12? Same with charitable money. If 1 life is going to be saved by giving $10 more a month, what is the cutoff? )
How can you justify taking an extra hour break, when 1000 people you could have saved will die in an hour?
It reminds me of that old Sam Kinison bit, where he's talking about Jesus, and how once word gets out that you can heal, your life is no longer your own... Same would do all these impressions of lepers and blind people limping into the bathroom after him, screaming "OOOOOH JESUS! HEEAAL ME!!!! OOOOH OOOOOH!!" Really tasteless, but funny.
Heavy, heavy burden. Not a happy life to be the work-horse of mankind. Loved or reviled, the focused attention of 7 billion people must be overwhelming. Abused children and housewives, victims of home invasion, would be praying for you to come save them (and if you superhearing is part of this powers package, you'd hear them... )
Imagine it - you'd be able to play any position on the field far better than any mere mortal, and without the risk of injury to yourself. All you'd have to do is resist the urge to throw opposing players into the endzone, and you'd have it MADE.
Never tell anyone about your powers, just quietly be the absolute best player of all time without even needing to practice.
Seriously, I can't imagine a single problem with this plan.
I think I'd do the same thing but I'd also be the greatest boxer and MMA fighter ever in between games and seasons. I'd also "train" in secret and be very private so people can just wonder why I'm so awesome rather than try to figure it out. For this to work though you'd have to be able to turn your powers off at will so you could pass blood drug tests (Superman can't get his blood drawn cause needles aren't going to penetrate his skin).
I'd also do some of the usual Superman stuff though. I just wouldn't let people see me do it.
1. Gain as much knowledge as possible on various subjects using super speed and reading
2. Build a corporate empire by pulling a "Lex Luther" creating advanced technology
3. Go "John Galt" and create a project to terraform and colonize Mars
4. Expand my life span as much as possible at worst become what Superman became at the end of All Star Superman
5. Terraform Venus
Three worlds for humanity to live on, more than enough to ensure a continuation of the species and enough nations for people to go to different areas to find their own way.
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Is there any reason we don't do this already? Couldn't we just load it all up onto a rocket and shoot it to the sun?
Because if it goes boom radioactive material goes everywhere, and after several decades just when we were starting to really humor more nuclear power Japan has an accident and we go back to NIMBY.
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Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
I'd become drunk of power. Start giving orders like an strict father: do right, or you'll have a punishment. I'd become somewhat Kira of Death Note: Kill all the bad guys. Kill them all. Make the world "perfect" (in my twisted, corrupted vision). No place for egoism, no place for abuse, no place for discrimination. You commit a mistake (that I can know of for sure), and you get killed.
I've always think that you can solve ALL your problems with enough violence. Is just we don't always have enough violence, so we take ways that more feasible and practical. But being Superman just gives me enough violence-power to do as I please. That would make me corrupt.
Do you think the world would be a better place because you personally had the power of superman? Or do you feel that an honest look at yourself reveals an average, flawed being just as likely to ☺☺☺☺ it all up as to make the world a better place, and you'd therefore choose to be non-interventionist?
Absolute power corrupts absolutely (and rocks absolutely). So as an absolutely powerful being who answers to nobody, can you honestly say it wouldn't corrupt you after a couple of decade or so?
As the strongest man in the world, vulnerable to only kryptonite, would you be an interventionist superman who stopped unjust wars in the world, and run the risk of becoming dictator of the world?
Would you be a rockstar Superman who only intervened in the most dire circumstances, but otherwise live a hedonistic lifestyle with hot and cold running supermodels?
Would you seek to influence the world as a "God", by building a massive cult or following that would follow your leadership and teaching, and try to bring good to the world that way.
Would you simply rule the world by forcing governments to cooperate and form a world federal democracy with teeth (with authority backed by your limitless might)? And force world peace? World sharing of resources?
Is stopping crime a big enough role for you as Superman? If so, is the real reason that crime isn't solved, the lack of might in the hands of the police? Isn't the real problem, the lack of proof that the badguys committed crime? How does being superman make a dent on crime, if it's really not that different from giving the police better weapons and armor?
Is the world a better place because you have Superman powers? If so, is the real reason that the world isn't better, the lack of might in the hands of the just?
