You’re given a choice
between two superpowers–
invisibility or x-ray vision.
Once chosen,
you can’t turn them off.
Which one do you pick?
When you’re invisible, you can go wherever you want. You are a living phantom–a ghost with a pulse. But you are also alone and completely isolated. If something were to happen to you, no one would notice. And unless you also have invisible clothes (which isn’t likely), you’re going to be naked and exposed whenever you try to sneak into someplace out of normal folk’s reach. Better hope it isn’t cold or drafty.
With x-ray vision, the secrets of the world around you cease to exist. You can spot dangers no one else would ever notice in time. You always know everything that’s going on around you. But will that knowledge lead to action? Just because you can see through a wall, doesn’t mean you can get past it. And don’t secrets sometimes make the world safer and more comfortable? Wouldn’t it suck to end up like this guy:
Both have their benefits, both have their problems. Still, something tells me most of you are going to overwhelmingly pick one over the other.
Already thought about this one. Marginally better to have X-ray vision than be invisible.
One major roblem with being invisible is that it would make you blind. If light rays pass right through you without absorption or reflection, then your retinas would get no light and all you would see is darkness. Even though you’re blind, you would still need to be extra vigilant to keep people from bumping into you, and every crosswalk would be a life-or-death situation. You can’t see other people and no one can see you, which is the worst of both worlds.
I wouldn’t even flinch when I’d choose X-Ray vision. It might take some training to master, and it would depend on if I’m constantly seeing full depth, or if the depth can change. I could learn to isolate what I want to see. Frankly, I’m one of those who is more interested in knowing a disturbing truth than being blissfully unaware. But man…Imagine a Casino! Knowing exactly who has what cards. I could control whether or not I win, and do so based on getting a large profit without also being suspicious. I could get my MD and save tons… Read more »
I guess I would have to pick x-ray vision. As a man in today’s society, I am already invisible.
Beat me to it Robert.
X-ray vision hands down. If I had this superpower, the NSA and the CIA and FBI would beg me to join their teams. I imagine it would be lucrative. I’d be able to see all concealed weapons. I could diagnose people if they had bone breaks or fractures. I’d know if I had rats or squirrels living in my walls. I’d be able to spot electrical fires before they got out of control. I’d know if my creepy neighbor buried his wife in the backyard. Which reminds me: I would probably want to avoid cemeteries most of the time, although… Read more »
While both are in the creepy-voyeuristic realm of super powers to me, I think I’d go with invisibility, so I could listen in on conversations I’m not supposed to hear. But that’s kind of creepy too, isn’t it? Well….shit. :-/