What Paranormal Power Would You Choose?

[The Atheist]

Thanks to this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=95388), I wondered what kind of paranormal power people would choose to have if paranormal power actually existed. (May have been done before, bad luck.)

Personally, I'm going to have to think about it. Telekinesis appeals, but... Carrie. Telepathy appealed momentarily, but do I really want to know what you're thinking? Medium? Having dead blokes come and talk to me, no thanks! Fortune telling? Great; "You're going to get cancer of the bowel and die screaming." Nope. Astrology? Uranus is troubling you? I could have become a proctologist and said the same thing [phonetically]. Curses & spells? See: Carrie. God? Yeah right. I really want someone to compete for the loud mouth prize.

Astral travel it is. Never mind Uranus, how are the Pleaides tonight?

Poll now open. Apologies to Buzzlightyear, et al, but I chose not use the Poll option:

All of these things actually exist.

[JoeTheJuggler]

If I could have any actual paranormal power--any at all?

Anything that I could use to improve the lot of humankind? Anything that could be used to gain a greater understanding of things, perhaps to help with solving some of the worst problems facing us?

Anything at all?

It'd definitely be the power to bend spoons with my mind.

And keys.

Sometimes.

[Puppycow]

I chose telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, and some other ability. Other abilities I might like would be the ability to fly, X-ray vision, etc.

Dowsing would be too boring. I suppose if I could do that the first thing I would do would be apply for the JREF million dollar challange. But after that, it doesn't seem like something I would have much use for in my life. I've never had to search for water underground in my life so far.

[rsaavedra]

Being able to travel any length of time into the past as a completely passive, unnoticeable observer of any place in the world, returning unscathed with the knowledge of what was observed. Similar to what Harry Potter and Dumbledore were able to do through the "pensieve" but not limited to specific personal memories, unlimited in time and space.

This paranormal power would allow someone to tell exactly what happened whenever/wherever in the past. This is the "Super-Witness" power :p

Would be nice if more than one people had this power, so that there would always be a way to independently verify other witnesses' report on whatever they have witnessed.

Witnesses shouldn't be able to "see" other witnesses while witnessing the past.

I can write quite a few more rules of how this power would work, might even write a book about this at some point in my life :p

[grayman]

I guess if I were a telepath I would enter the poker games at TAM.



Plus, I'd be able to find out what "NOTHING" means when I ask the wife, "What's wrong?".

[The Atheist]

Plus, I'd be able to find out what "NOTHING" means when I ask the wife, "What's wrong?".

That's odd. That's precisely one of the reasons I wouldn't choose telepathy!

[Meri]

I have to go with telekinesis. Not only could I be even lazier, but I could throw things at people and never be blamed for it. Also, of course, I could win 1 million dollars.

[Kilgore Trout]

If these things actually exist, that means other people have them too? And how effective are these things? Is telekenesis just being able to make a scrap of paper spin on a needle? Or hurl a brick at someone? Is cursing someone limited to an ingrown toenail or keeling over with a wave of the hand?

I would have little faith in mankind and I'd bet there would be a number of people that would use their superpower like a weapon, so I'd take the more powerful of either curse or telekenesis, for self defense if nothing else.

If I'm the only one with the power, or the rest are weak enough to not pose a threat? Astral projection, for the sheer entertainment value, both terrestrial and interstellar.

[Unalienable]

Definitely not precognition. I already have precognition and it sucks. Most worthless "power" you can have, because even though you know what's going to happen, you can't stop it. And the details are always just hazy enough to prevent you from profiting from the knowledge. Some sort of cosmic law which prevents us precognitives from cashing in on our power. What a ripoff.

[thatguywhojuggles]

precognition... wait around for one of those multiple hundred million dollar lottery jackpots, win it. Use the money to teach the masses the scientific method.

ETA
Because if I really had precognition, there would be a scientific explanation for it... we'd still need science to explain the rest of the natural world.

[The Atheist]

Definitely not precognition. I already have precognition and it sucks. Most worthless "power" you can have, because even though you know what's going to happen, you can't stop it. And the details are always just hazy enough to prevent you from profiting from the knowledge. Some sort of cosmic law which prevents us precognitives from cashing in on our power. What a ripoff.

