Poll of the Day > If you had a mid-level telekinetic ability, how would you use your power?

(+) Yeah! (+)

For the purposes of this poll, mid-level telekinesis is being defined as having no difficulty moving or throwing an object (or objects) up to 150 lbs with your mind. Higher weights may be moved with greater concentration and difficulty, with an absolute limit of 250 lbs. This includes being able to exert a comparable force to the lifting elements, if you're pushing an object (ie, you might not be able to lift a 250 lb object but you can strike it with a certain amount of force) or doing something like Vader's force choke.

I was originally just going to break it into around 4 categories (openly, semi-openly, covertly, or keep it in reserve) but kinda figured that the money-making nature is worth noting.
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What kind of precision are we talking? Door knob? Tumblers of a lock? Might hit the broad side of a barn?
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Lightning Bolt posted...

What kind of precision are we talking? Door knob? Tumblers of a lock? Might hit the broad side of a barn?

Precision comparable to finger use. ie, no difficulties in turning a door knob but it'd be hard to manipulate the tumblers of a lock so you'd have to either smash the lock or turn the latch/whatever on the other side. And, of course, the pressure is completely variable so you could choose to exert a small amount of force to perform some actions while using a much larger amount on others (ie, wouldn't accidentally break a doorknob while turning it)
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My choice isn't listed. I would use it to help others and other good causes.
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Probably just to mess with people.
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fishy071 posted...

My choice isn't listed. I would use it to help others and other good causes.

Well, it kinda falls under open legal use. I probably shouldn't have said money specifically.
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Im actually finding it quite difficult to use that power to make a lot of money without exposing yourself to the power.

The goverment will probably kick down your door, drag you away and dissect you in a lab once they find out about your power.

I dunno, maybe manipulate roulette?
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Yellow posted...

Probably just to mess with people.

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Cobra1010 posted...

Im actually finding it quite difficult to use that power to make a lot of money without exposing yourself to the power.

The goverment will probably kick down your door, drag you away and dissect you in a lab once they find out about your power.

I dunno, maybe manipulate roulette?

It depends on how you use it. If you're doing semi-open, you aren't acknowledging that you actually have a power so it's hard for them to know; case-in-point would be the magician example where people *expect* you to do unbelievable things and not explain how it's done (which makes you seem like an awesome magician). And, in general, I'm not sure how able the government would be to seize somebody in the public eye unless you had been badly misusing the power.

Rigging roulette would be covert-illegal. The problem there is you can only get lucky so many times before a casino owner suspects something and, depending on the place, has you killed.
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I'd covertly use it to legally make money

I'm going to Vegas and getting rich in craps
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JOExHIGASHI posted...

I'd covertly use it to legally make money

I'm going to Vegas and getting rich in craps

Again, technically illegal.
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Zeus posted...

JOExHIGASHI posted...

I'd covertly use it to legally make money

I'm going to Vegas and getting rich in craps

Again, technically illegal.

ok.

I change my answer to illegally make money in craps

also horse racing and dog racing as well
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"I'd use it for evil" is pretty much my stock answer for all super powers.


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ParanoidObsessive posted...

"I'd use it for evil" is pretty much my stock answer for all super powers.

But which kind of evil? It's not just a matter of alignment, but also how openly you'd use it.
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I'd go to Vegas and cheat.
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If theres visible sign when you use the power probably would only use it to mess with people. If not though...illegal money and maybe throw some people around.
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No option to help others?
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Getting rich by screwing casinos

Would then try to help people with it
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I'd use it to become the ruler of my own country. No religion, no hippies. Awww yeah!
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So "mid-level" means that my telekinesis is about equivalent to anything I could do physically but just at a distance? Just want to make sure I know what the parameters are.

I think cheating at gambling is the only really lucrative route to go. I'd like to use it in some kind of fighting but it would be impossible to maintain the illusion. Eventually people would assume my opponents are losing on purpose or that I'm doing some other form of cheating. Maybe you could pull off having near perfect accuracy in basketball or have absurd ball control in baseball but I think enough video footage of your impossible throws/catches would surface.

Being a guru scam artist that takes advantage of people trying to learn my powers would also possibly be lucrative but it would be time consuming and soul draining to dupe people like that.

Zeus posted...

Precision comparable to finger use

I would tickcle females' lady bits when talking to them and they would think they're really attracted to me
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thecolorgreen posted...

