Dear LPG readers,

I recently read an article from the LPG archive and it left me day dreaming in the middle of the night.  I think that day dreaming is one of the superpowers that most pensioners develop as they get older and perhaps the power to sleep all day and be awake for far too much of the night is one that many perfect without even trying.    Anyway it was the middle of the night and I had nothing else to do but a bit of midnight surfing.  

The post that I found offered thoughts on choosing an alter ego and my imagination does not need much stimulation when it is half asleep.  I got me thinking about what superpower I would choose if you could only have one and my mind went into overdrive.  It first thought that immortality might be good but I don’t think that I would be very good at watching all the good friends that I have made popping their clogs without wondering what happens next.  I think that I would eventually get bored of having to meet and make new best friends after a while. So I shelved that one.  

I then decided that it might be fun to be able to reverse time whenever the fancy took you, as long as that power included being able to do a bit of rearranging while you put it on hold.  I thought of all the good I could do by invoking a few of those ‘what if issues’ that I am so aware of now; the ones that, armed with the hindsight I have now, I could have orchestrated better. But then it occurred to me that so many things done with good intentions end up being used adversely no matter how many times you try to reverse and change their outcomes, and no matter how personal you keep your alterations they will have untold impacts on the rest of the world (at this point the movie, ‘Back to the Future’ came to mind), so perhaps I should leave all the destiny in the world to the powers that be.
 

A that juncture, I got a bit fed up with my own answers and opinions so, in the absence of someone else to ask (unless I wanted my head bitten off after waking my other half to ask her), I decided that the internet might have a little wisdom to share.  I thought that an A. I. opinion might be worth looking at so I asked… 

‘If only one superpower were on offer, which would be the best to choose?’

The unedited answer was very diplomatic and follows…

‘Ooooh, love this question. Just one superpower, huh? That makes it spicy. The “best” one depends on your goals, but let’s break down a few top contenders and then I’ll hit you with what might be the actual best overall pick.
________________________________________
 Top  5 Superpowers (With Perks & Pitfalls)
1. Teleportation
•    Perks: Instant travel, save time/money, no traffic ever again.
•    Pitfalls: Maybe not useful in combat unless you can also react fast.
2. Time Manipulation
•    Perks: Pause, rewind, fast-forward life? Insane power. Fix mistakes. Win every argument.
•    Pitfalls: Can get morally gray or mentally overwhelming fast. Butterfly effect?
3. Mind Reading / Telepathy
•    Perks: Know people’s true intentions. Win at poker. Be unbeatable in negotiations.
•    Pitfalls: You might not want to hear what people are really thinking.
4. Immortality / Eternal Youth
•    Perks: Never die, never age. See the future unfold.
•    Pitfalls: Watch everyone you love fade. Could get real lonely.
5. Shapeshifting
•    Perks: Ultimate disguise, catfish level 1000, fit into any society.
•    Pitfalls: Identity crisis? Plus, do you really stay yourself?
6. Super Intelligence
•    Perks: Solve every problem. Invent tech, cure diseases, rule the world.
•    Pitfalls: Could feel isolated. Might make life... boring?
________________________________________
 Best Overall Pick: Time Manipulation (with limits)
It’s just way too powerful. Even low-level time control (like being able to rewind 30 seconds) gives you god-tier life hacks. No awkward convos, no missed buses, no failing tests.
BUT — if that feels like cheating or too OP...
Runner-Up: Teleportation
Everyday usefulness, low ethical complexity, super fun. It’s freedom in its purest form.
________________________________________

What vibe are you going for though—power, peace, chaos, fun? That might tip the scales.

I found this answer very specific and comprehensive, and in spite of its eventual suggestion, I was left no nearer to making a choice than before my latest best friend, A I and I started the conversation.
I have come to the conclusion that I am better off the way I am and I noted the very diplomatic way that my electronic advisor answered my question.  The only other thing left to say is that the virtual reply was so long that I nodded off while reading it.

Perhaps that is one of the ultimate reasons for such an introduction if you have become a bit of an insomniac… 

EM, Downham

EM shares the post that started his train of thought…

(►►►)