Would you be a Superman whose legacy can outlive you? Or one who just watched over the world from natural disaster?
Would your personal philosophy determine what kind of superman you'd be? Or do you think your personal philosophy is contingent on being a powerless schmoe, and you'd probably get a new philosophy and less restrictive rules as a superman?
Just some hard questions I've been thinking about since the Superman/Citizen thread.
I keep coming full circle to my thought that concentrating power into one person, no matter how well intentioned that person is, is not a major benefit to the world (unless he's going to solve the energy crisis or produce amazing wealth for the world of course). It would really rock to be that person though...:cool:
The role of a Übermensch: Public Servant or Dictator
"The Samaritan trying to convince the Infidel that it is more fulfilling for an Übermensch to be a public servant. Guiding humanity away from self destruction.
The Infidel trying to convince the Samaritan that it is better for humanity if the Übermensch takes the reins and forces humanity to strive foreword."
In his Second 100 days - Yawgmoth's Bargain is unrestricted in Vintage.
What is going to happen in the Next 100 days!!!
Thats why people don't want me to have superpowers.
I (it) wouldn't change a thing.
Mankind needs to face and defeat its own demons...I don't want to be a new god.
We aren't evil because superpowers don't exist. We simply are. A superman existing cannot change the nature of man. We are capable of creating, and responsible for the existence of all the "good" and "evil" in the world. We humans ARE the rapists, the murderers, the doctors, the activists, the firemen, the soldiers, the pedophiles, the donors, the malingerers.
Mankind already has plenty of self absorbed tycoons, sports stars, and rockstars who live a hedonistic lifestyle...why would I want to be another one of them. I don't like Paris Hilton and Charlie Sheen enough to start hanging around in their crowd.
If anything, I'd keep the powers a secret, I would just find some way to make some fast money without drawing too much attention, then move my wife and kid to a secluded island or mountain town and live there.
Since I have the powers of superman, do I get to keep my current mortality?
I don't want to live past my grandkids...and Superman I believe doesn't age like we do.
Thanks to Xenphire @ Inkfox for the amazing new sig
“Thus strangely are our souls constructed, and by slight ligaments
are we bound to prosperity and ruin.”
― Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
It touches some of the issues, but I'm more curious about what people would honestly think they would do given the power (and no special wisdom... It's the current version of you that plays Magic and posts on this forum).
Would we put our money where our mouth is in implementing our version of a better world? I'm honestly not sure what my answer would be at this point. Is this power a blessing or a curse? Sounds more burden than blessing.
My scenario would give normal lifespan, nothing special. And you acquire the power today... Or come to the realization that you have it today... So you can truly answer the question for and as yourself.
Well...
Superman downplays it but he IS super-smart, people forget.
I would count that as a kind of wisdom.
Read the Library of Congress at super-speed and remember all of it, see what happens.
That said I feel like I would do more bad than good as there would be less good moments to present my virtue and awesomeness.
Thanx to Bookworm10 for the Sig.
Check out my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ThyrixSyx
Cockatrice: shadowkill
Rules Adviser
I feel so unbelievably nerdy saying this, but if it were that background for me and I had Kryptonian technology at my disposal, I'd probably just be a much more capitalistic version of Power Girl (which is fair enough game since "the powers of Superman" apply to any Kryptonian). You know, use the technology for profit.
But if I just woke up tomorrow with those powers, and no alien backstory to affect me, I'd just live the life of some kind of goddess and only do things for those who either worship or compensate me. What should I care about the moralities of a bunch of ants scurrying about as if their concerns are mine? I'm not so good a person that I can ignore human nature. In a nutshell, Neutral Evil—I wouldn't be set on imposing order, but I'd certainly be selfish enough to count as evil.
Sig by Sash of deviantART
FEAR THE SPEAR
ARSENAL F.C.
USA
Reminded me of this.
NFL player.
Imagine it - you'd be able to play any position on the field far better than any mere mortal, and without the risk of injury to yourself. All you'd have to do is resist the urge to throw opposing players into the endzone, and you'd have it MADE.
Never tell anyone about your powers, just quietly be the absolute best player of all time without even needing to practice.