I would tickcle females' lady bits when talking to them and they would think they're really attracted to me

What was that I said about me thinking you should adopt a kid?
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Zeus posted...

covertly use it to illegally make money

this
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Can I increase my ability power by using it more often and training?
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Zeus posted...

Rigging roulette would be covert-illegal. The problem there is you can only get lucky so many times before a casino owner suspects something and, depending on the place, has you killed.

depends on the size of your winnings and how you win, stick mostly to the outside bets, throw a few losses in, and maybe every once in a while try an inside bet. It's slower, you get less, but between roulette, the craps table, and maybe some sports bets that you can influence, you should be able to make a decent living as long as you don't get greedy. No one is going to kill you for a 10k a year at a casino, just go to different casinos and you make a steady 100k a year doing nothing.
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Win at roulette a bunch of times. But not like have it land on 34. But have it land on evens and reds. Stuff like that.

Bet $500 on odd win $1,000.

Bet $1000 on black win $2,000

Bet $1000 on split win $18,000

Lose a few $200-300 bets.

Go all in on like $3,000 on a single win $108,000.

Leave and not come back for a couple years.
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I'll say it, whoever voted for the last two options are lying.
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You could become the worlds most famous magician without any effort, make a gazillion dollars without cheating, and use your fame and fortune to help millions (especially since you could interact and team up with many other celebrities).

I'd do a few live shows, a few "specials" on TV etc, to get my name well known, start investing the money big time, and networking with celebs, getting charities going etc, and before you know it I wouldn't even need my powers anymore to make a big difference.
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Openly legally. Do you realize how much money I could make as a magician with that?
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Do I have to be able to see what it is I'm using telekinesis on? Because if not, I'd mostly use it so I wouldn't have to leave my room. Probably would use it for things like grabbing a soda from the kitchen, putting food in the microwave, or taking out the dog.

If so, then I dunno what I'd use it for. Could be good for scaring people during Halloween. Make a fake haunted house look like it's actually haunted by a poltergeist for some laughs.
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What distance? Is there any visual indication I'm doing *something* like a glint in the eyes or having to point at whatever I'm affecting?

Assuming no to the last question (if yes, I'd be VERY cautious to ever use it with other people around), probably personal amusement and maybe some casino trips. I'd love to help people too, but realistically the chances of being there in time to help are tiny. But if I was in a situation where it could help w/o exposing the fact I have the power, I'd help.
Anyone who says they'd use it openly is extremely naive; you'll quickly be hauled away to a secret facility to be experimented on, or hunted and killed by police if you're found to be "too dangerous."
Pretending to be a great magician isn't using it "openly," you're not letting them know you're using a super-power to perform the tricks.

SomeUsername529 posted...

So "mid-level" means that my telekinesis is about equivalent to anything I could do physically but just at a distance? Just want to make sure I know what the parameters are.

Roughly yes, but you'd have no physical exertion for it and you'd be able to lift more objects than you could reasonably carry (provided the total weight is within the parameters). Plus it functions as a ranged attack. At any rate, keep in mind that if you were of a reasonable weight you could carry yourself and thus attain a sort of flight.

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Can I increase my ability power by using it more often and training?

You could increase your precision (ie, be less clumsy) but not the overall strength.

AllstarSniper32 posted...

I'll say it, whoever voted for the last two options are lying.

I can't imagine anybody never using it (unless they're hyper-religious and see the power as coming from the devil or something), but I could understand somebody being so secretive that they'd obsess over keeping it hidden so they'd only use it as a last resort. Not that I expect somebody could maintain that kind of restraint in the second case.

Ezheil posted...

Do I have to be able to see what it is I'm using telekinesis on? Because if not, I'd mostly use it so I wouldn't have to leave my room. Probably would use it for things like grabbing a soda from the kitchen, putting food in the microwave, or taking out the dog.

If so, then I dunno what I'd use it for. Could be good for scaring people during Halloween. Make a fake haunted house look like it's actually haunted by a poltergeist for some laughs.

You have to have a rough idea of what you're affecting and be roughly in range. Assuming that you know what you're affecting and its approximate position, you could move objects without seeing them. The telekinesis would allow you to "feel" an object in some senses of the word (ie, get an idea of shape) since you'd be aware of being able to affect or not affect certain things with a certain amount of force because you'd feel resistance.

streamofthesky posted...

What distance?

Assume you can affect anything within a reasonable distance, with your power diminishing the further your target is from your body. Maybe within 50 or 100 feet of you, with your powers going no further than twice that chosen value. Keep in mind that if you can't see something it would likely be harder to manipulate it.

streamofthesky posted...