Damn, that must hurt, eh?

[GodMark2]

Thanks to this thread (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=95388), I wondered what kind of paranormal power people would choose to have if paranormal power actually existed. (May have been done before, bad luck.)

Personally, I'm going to have to think about it. Telekinesis appeals, but... Carrie. Telepathy appealed momentarily, but do I really want to know what you're thinking? Medium? Having dead blokes come and talk to me, no thanks! Fortune telling? Great; "You're going to get cancer of the bowel and die screaming." Nope. Astrology? Uranus is troubling you? I could have become a proctologist and said the same thing [phonetically]. Curses & spells? See: Carrie. God? Yeah right. I really want someone to compete for the loud mouth prize.

Astral travel it is. Never mind Uranus, how are the Pleaides tonight?

Poll now open. Apologies to Buzzlightyear, et al, but I chose not use the Poll option:

All of these things actually exist.

Carrie? Just because you're telekenitic doesn't mean you'll have a psychotically religious mother and hunted by the government (or was that another telekenitic?). Telekenisis ! = phycosis.

"You're going to get cancer of the bowel and die screaming."? Best get your living in now, and don't worry about amassing debt, you won't be around to have to pay it (though any kids you may have might not like that attitude)

Any of those powers would be great, in some way. Except for that whole 'god existing'. I mean, what does that get me? Do I have to beg him for special favors, and if I get it slightly wrong, does he punish me for trying? Or is he a wish-washy God that gives anyone the same gifts, but they all suck? I'd rather have the power in my own hands than have to rely on a third party.

[SusanB-M1]

'None of the above' is my choice!

[arthwollipot]

"Some other".

I'd have to go for the ability to become invisible at will. That would be so cool.

[shalomsteph]

"Some other".

I'd have to go for the ability to become invisible at will. That would be so cool.

Me too!! Think of the fun we could have!! Not to mention free flights, concerts, movies, famous people's houses...all that stuff!

[fagin]

Flying, fun, useful and doesn't infringe on the privacy of others. Except for the odd flight over Pamela Anderson's house.

[shalomsteph]

Flying, fun, useful and doesn't infringe on the privacy of others. Except for the odd flight over Pamela Anderson's house.

I guess I came out of anesthesia once and told the nurse I had been flying "like Superman". She asked why I wasn't flying like "superwoman" and I said, "Because men get paid more."

I don't remember any of it, but my family swears to it.

I DO fly in dreams, though. It is fun.

[buzz lightyear]

Poll now open. Apologies to Buzzlightyear, et al, but I chose not use the Poll option:

.

??????????????? I'm hip to the apology TA, but what is it for?
Although I realise that part of your anger management is to repent for your sins and you have really been a good boy lately, this is a bit weird.

Also, all this talk about wanting to astral travel and communicating with dead folks,....you been drinking again?

[Cuddles]

I'd go with telekinesis. Pretty much the same reasons as TA for not wanting the other ones but, as GodMark said, telepathy doesn't necessarily make you psychotic. And if it did, at least it would be more fun than being psychotic and not telekinetic.

[RenaissanceBiker]

I went with "God and Heaven Existing." If I had the power to cause God to exist, I would simply never use it.

[Bethany]

I went with telepathy, and I'd probably end up regretting it, but I am curious what other people's minds are like. Hopefully I'd be able to shut it off at will, too, or it would really suck. And although I am overly curious about what other people think, I have to say that I am not curious about the future, so precognition would be my last choice on that list. You'd probably end up spending all your time running around and trying to save people from the inevitable.

[Macoy]

I'm going for "Auto-telekinesis", whereby the next time I am waiting to turn across the road into my drive in a 30 mph limit zone and some idiot comes around the corner at 60 I can immediately send them back to their point of departure, using all the fuel in their tank.

This can also work on everyone who carves me up on motorways and any other road. Or tailgaters. Or buses that jump red lights. Or though the latter will be a little unfair on the passengers.

[timhau]

Precognition for all the state lottery numbers for the remainder of the year.

Either that, or the Jedi mind control trick.

