Most would become supervillains if given superpowers, study says.

Ehhh. I definitely wouldn't be a supervillain. I'd consider myself a hero, but odds are more likely that I'd be a vigilante... though I wouldn't kill--even now, I go out of my way to avoid killing insects, and I'm obviously vastly stronger than them. Broken bones on a human, on the other hand, will mend while they're in jail.

I would absolutely use my powers, whatever they were, to make my own life easier. I doubt I'd steal things, but I could see myself going, "Hey, I just saved your life. Either give me $50 or buy me dinner."

Of course, I've got my own eccentricities that affect what life would be like if I were a superhero. I wouldn't wear a costume or attempt to hide my identity, because I want people to know who the dude saving them is, but I'd still avoid media attention, because I don't particularly want to be famous.

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Originally Posted by Nethergoat it's NEVER too late to pad your /ignore list!

This is a really interesting thread, and I have to delve into it more in a little while when I have time, however, I would hope that not all would become evil. I hope I wouldn't.

I think of some of these oaths, or codes...

"First, do no harm."

"With great power, comes great responsibility."

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

These are just three, there are many more...


First as a doctor, having (Super to the rest of us) knowledge that can heal as well as harm. Knowing that their actions can bankrupt a patient, cripple a patient, or cause the patent more harm through arrogance or miss diagnosis, and in some ways the cure could be worse than the sickness. The Hippocratic Oath has helped many a doctor make a choice that, without it, would find themselves perform evil actions without realizing it.

I always loved "With Great power comes great responsibility!" One of the best things to come from the Marvel Universe. This is a direct response from Absolute power corrupts absolutely. Its a reminder that with this power, one must restrain and consider before action. Peter made that mistake at first, he started as a villain, and all that got him was Uncle Ben's death. In Real life Average people find themselves in power over other people all the time, as a Boss to an Employee, as a Teacher over an impressionable Student, as a Cop over an alleged criminal, these people have power over others and they must act responsibility.

And Finally the Oath of Office. Who in the world has more direct power over the world than The President of the United States. But he must act in accordance to a code of law that the American People created, and his power is checked and balanced by two other governmental offices. Without this oath, Washington could have renamed himself George Washington the First King of America, (Some people expected him and even wanted him to do that.) But the Oath, and the creation of checks and balances has kept the Executive office a relatively benign force of good. (You can argue otherwise, but lets keep this civil)

Anyhoo, what I am saying is that Super Powers are a cultural Metaphor for what is happening today. In in today's world there are people with powers over others, and there is corruption that goes along with it, but not everyone is corrupted. There are good politicians trying to do good for their community, there are good doctors trying to heal rather than cause harm, and there are good people, helping others, every day, in small ways when they could take advantage.

So, I think if you add super powers to the mix, hopefully there will be some, some few, who will resist the urge to carve their faces into Mount Rushmore, and will take responsibility over them selves and their abilities.

As you can see, I'm an optimist.

I love this thread!!!


My motto is this. The more powerful you become, the less interaction with humanity you should have.

The reason for this is that you still have the same frail human sensibilities that are effected by those around you. Your body may have become superhuman, but your mind has not. The perfect example of this done right is Dr. Manhattan, who evolved beyond petty human conflicts and eventually realized that he would always be tempted to interfere in the humanity if he stayed. Wall crawling, superspeed, even super strength are not much more than parlor tricks that still have limited uses, but become something god-like and it's a whole new ball game. Even self-imposed moral rationalities such as "Do no harm" or "Protect the innocent" will eventually have no meaning if they don't come with meaningful consequences to someone like you. With no evolved mental or emotional state, you will fall prey to your own human weaknesses and eventually become the villain.