Seriously, I can't imagine a single problem with this plan.
Either that or http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1976#comic
I really hope Superman doesnt read Ayn Rand. You put youself above humanity then blame your poor behavors as caving into your humanity. If you were really so far removed from the concerns of ant like humans, than I would hope you or any superman/women Could ignore human nature.
I would exploit super speed to keep my actions off the radar. Locate a unsettled island in the South Pacific, and build a Fortess of Solitude. I spend my days enjoying my powers and my time with family and friends. I would try not to Interfere unless another hero needed help.
Well, the way I see it is this: If it were the case that I as a human being suddenly woke up with Kryptonian powers, I'd still be human psychologically. But that degree of power would remove me from most human concerns. I'd certainly not be immune to the corrupting influence of power, so you get the case where I'd have a very human response to superhuman powers.
And I was serious about the autodeification thing. Being an actual goddess would be irresistible.
But don't you think that even after less than a season you'd get bored? Heck, even after a couple of games, don't you think you'd be going through the motions? About as exciting as playing against the computer on Madden on XBox360 at the easiest setting? 3 quarters into the first game, I'd already be wanting to be doing something else besides spending 2 hours in pads pretending I can't run 1000x faster, watching guys desperately, hopelessly trying to catch me, and seeing teammates get injured sacrificing their bodies to block for me. They're all excited, I'm just being fake about being excited, and I'm really just trying to "break the record" and "get the ring" without revealing that I have superpowers.
---
I think I might start out keeping it a secret, and just using my power for personal gain, under the radar... But there are so many ways that you can end up deviating from that little plan:
You're watching TV, and you decide that maybe saving some people from the tsunami, fixing the reactor... Or stopping some massacre somewhere would be a better use of the evening... And it is a RUSH! Saving lives in politically and morally unambiguous situations, your feel like a benevolent God. It's addictive.
But after a few months of cherrypicking morally unambiguous situations, your find yourself realizing that the world seems little better off, and that far bigger tragedies could be prevented if you just had the confidence in your conviction to do what you THINK is right. Take down Ghadafi? Topple the Ayatullahs?
You do so, and at some point you ☺☺☺☺ up big and you end up creating anarchy somewhere... A failed state that's entirely your fault... You see no way to fix it or stabilize it other than to reveal your powers and Put yourself in charge. Welcome to the monarchy... And responsibility... As many other dictatorships topple at the existence of a Godlike power on earth.
And you find yourself thinking: "playing around without responsibility was far easier and more enjoyable... But does great power come with great responsibility?"
And of course, even if you do manage to create a "better world" for some (worse for others) than the one you were born into, how do you create a "better world" that will survive your eventual death? and the contingencies for when you inevitably get old and demented, probably long before your body dies.
And as king of the world with superpowers, you know you're super, but maybe there is a poison out there that can kill you (every superman might have a kryptonite, right?) Maybe people will try to poison you... So would you become hopelessly paranoid and surround yourself with an entourage and security? Like an emperor of ancient China with a food "taster"? Hot and cold running supermodels, but mostly people too in awe of you to be really close? Only friends are your old friends. It's also a little like growing up in poverty and becoming a superstar billionaire.
And always the questions: "is the world really better off now? Do my people love me or fear me? Is there a God or an afterlife? I am so alone... How did it come to this?"
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Even though superpower should be a positive thing, it's hard to escape the problems that come with (1) the awesome responsibility to act on one's conscience and (2) the utter lack of accountability, which is bad for any human.
I think I'd spend at least the first year very secretive, and tell nobody except maybe my closest confidante (my wife) and we'd have to really discuss and bounce around what the best thing to do would be. Maybe eventually get other wise and educated people's input in private too. I'd probably pose the question on a gaming message board or two just to get ideas as well, maybe frame it as a theoretical question, though I'm really looking for advice on how I should... er, I mean "would" use and reveal my powers, *IF* I had them.
I think I'd probably end up doing something similar to this... up until the last sentence. If I wound up creating a mess like you describe here, I don't think I'd stick around to try and right the situation. I intervened because I thought it was the right thing to do, but it turned out not to be. If it would be an enormous hassle to try and govern the place single-handedly (and it sure sounds like a hassle), I'd probably walk away and let the situation work itself out somehow. After a major disaster like that, I'd probably back off and not intervene in major world affairs anymore. I really don't want to rule the world, I'd just like to enjoy myself and try to make the world a little better for those around me.