[tkingdoll]

I choose 'being able to make street lamps go on or off at will'. Sadly, it wasn't a poll option :(

[tuc0]

Damn! If "paranormal power actually existed" then lots of people would have them... I want to be the only one! But since I'm not I'll take the ability to curse people

And I curse all the gullible people in the world never to change and never to start using their brains"
Hmm I wonder how that is going to work out...

[El Greco]

I think I'd go with "God & Heaven", especially since you didn't add "Devil & Hell". It would be fun to exist for ever and perhaps have access to all the cool movies and video games of the year 250,004,451.

Precognition would also be good but only if I can affect the future. Otherwise I'd go for telepathy.

I'd also like the ability to induce orgasms in women just by (but not ONLY by) thinking about it.

[Fnord]

My first choice would be telekinesis -- I could totally pwn Halo 3!

My second choice would be The Shadow's (http://www.mysterynet.com/shadow/) "Ability To Cloud Men's Minds." I could be standing right in front of someone and never register in their perception.

[eir_de_scania]

Telekinesis, absolutely. It would simplify my life a lot, as I have arthritis in my hands. :)

Oh, and I like it to be of the "Accio" kind from the Harry Potter books. Finally I wouldn't have to search in vain for my reading glasses!

[JonnyFive]

I chose telekinesis, astral travel, god & heaven, & "some other." For some other I'd add: the ability to fly, the ability to shift through time and space, the ability to create reality from my will, immortality, invulnerability, and the ability to make myself forget selected information (otherwise eternity is going to be pretty boring).

But not the ability to predict the future or read minds. Less fun that way.

Basically, it'd be pretty swell to be a god that can selectively forget that he's been kicking around for six hundred million years and has pretty much done everything.

Good times, good times.

[JoeTheJuggler]

For all you who said telekinesis, what if using telekinesis required as much effort to do the same work as doing it through normal means would require?

[Fnord]

For all you who said telekinesis, what if using telekinesis required as much effort to do the same work as doing it through normal means would require?

Zero sum gain.

Fall back on clouding people's minds so that they don't perceive my existance even though I'm right in front of them.

[ThatSoundAgain]

"Some other".

First choice, being able to morph into any form I choose (however large or small). Could really get some fun social insights that way, and even put some vigilante champion for justice time in if I feel like it. (If this power is too complex, substitute with plain invisibility.)

Second choice, "computer whisperer", understanding current and future computers at a level where I could top the latest blockbuster game by staying in a few nights typing a long row of hex numbers.

Third choice, astral projection. I very nearly just clicked this option, as it sounds like fun. The others are more useful, though - I'm too social to not want my hypothetical power to elevate me in the view of others.

[Madalch]

Fall back on clouding people's minds so that they don't perceive my existance even though I'm right in front of them.
That's over-rated. That's how girls treated me all through high school.

[genesplicer]

I would like the ability to teleport anywhere flawlessly. Incorporated into this idea is the concept of distance viewing (So you can make sure the coast is clear before you teleport into an area) and an instant panic return to a safe zone, if something goes wrong. I also said flawless. I would like the stuff I'm wearing and holding to go with me, not to mention all my body parts.

Nothing worse than teleporting somewhere only to realize you are naked, missing a limb and have silverware stuck to your forehead...

[Fnord]

That's over-rated. That's how girls treated me all through high school.

Maybe you have a latent psychic talent!

Maybe I did too! It would explain why people know that I'm in a room before they enter.

"... body odor ..." -- As if!

;)

[schlitt]

Hey TA,

under the "other" section, could i choose to be magic? Like a Genie that can grant wishes?
With that single ability you would have all of the others :)

[TX50]

"other"; I want mastery of "The Force" - especially the Jedi mind trick and
Darth Vader's telekinetic strangle. :D

[alfaniner]

"other"; I want mastery of "The Force" - especially the Jedi mind trick and
Darth Vader's telekinetic strangle. :D

I'll just go about my business.


Moving along...

[The Atheist]

'None of the above' is my choice!

The sure sign of a woman who has everything already!

I'm going for "Auto-telekinesis", whereby the next time I am waiting to turn across the road into my drive in a 30 mph limit zone and some idiot comes around the corner at 60 I can immediately send them back to their point of departure, using all the fuel in their tank.

That's a great idea. I expect you'll be in high demand.

