Telekinesis is the best super power

[Gryffindorian]

I think that would be rather risky unless you have considerable medical knowledge. You would probably end up seriously malformed otherwise.

Doesn't Jean Grey manipulate matter at the atomic level? Maybe I was thinking of Kes on Voyager. TK would be my first choice, having the ability to even superheat, crush, or destroy objects with mere thoughts.

That's Psychokenesis.
It's basically the ability of "whatever you think you can do, you can." Jean has the ability through the Phoenix, Kes has in naturally.

Cable & Franklin Richards are psychokenetic

Interesting that you mentioned psychokinesis. I've also thought about "psionic energy" as a form of telekinesis, but I'm not even sure how one would define "psionic."

 

[propita]

About 'mind control' - you don't need to conntrol all the population.


Fame? You can easily become a powerful figure, or a movie star, or any other extremely famous person if you want to.

So THAT's the explanation behind Paris Hilton!!

 

[exodus]

Doesn't Jean Grey manipulate matter at the atomic level? Maybe I was thinking of Kes on Voyager. TK would be my first choice, having the ability to even superheat, crush, or destroy objects with mere thoughts.

That's Psychokenesis.
It's basically the ability of "whatever you think you can do, you can." Jean has the ability through the Phoenix, Kes has in naturally.

Cable & Franklin Richards are psychokenetic

Interesting that you mentioned psychokinesis. I've also thought about "psionic energy" as a form of telekinesis, but I'm not even sure how one would define "psionic."

My understanding is that is has to do with mindbased abilities. I think even Invisible Woman falls under the label of psionic.

 

[mswood]

mswood

WE ARE NOT LIVING IN A COMIC BOOK!

Earthquakes? Tornados? Cataclisms? Plane accidents?
These don't happen on a daily basis, as one would expect after reading comic books.
The ability to escape such phenomena is useless simply because it is almost certain you won't encounter them. Only a small minority ever do - and only once.

What you want for yourself (with telekinesis) is the life of a paranoid bank robber who can barely sleep for fear of being captured, who hides for fear of being seen and hunted. That's NOT a desirable life.

You taking a trip to the moon via telekinesis is meaningless (beyond your personal pleasure) simply because there is no future gain for humanity, no advancement in science, technology, exploration, colonization of space. it's just you taking a 10 minute walk through a desert.

About 'mind control' - you don't need to conntrol all the population. Read 'Foundation and Empire' by Asimov. All you need to do is 'adjust' the emotional structure of a few people, making them completely loyal to you.
A billionaire gives you billions and people ask questions? Who cares? They were his money to give. The 'people' can ask all the questions they want.
Fame? You can easily become a powerful figure, or a movie star, or any other extremely famous person if you want to.


What I find interesting about all this is that the only realistic ways (that we found) to use such superpowers to improve one's life to any substantial degree involve being immoral - robbing banks, brainwashing people. etc.

Have you read Plato's "Ring of Gyges" story?

The question should be - suppose you have telekinesis - will you use it rob banks/crush anyone in your path, becoming rich and powerful in the process?
Or you will only use it to turn your TV on and off (and other such menial tasks), while your life is like any other's - with a daily job (these days, if you're lucky), worries about paying your bills, stress regarding your family, etc?

Lets see.

My family was in Alaska during the largest Earthquake of the last century. We knew several people who got killed. And yeah they have Earthquakes fairly often (though only occasionally do they do damage), but in one case near destruction of vehicle (injury), tens of thousands of damage to home (with injuries, oh and the home at that time was only valued at 39,000. So it was a lot of damage).

Have personally been in a hit and run, been in three (none injury accidents (due to Alaskan weather). Been in a car accident in california that did kill the driver (giving mouth to mouth to someone who was on fire isn't fun). Been stabbed, home set on fire, care burned to the ground, been pelted with rocks, been chased by a Bear (and yeah it was really close my dog didn't survive, but neither did that damn bear). Gone off a canyon road on a motorcycle (injured), been shot with an arrow (yes my brother really wasn't happy with me that day), been stranded in my car (alaskan winter), several accidents with a three wheeler (those things were death traps just waiting to happen). Thats just me (and there is more, but all fairly minor things). Been physically assault many times (and yes sexually assaulted as well).

Have known several people in plane crashes (but luckily none of them where killed, though I do believe one had fatal injuries it wasn't some one I personally knew).

As far as Fatal events I know about 20 people that have been killed in things like Earthquakes, car accidents (those two are the biggest), hunting accidents, fishing accidents, fishing boat deaths, motorcycle accidents, fires, drowning death (not the fishing boat deaths, but river rafting), and a hiking accident (just off the top of my head). Those are people I personally knew (not friends of my family, coworkers, or friends). Of course this is going back to the early 60's.

What is interesting is that even with living in a military town and having family in the military, I don't know anyone who has died in the service. Nor as a gay man do I know anyone who has died from AIDS (well that I know of).

But just in my life, I have been in situations that could have proven fatal to me. Several times over, in fact.

And that is my point about TK being able to have a direct impact on your physical environment.

As to using your powers for crime, I only mentioned the robbery of banks due to posters seeming to have a real push for the gaining of money. There are several ways to use TK that would enable someone to live comfortably, just not wealthy (unless you openly used those abilities and that of course brings about the possible bad reception that the public might have to those abilities).

And I did try and go out of my way to show that TK would enable one do enjoy several things in nature (that have no financial impact, or a negative impact on the public in any way).

Frankly it all depends on what type of life you would want to live.

 

[LaxScrutiny]

Look, there are only two important powers:

1) the ability to make any woman into you;
2) the ability to change the size and shape of her boobs at will.

The second could be related to telekinesis.

 

[Technobuilder]

Honestly I'd take three powers and be good.

Teleportation (Hiro Nakamura)
Telepathy (Matt Parkman)
Telekinesis (Gabriel Gray)