Suddenly, Supers!

[christ0pher]

Originally Posted by malloyd

Why? Many people have talents they rarely bother to use. Why should super powers be any different? Most people with them will not change their lives very much unless their new power offers them an obviously better way of earning a living, in which case that is what they will use it for. If it weren't for the media making them think it was the "right" thing to do with them, I wouldn't bet on any substantial number of them picking "become a vigilante"

There's still a transition period and I can only imagine that learning you can fly or walk through walls would take some getting used to. There's a bit of a difference between suddenly learning you're good at chess and learning you can move the pieces with your mind. I agree, a large majority will do nothing with the powers, but there are people who would want to show them off, people who like to be a spectacle, people who like helping others, and people who will go on a "power trip" lording themselves over others.

Originally Posted by malloyd

Why conceal your identity at all? This is another of those superhero genre conventions that don't hold up too well.

I guess I'm just not a trusting person. The idea that a person or their family would be left alone if the world knew they could do impossible things. It may be a genre convention, but I believe it would hold true in this case. Especially if, from the government's point of view, a horde of people that can smash their way into any secure facility in the world and do as they wish were unleashed. It's a game changer, walking weapons of mass destruction. Even worse, thinking weapons of mass destruction. At the least people would clamor to know everything about these individuals, the devious, looking for some leverage. I would not want to stand in that spotlight.

Originally Posted by malloyd

Why not? Way, way more will than are going to go fight crime.

I agree, some would submit to study, but I guess it depends on the powers, if it's even possible at our level of sophistication to learn anything useful.