Thread: SUPERHERO

Solar radiation, Gamma radiation, radioactive spider bites, Super soldier serums, unknown chemical exposers, evolutionary mutations, telekinesis, aliens, alien rings of unlimited power, Cybernetic implants, super strong metallurgical properties, technologically andvanced exosceletal armor, magic and mysticism, gods and myths, or just good old fashion hands-on training.


It seems we live in world of infinite possibilities. Yet I wonder, just what are the odds of any one individual living in this world who might actually possess a mental or physical capability that would render them "Abnormal"? or "Supernormal"? or "Superhuman"?

How IMpossible is it that a person could be born or blessed or cursed with such a gift and that they would actually use that gift to help fight injustice?

Any thoughts....Anyone?

Super powers are here!

we admire the flight of birds, the speed of some hunters and various characteristics of other individual species, but they all conform to the physical laws of science, even the humble bumble conforms to these laws.

The goldfish has a range of vision extending from near infrared to near ultraviolet,

Bats and dolphins use active sensors, theoretically if enough bats concentrated their 'vision' on the same wine glass they could shatter it at a distance - wow bats then are 'telekinetic' - amazing? (bollocks actually since it is ultrasound doing the damage) BUT to any creature that did not understand Ultrasound it would appear a 'super power' Dolphins confuse fish with their 'sonar'.

woodpeckers can 'see' through solid wood, a grub boring it's way through the trunk of a tree, some insects and birds can 'hover' far better than any helicopter..

we can see through some types of solid minerals - what more do you want?

We have spiders that throw nets, beetles that can live bathed in radiation that would kill a human if exposed for more than a second or two...

Suppose you could explain our abilities to a mole, would he not think sight was a 'super power' ?, or our size to a bacterium, who might remark: " it's impossible to carry that much bulk around, I have trouble getting through this thick almost solid material called water".

THe problem here is that you take it all for granted, you see birds in the sky all the time - so you want something more and long to melt rocks with a blank stare...

THe list is almost endless - look around you!

I agree with Megabrain in a way. I would have to think that some 'super powers' that are currently in existence such as in other animals could be possible. Hypothetically, which is based of little evidence, we may have dormant genes that allow us to grow gills to breathe underwater or wings to fly. When you compare fetuses of certain species that aren't even close to the same family they look identical. I remember seeing a video, and I believe it's humans that don't lose their 'gills' until a certain point in gestation.

I was not going that extra millimetre and say therefore with DNA we could evolve some of these traits, no doubt some hair brained arsehole will 'fuck' about with DNA and produce a mouse with elephant's ears that can fly like a bird.. (I know I know about the human eared mouse).. so in a sense genetics may play a part.

Incidentally have a look at the 'bombardier beetle' (he has a mention in WIKI) - one of my all time favourite creatures and well worth a study.

Haha... Yeah I know that's not what you meant, I was just expanding from my point of view.

I wouldn't mind being the "hair brained arsehole" that figured out how to "fuck about" with the DNA. I find genetic engineering quite interesting. Biggest goal I would love to see come from it is immortality.

That bombardier beetle is amazing, Megabrain. Didn't know anything quite like that existed.

Your right. The animal kingdom is extraordinary to say the least. I would never deny that. I never did.


But I am talking about "People" in a practical modern day society. What are the chances of you reading the paper or turning on the news one day and hearing reports about someone who was saving lives or apprehending criminals by extraodinary means? Could it ever happen?

And if so, How would you actually respond to that? What would be your gut reaction?

It was your avatar that prompted me to suggest you might like the little beetle it seemed so 'you'....

I don't think nature will allow us to evolve, there is no survival need for us to 'fly' or see through things, as to genetic mutation these are normally tiny traits, which evolve over thousands of generations, if we suddenly developed a bump on the head we'd remove it before it could evolve into a six shot laser cannon... the point being the very first sign would not need to be an indication of an 'end' we are however likely to develop in certain ways, to develop the laser cannon would probably require hundreds of millions of simultaneous mutations of our genes in one go all with the same end, the mathematical chances of that are probably closer to zero than zero itself.

As for the bombardier - I think it evolved in an Indian resturant in London with a liquor license! :wink:

Originally Posted by Megabrain

I don't think nature will allow us to evolve, there is no survival need for us to 'fly' or see through things, as to genetic mutation these are normally tiny traits, which evolve over thousands of generations, if we suddenly developed a bump on the head we'd remove it before it could evolve into a six shot laser cannon... the point being the very first sign would not need to be an indication of an 'end' we are however likely to develop in certain ways, to develop the laser cannon would probably require hundreds of millions of simultaneous mutations of our genes in one go all with the same end, the mathematical chances of that are probably closer to zero than zero itself.

As for the bombardier - I think it evolved in an Indian resturant in London with a liquor license! :wink:

Yeah, your probably right. A superhero by way of evolution simply doesn't seem to fit the pattern. Too many variables.

But that still leaves the question of technology. Could an individual invent or procure an item or weapon that would give him/her a sheer physical edge over the average human being? I guess my fundemental question is; How likely would it be for someone, who had this extreme advantage, to actually "make the choice" to use it in a way that would allow them to serve there country or community on their own terms. And again, how would the rest of us react to that person?

...Oh and what do you mean when you say "Bomardier"?

If you mean something like 'ROBOCOP' where you have a man with bioninc capabilities, or a larger srevo controlled suit we have such things already, a mechanical digger is merely a power amplifier controlled by man, there are robots which closely follow a 'suited' technicians hand and arm movements in the nuclear industry, it's all there, it's all well understood, and some of it could be made tomorrow.

The limiting factor is down to power supply power to weight ratio.

Originally Posted by Megabrain

If you mean something like 'ROBOCOP' where you have a man with bioninc capabilities, or a larger srevo controlled suit we have such things already, a mechanical digger is merely a power amplifier controlled by man, there are robots which closely follow a 'suited' technicians hand and arm movements in the nuclear industry, it's all there, it's all well understood, and some of it could be made tomorrow.

The limiting factor is down to power supply power to weight ratio.

....Cool!...

The likelihood of them using it for good? I would have to say pretty low, depends. I'm sure someone like an EMT (ambulance people?) or a firefighter would be more likely to go the route of saving lives then the average Joe. They dedicate their lives to helping other people, so that type of person would do the same if they had a superhuman advantage. Though one of my favorite quotes "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely," kind of mentions a problem I would foresee. If this person was so much more powerful than any other human being, or maybe unstoppable, he would probably become corrupt.

Originally Posted by Kabooom

The likelihood of them using it for good? I would have to say pretty low, depends. I'm sure someone like an EMT (ambulance people?) or a firefighter would be more likely to go the route of saving lives then the average Joe. They dedicate their lives to helping other people, so that type of person would do the same if they had a superhuman advantage. Though one of my favorite quotes "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely," kind of mentions a problem I would foresee. If this person was so much more powerful than any other human being, or maybe unstoppable, he would probably become corrupt.

THis is a subject that Americans might like to start up, you guys gave us Hot-rods, autonomous robot mice in a maze competitions, robot wars, maybe you can add all this together and have a 'robo-cop' competition - there must be some of you with enough spare cash and time, plus a TV network able to kick start it!

A couple of old wireless lap-tops, an electric golf trolley plus some form of 'toaster'.......