Honestly, if I had the ability to permanently remove my superpowers, I would probably do that at the outset.... maybe after making enough money to be set for life.
EDH - UWGrand Arbiter Agustin IV
UBW Oloro, Ageless Ascetic
Modern - Mono U tron / Polymorph / NFTW (ninja for the win)GR tron GR
Buy All the Dual Lands!!!
Buy All the fetches!
Create tons of EDH Decks!!!
Eat Nothing but Oats!! (LOL, not true)
Train MMA!!!
Marry My girlfriend!!!
Get her Pregnant only Once!
Teach my Son/Daughter Sports and magic cards!!!
Continue my legacy son!!!/Daughter!!
Of course, that means I will end up doing things that may be completely morally reprehensible to me. In that case I simply won't do it and make up some excuse. Sure, I'll get rid of those squatters for you, but don't expect me to actually _knowingly_ hurt innocent people. Since I never revealed the full extent of my abilities to my boss, I'm sure I can get away with it.
Beyond that, I'll likely live the way I do now. I'll amuse myself with x-ray vision (provided it doesn't cause cancer or something), maybe squeeze a coal into a diamond if things get rough, or fly (hidden) through traffic, but otherwise I won't be using my powers much. No using super strength to become a sports star, or blinging myself, or any of that sort of thing.
"Sometimes, the situation is outracing a threat, sometimes it's ignoring it, and sometimes it involves sideboarding in 4x Hope//Pray." --Doug Linn
I mean, even if you decided to be completely "NON-POLITICAL", and limit yourself to a moral code of only doing the most non-political, morally unambiguous things possible, at what point should your workday stop? 8 hours? 9 hours? Should you take weekends off? ( of course, It's a bit analogous to any of us who have talent and power to do good acts... if my spending 1 more hour really saves 3 more kids, who can I justify not working 10 hour days? Or 12? Same with charitable money. If 1 life is going to be saved by giving $10 more a month, what is the cutoff? )
How can you justify taking an extra hour break, when 1000 people you could have saved will die in an hour?
It reminds me of that old Sam Kinison bit, where he's talking about Jesus, and how once word gets out that you can heal, your life is no longer your own... Same would do all these impressions of lepers and blind people limping into the bathroom after him, screaming "OOOOOH JESUS! HEEAAL ME!!!! OOOOH OOOOOH!!" Really tasteless, but funny.
Heavy, heavy burden. Not a happy life to be the work-horse of mankind. Loved or reviled, the focused attention of 7 billion people must be overwhelming. Abused children and housewives, victims of home invasion, would be praying for you to come save them (and if you superhearing is part of this powers package, you'd hear them... )
I think I'd do the same thing but I'd also be the greatest boxer and MMA fighter ever in between games and seasons. I'd also "train" in secret and be very private so people can just wonder why I'm so awesome rather than try to figure it out. For this to work though you'd have to be able to turn your powers off at will so you could pass blood drug tests (Superman can't get his blood drawn cause needles aren't going to penetrate his skin).
I'd also do some of the usual Superman stuff though. I just wouldn't let people see me do it.
2. Build a corporate empire by pulling a "Lex Luther" creating advanced technology
3. Go "John Galt" and create a project to terraform and colonize Mars
4. Expand my life span as much as possible at worst become what Superman became at the end of All Star Superman
5. Terraform Venus
Three worlds for humanity to live on, more than enough to ensure a continuation of the species and enough nations for people to go to different areas to find their own way.
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
Is there any reason we don't do this already? Couldn't we just load it all up onto a rocket and shoot it to the sun?
Because if it goes boom radioactive material goes everywhere, and after several decades just when we were starting to really humor more nuclear power Japan has an accident and we go back to NIMBY.
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
I've always think that you can solve ALL your problems with enough violence. Is just we don't always have enough violence, so we take ways that more feasible and practical. But being Superman just gives me enough violence-power to do as I please. That would make me corrupt.
[Clan Flamingo]
The clan for custom card creators!