And I curse all the gullible people in the world never to change and never to start using their brains"
Hmm I wonder how that is going to work out...

Holy crap! You did it!

Apply for Randi's mio immediately!

For all you who said telekinesis, what if using telekinesis required as much effort to do the same work as doing it through normal means would require?

Nope. You can design your own power, so it's going to be no work at all, just think and it's done. Ah, but that would make it work for some. Hard luck.

I would like the ability to teleport anywhere flawlessly.

But Uri Geller can already do that!

Hey TA,

under the "other" section, could i choose to be magic? Like a Genie that can grant wishes?
With that single ability you would have all of the others :)

Absolutely, you can!

I'll put my order in for aperitif immediately. Think leggy blondes.

[buzz lightyear]

All of these things actually exist.

Of course they do TA,
And since the response to this thread has been so enthusiastic I tell you what I will do.
For just 5 easy payments of $499.99 you too can enroll in the Buzz Lightyear "ACADEMY OF MYSTIC ARTS".
Act now and receive your complimentary "Randi is a fraud " tee shirt.

[JoeTheJuggler]

You should all reconsider the power I mentioned earlier: to be able to bend spoons and keys with your mind, on occasion, when you're not too tired, and when not too many people are watching very closely.

Just think about it!

With an awesome power like that you could. . . .

well, you'd be able to. . . . .

that is, it'd be possible to. . . .

[JoeTheJuggler]

Nope. You can design your own power, so it's going to be no work at all, just think and it's done. Ah, but that would make it work for some. Hard luck.

That's why I said "what if"--would you still want the power if it was work to use it?

When I was very young, I remember thinking that all these PSI powers could be real, but that it only makes sense that it'd require effort. I thought it'd be like learning how to flex a muscle that you didn't know you had before. I remember sitting on a chair trying to move an object across the room and trying to exert as much effort as it would take to move the object with my hand if I were standing next to the object.

I was like 10 years old though, but at least I understood that for an object to be moved, you'd have to do some work.

On a related note: where did the energy to do all the things Superman did come from? Surely lifting a car and flying with it is still a lot of work and would require a LOT of energy. Shouldn't he be eating hi-caloric foods virtually non stop?

Also, I always wondered why Superman had big bulging muscles. His super strength wasn't the result of going to the gym. Surely his weren't the biggest and bulgiest muscles either, so why didn't he just have an average build?

[fagin]

That's why I said "what if"--would you still want the power if it was work to use it?

When I was very young, I remember thinking that all these PSI powers could be real, but that it only makes sense that it'd require effort. I thought it'd be like learning how to flex a muscle that you didn't know you had before. I remember sitting on a chair trying to move an object across the room and trying to exert as much effort as it would take to move the object with my hand if I were standing next to the object.

I was like 10 years old though, but at least I understood that for an object to be moved, you'd have to do some work.

On a related note: where did the energy to do all the things Superman did come from? Surely lifting a car and flying with it is still a lot of work and would require a LOT of energy. Shouldn't he be eating hi-caloric foods virtually non stop?

Also, I always wondered why Superman had big bulging muscles. His super strength wasn't the result of going to the gym. Surely his weren't the biggest and bulgiest muscles either, so why didn't he just have an average build?

I seem to remember that originally Superman was just very strong. He used to 'leap tall buildings' but didn't fly. That came later.

[sinclairmcevoy]

Telekinesis. Know that guy who lets his dog poop on your lawn and leaves it there? Now he can take a souvenir home with him. Or, BACK FROM WHENCE YOU CAME FOUL TURD!
I think a "chocolate bar" in the pocket would be pretty funny though.

[JoeTheJuggler]

I seem to remember that originally Superman was just very strong. He used to 'leap tall buildings' but didn't fly. That came later.

But that strength wasn't because of large muscles. (If so, surely humans with much bigger muscles could do the same.)

Sorry folks, I keep getting this thread and the super-power thread confused because they touch on similar ideas.

[Hokulele]

I want a free-energy device. Just a small one would be fine.

[The Atheist]

Telekinesis. Know that guy who lets his dog poop on your lawn and leaves it there? Now he can take a souvenir home with him. Or, BACK FROM WHENCE YOU CAME FOUL TURD!
I think a "chocolate bar" in the pocket would be pretty funny though.