Is there any visual indication I'm doing *something* like a glint in the eyes or having to point at whatever I'm affecting?

There'd be no overt tell although, with more complex tasks, you might need to concentrate on what you're doing which would make it difficult to hold a conversation or perform physical activity. Of course, in many cases you might need to look at the object you're trying to manipulate which would be a minor tell.
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I'd be a superhero.
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I'd covertly use it to legally and illegally make money
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I'd covertly use it to legally make money (such as taking moving jobs and using it in private). I'd be afraid of being open about it since I might get lunatics that want to study me, others claiming I'm a fraud, etc.
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I'd use it to mess around and help myself to stuff I'd otherwise be too lazy to get otherwise, wouldn't know how to make money off of it really
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I wish I had levitation so I wouldn't have need to fear heights.

Zeus posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Can I increase my ability power by using it more often and training?

You could increase your precision (ie, be less clumsy) but not the overall strength.

Lame! It should be like muscles, you can "work it out" to increase the strength of it.
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WarGreymon77 posted...

I wish I had levitation so I wouldn't have need to fear heights.

As long as the weight of you and what you're wearing/carrying is 250 lb or less, you could use the telekinesis to effectively levitate or fly.
If you didn't mind drawing attention to yourself...

If it's to save my own life, I wouldn't give a fuck, lol.

But yeah, under 250 here.

WarGreymon77 posted...

If it's to save my own life, I wouldn't give a fuck, lol.

But yeah, under 250 here.

Heh, couldn't tell if you meant "in case of emergency" or "I'd actively explore heights and stuff without care b/c now I can't fall and die."

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Zeus posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Can I increase my ability power by using it more often and training?

You could increase your precision (ie, be less clumsy) but not the overall strength.

Lame! It should be like muscles, you can "work it out" to increase the strength of it.

Then it'd potentially stop being a mid-level ability because you could drag Star Destroyers down out of space.
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Zeus posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Zeus posted...

AllstarSniper32 posted...

Can I increase my ability power by using it more often and training?

You could increase your precision (ie, be less clumsy) but not the overall strength.

Lame! It should be like muscles, you can "work it out" to increase the strength of it.

Then it'd potentially stop being a mid-level ability because you could drag Star Destroyers down out of space.

You never said it had to stay mid-level. Just that's how it initially starts.

How do you expect me to be able to do evil deeds when I can't flick cap cars like flicking a toothpick?!?!

Biased!!!
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Yellow posted...

thecolorgreen posted...

I would tickcle females' lady bits when talking to them and they would think they're really attracted to me

What was that I said about me thinking you should adopt a kid?

OMG it's not like i would telekinitcally finger my kid
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Covert, illegal. Not even gonna consider being a good boy.
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Well you'd have to do it covertly, otherwise you're a moron. You'd end up either getting executed or taken away for research by the government.

And that's assuming some religious nutjob doesn't kill you first.

Currant_Kaiser posted...

research by the government.

That meme? The government isn't going to lock you in some secret lab forever. But if you are caught breaking the law expect to be in a super max prison for a long time.

At worst you would probably have to demonstrate your powers in a controlled environment, and placed on some watch list.

But the amount of shit you would have to put up with wouldn't be worth it.
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Miroku_of_Nite1 posted...

That meme? The government isn't going to lock you in some secret lab forever.

meme? Have people never been locked in secret labs for testing before?
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AllstarSniper32 posted...

You never said it had to stay mid-level. Just that's how it initially starts.

No, I specifically said "if you had a mid-level ability." Nothing about that implies that the ability would grow or even opens the door for "that's how it starts."

AllstarSniper32 posted...

How do you expect me to be able to do evil deeds when I can't flick cap cars like flicking a toothpick?!?!

Well, you could still flick motorcycles around and bicycles, too. However, you don't need a massive amount of psychic strength to do tremendously evil things considering that the current restrictions are more than strong enough to do terrible things.

Miroku_of_Nite1 posted...

Currant_Kaiser posted...

research by the government.

That meme? The government isn't going to lock you in some secret lab forever. But if you are caught breaking the law expect to be in a super max prison for a long time.

At worst you would probably have to demonstrate your powers in a controlled environment, and placed on some watch list.

But the amount of shit you would have to put up with wouldn't be worth it.

First they put you on a registration list, then they the release giant robots...
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I'd use it to raid local dope houses for their cash as needed. There's no shortage of them the next town over from me and nobody around here would recognize me.
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