Superpowers...

Keeping recent events in mind, I think this is a topic that I want to "think out aloud".. It's a topic that I think quite often about.. thoughts about so many "what if"s and many more "if only"s... and over the years, as I grew older (not necessarily wiser), my thoughts and perspectives changed and eventually, my take on which superpower will win in the end...

Okay, I just realized that some might start to think this is a political topic and that I am going to drone about how US can't last for long and how we should be careful about China's tremendous growth and the sort... I am sorry to disappoint you but I am not that serious kind of person.. I am going to leave such a task to my friend the wannabe economist and just quibble about which superpower is the best to have.. Yes, I mean super powers like super-human strength, flying, invisibility, super-speed, laser visions etc..

And yes, I really am jobless enough to write about it.. But you have to admit, it's a fantasy that everyone of us has had at one point or the other.. And I WILL admit that I have prayed (and at times tried to offer bribes too) to get one super power or the other.. and thankfully, I didn't get any because I would always end up changing my mind over which power I want...

So here's a look over some of the powers that I thought would be awesome and then thought would not be of any use... Ofcourse, I am not considering mutant powers coz they are actually random mutations and very hard to repeat and besides, if I can mutate then so can someone else.. No, it has to be a super power that I get by mistake... if not for the awesomeness, then atleast for the sake of uniqueness..



First, a list of powers that were not even on my list:

• Super-strength - I am not a body buff and Arnie (a la pumping iron) is probably the only guy on whom those kind of muscles look good.. everyone else just look huge and abnormal.. besides, we all know what The Thing (Fantastic Four) goes through for having super strength.
• Super-Sense - Super sense is again of no use unless you have any other power that you can use along.. Think about it, what's the point of having super hearing or super sight if you can't actually do anything with what you see/ hear.. and with so much filth and stink around, I definitely don't want super smell!!!
• Super breath - I am very prone to cold so this is off the list :P
• Elasticity - I know Richards is the head of Fantastic Four, but somehow I never really fancied being able to stretch myself.. besides I already am stretching myself at work and for others.. so don't really need that power specifically ;)
• Ability to enter someone's subconscious - Think of inception.. you can enter anyone's mind but the world created there is yours.. you can do many things to a person... or for that matter, with the person ;) and that's its downfall.. this is not mind control.. just controlling the mental environment.. and you need to do this one person at a time.. so not really useful.. unless, all you want to do is fool around..

Okay, now for THE LIST: (Drums and Trumpets pls!!)

1. Flight: This is by far the most talked about super power. And everyone wants it.. And so did I. You could go wherever you want, no more traffic, no more petrol worries & no need for passport or visa! Okay, this one seemed cool in the beginning when I saw superman, but with so many airplanes, pollution and satellite tracking your every moment now a days, flying is no longer a good enough power unless you have something else too... besides, you also have to worry about high tech weapons... and flying in the night or cold air is a big problem.. so unless I have some other awesome power, just flight is not something I would  want anymore. I will quote Russel Peters here and say "BE A MAN!" stay & fight, don't think of flying away! 
2. Human Torch: The ability to turn into a man of fire? Wow! Now that's cool.. er.. hot.. er.. okay, whatever.. but then, there is no point of that coz you have to be careful about what you wear or what you touch, where you live and most importantly how much control you have over it! besides, worrying about getting caught in the rain is not worth it.. and now a days, you also have to worry about fire extinguishers and other man made super coolers.. besides, it ll attract too much attention, the whole point of having a super power is to be discreet about it!
3. Mind Control: Mind control is awesome.. you can make anyone do anything.. but it's too much of a power.. if you could make anyone do anything, it kills the fun of doing it.. I mean, forcing someone to do something is okay as long as its still their will.. but when there is no question of will, there is no sense of accomplishment or for that matter, any real challenge (unless you meet a complete imbecile!)
   
4. Ability to walk through walls & stuff: This is one of fav ones.. think of the possibilities.. all the good things and not so good things that can be done with this power ;) You can enter a bank and stop a robbery by giving out the details of where the hostages are kept.. if you are locked anywhere or tied down, you can just walk out of both... no one can shoot or try and kill you in any way (unless ofcourse they do it discreetly like using a sniper or something and that too only when you are not aware coz all other times, you can just let the things pass through you) so this is by far the best power to have.. except when you walk out a wall and realize you have walked out of the building itself and you were on the 10th floor or something or you walk INTO a mountain or through a ship into the water... okay, I can't really think of any problem with this power... so this is not really off my list :P
5. Teleportation: Correction - this is my fav power.. forget the power to fly.. who needs to fly and get caught when you can teleport and get away with things.. teleport to any of the wonders of the world, the places where not any man can go (including celebrity homes :P).. the possibilities are limitless.. this has all the plus of the ability to walk through stuff but is just way cooler and more options... ofcourse, you can still teleport into solid rock or into outer space by mistake.. but heck, I am willing to take that risk..
6. Invisibility: This is one of my most wanted powers.. invisibility.. the best power for doing good things as well as.. ahem.. you get the point.. you can almost always get away with things.. and even with heat sensors and micro particles and other such things that invisibility cannot overcome, I still liked this power.. until recently... some recent occurrences made me realize that being invisible is more of a curse than a wish.. to be there and do things and not being noticed at all is probably the worst thing that can happen to you... what's more worse than to be overlooked, unnoted, omitted or neglected.. think about it - you are right there and ppl won't know about it.. you would do things and no one would realize you did it... even the most noble and selfless super hero wants some recognition... besides, will you really be able to hear & see stuff that ppl would do in your presence thinking you are not there? probably you should get temporary invisibility just to know what ppl talk/ think about you so that you know who are the ppl who really care and those who just seem to care..

So, no power is actually worth having or has any advantage in the long run.. atleast, not on its own.. But having the ability to teleport wherever you want to, when being invisible - now that is something my mind would just love to be able to do ;) 


And a super power that some of my friends have:

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