Great idea - that's one of my pet hates. More so when one of the kids steps in it.

But that strength wasn't because of large muscles. (If so, surely humans with much bigger muscles could do the same.)

Sorry folks, I keep getting this thread and the super-power thread confused because they touch on similar ideas.

No matter, a mod will come along and split all of the wrong posts off into a merged thread in social issues.

I want a free-energy device. Just a small one would be fine.

Done! (http://steorn.com/)

[petra10]

Definitley I would like to predict the future if only to win the lotto.Yes I would use my power for my own selfish reasons.

[The Atheist]

Definitley I would like to predict the future if only to win the lotto.Yes I would use my power for my own selfish reasons.

Well, that's the whole point!

I'm impressed that nobody's gone with invisibility and the Australian women's netball team yet.

[CLD]

Gosh, I'm shocked no one chose Paranormal Urination (the ability to cause others to void their bladders with the power of your mind).

[ThatSoundAgain]

Nah, CLD, just bring your theremin and hit the brown note (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_note).

[arthwollipot]

That's over-rated. That's how girls treated me all through high school.

That's how they still treat me...

I'm impressed that nobody's gone with invisibility and the Australian women's netball team yet.

Well, I went for invisibility. I didn't say what I'd be using it for...

[The Atheist]

Well, I went for invisibility. I didn't say what I'd be using it for...

I saw that, but I have a special interest in the Aussie netball girls, so PM me if it works out!

[Cuddles]

For all you who said telekinesis, what if using telekinesis required as much effort to do the same work as doing it through normal means would require?

Yes. Flying might still take effort, but without telekinesis I wouldn't be able to do it at all. Levitating somthing might be just as hard as holding it up, but without it I can only hold a couple of things at a time. And so on. Just because it takes a bit of effort doesn't mean you couldn't still manage some pretty cool stuff. Who needs invisibility when you can make people's underwear jump a foot to the left?

[Normal Dude]

Who needs invisibility when you can make people's underwear jump a foot to the left?

Sounds like you weren't invited to "those sort of parties."

[Hokulele]

Done! (http://steorn.com/)


Fine. I want a free-energy device that works.

[The Atheist]

Theirs does.

I saw it on a blog. Must be true.

[ksbluesfan]

I would want omnipotence. I would create a rock so heavy that I couldn't lift it. Then I'd lift it just to make you mad.

(Thanks Chuck Norris!)

[JoeTheJuggler]

Yes. Flying might still take effort, but without telekinesis I wouldn't be able to do it at all. Levitating somthing might be just as hard as holding it up, but without it I can only hold a couple of things at a time. And so on. Just because it takes a bit of effort doesn't mean you couldn't still manage some pretty cool stuff. Who needs invisibility when you can make people's underwear jump a foot to the left?

Good point. Just requiring effort for TK doesn't make it a deal breaker.

I'm sure a lot of hand/arm amputees and people with spinal cord injuries wouldn't mind the ability to pick things up even if required as much work.

[Hokulele]

Theirs does.

I saw it on a blog. Must be true.


In that case, you buy one and have it shipped out to me. I will plug my computer into it and let you know how it all works out. US 110 please, none of that European wiring crap.

[PixyMisa]

I want to be able to change shape. In particular, I want to be able to turn into a cat at bedtime. Who needs expensive mattresses when you can be comfortable anywhere?

[Hokulele]

I want to be able to change shape. In particular, I want to be able to turn into a cat at bedtime. Who needs expensive mattresses when you can be comfortable anywhere?


Are you just changing shape, or are you losing mass as well? Maybe you would be a very dense cat?

[PixyMisa]

Are you just changing shape, or are you losing mass as well? Maybe you would be a very dense cat?
Or a very large one. :)

I've decided that being able to selectively transfer mass to and from a transdimensional storage area comes free with the shapechange talent. So transform into a cat! Schwooop! Sleep sleep sleep. Wake up, transform back into human - minus that second slice of cheesecake.

The only problem now is this terrible craving for tuna...

[arthwollipot]

Just make sure that you retrieve your clothes from that transdimensional storage area, or you could be very embarrasssed when you wake up. Particularly if you do the very cat-like thing of sleeping in a public area.