If you had the superpower to know what everyone was thinking (but not saying) would you use it?

I’ve watched enough movies and TV shows to know that the ability to hear everyone’s thoughts would be incredibly annoying and distracting to everyday life. I already have enough of my own thoughts going in and out of my head all day that I can’t imagine having other people’s thoughts bumbling around in my head, too. It would be enough to make one go insane pretty quickly. Most of the stories in the entertainment world who have characters who can read minds learn to be able to turn it on and off. I suppose that’s their coping mechanism to achieve peace.

However annoying it would be to have other people thoughts in my head, would I actually use it? I’m pretty sure I would be unable to avoid it. Sure, I could start off by saying that I don’t want to hear other’s thoughts and that it’s not fair to them that their private thoughts are no longer private. In reality, there would be too many excuses to listen than to avoid. Without a doubt, there would be plenty of experiences where I would hear something that I wouldn’t want to hear. It’s like reading someone’s diary or email and finding out something you weren’t supposed to know. Lesson learned, eh?

Perhaps after several instances such as these, I would want to completely block it, but I’m sure after a while there would be a situation where it would come in handy, and I would go back to it. Good examples of similar experiences can be found in those beloved sitcoms of the 60’s and 70’s, Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie. The shows were both based on the female character having an ability that their male counterpart wanted them to forget and never use. Every episode involved some reason where the female character would break her promise and use her ability, anyway, usually to get the male counterpart out of trouble. As silly as those sitcoms were, I feel that they are pretty close to reality as far as what would happen if most people had a beneficial (at least in certain situations) super power.

While mind reading or hearing other people’s thoughts is not high on my list of preferences, my superpower of choice would be teleportation. I feel like so much of my life is wasted in a car, in lines, waiting and so on. Wouldn’t it be nice to twinkle my nose and just be where I need to be. Ah, patience is a virtue, my friend!

I want to leave you with a story that my friend, Liberty, shared recently when she wrote about the funny things her kids say:

Alex wanted to build one of his many creations and required a hammer. Joey told me not to worry it would be done under his direct supervision. At this point Alex says Supervision, dude, you’ve been holding out on me. I want SUPER vision. What other superpowers do you have???? He was dead serious and didn’t even get why it was funny when I tried to explain it to him with the giggles.

If you could choose one super power, what would it be? Would you use your super power for good or evil…or both?