If you were all-powerful...

[notjeffgoldblum]

If you were all-powerful, what would you do to make the world a better place?

[Mozzes]

Is this a trick question? Abolish evil seems too obvious and I always did love oversimplified answers to complicated problems. So, abolish evil, final answer.

[Wuchak]

Is this a trick question? Abolish evil seems too obvious and I always did love oversimplified answers to complicated problems. So, abolish evil, final answer.

I think it is actually a simple question, with potentially complex answers. :thinking:

Short answer: start over with a different species

[Mozzes]

I think it is actually a simple question, with potentially complex answers. :thinking:

Short answer: start over with a different species

Biological drives + intelligence is a deadly combination and I doubt the general result would be any different with another species. If you're all powerful why not just fix what you have?

[redbaren]

I would not change much stuff because the way we live now has some great population control. The things I would change would be stupid people, and social circles of all kinds there some of the most stupid things I have ever seen, another thing would be replace all the governments with a universal government that keeps world order, and it is a very small government.

[Wuchak]

Biological drives + intelligence is a deadly combination and I doubt the general result would be any different with another species. If you're all powerful why not just fix what you have?

Why not give the species the ability to improve itself? Ah, now we're going quantum . . . down the rabbit hole, we go.

[zibber]

More plagues.

[abski83]

Infect the world with LOVE!!!!!!!!!! :)

[127001]

If you were all-powerful, what would you do to make the world a better place?

I'd start off eliminating evil, but if history is any judge I'd probably end up becoming it.

[zibber]

I'd start off eliminating evil, but if history is any judge I'd probably end up becoming it.

What's "evil" and how does one quickly eliminate it?

[127001]

What's "evil" and how does one quickly eliminate it?

My simplest definition: Any human that believes it is okay to profit from the suffering of another.

I didn't say the process would be quick.

[PHS Philip]

All powerful but not omniscient? Assuming there isn't the loophole of being able to make myself omniscient, I'd start making universes to see what happens.

[Mozzes]

All powerful but not omniscient? Assuming there isn't the loophole of being able to make myself omniscient, I'd start making universes to see what happens.

Assuming of course that an infinite number of universes don't already exist. ;)

[Jakalwarrior]

I would speak into everyones consciousness saying:
"this is god speaking, there is no afterlife. I have just recently been appointed as god, so try not to die until I get this shit straightened out"

After that I would make my wife immortal and just sit back and try to entertain myself for eternity. About that afterlife thing? nah, what would be the purpose? I think I would allow people immortality until they produce a child. If a baby pops out both parents are back to being mortal and dying of old age.

[NephilimAzrael]

If I were all powerful, this single conception of a dimension would be an inadequate dot, so I would, in essence be as the scripture gods are. Beyond considering this planet, or this universe, or this realm of possibility and impossibility. I would cease to be in terms of what I can understand, nor you understand, nor any omnipotent can explain.

In essence, I do not know now what I would do in being omnipotent. To claim that one would act in a particular fashion with infinite power is foolish, for one would not need to do anything, it would be as is.

[Nyuszi]

Is there a best answer for this question? A proposal that has the most authority over any other one? Is the reason we cannot have a best answer because everyone will not agree with it?

I say that a magical man, specifically jolly ol' Santa Claus, picks people to go ride with him on his sleigh while he gossips to you that Rudolf's nose is "moonburnt" and not naturally red. Then, of course, Santa and the people that go ride with him will deliver presents to everyone. Yay.

[blueback]

Am I still the same person as before I became all-powerful, only now with the power to do anything? Or does something about me change when I become all-powerful?

[ScurvyRose]

Can I read minds?

[Mozzes]

Can I read minds?

I don't know if omnipotent means what you think it means. :p

[Nolia]

Would I have the wisdom needed to handle such power? I think that's very important. I mean, I could make things a lot worse than they already are...whims, capriciousness, and just plain crabby moods are always likely to overcome any desire to make everyone happy. Just like now. :cheesy:

[Mozzes]

Would I have the wisdom needed to handle such power? I think that's very important. I mean, I could make things a lot worse than they already are...whims, capriciousness, and just plain crabby moods are always likely to overcome any desire to make everyone happy. Just like now. :cheesy:

If you're omnipotent couldn't you *give* yourself the wisdom needed to handle such power.

[GUnshell]

Had I been all powerful, I'd get the hell off this earth.

I'm sure much of us understand the relativity of Good and Evil. Because of that I lost interest in making sense of Good and Evil long ago, thus I wouldn't exercise my all-power onto the world.

But to amuse the idea, since many people have an in-born need to fight for something (relative justice being a crowd favorite), I'd bring back some terrible dinosaurs.

[Nolia]

If you're omnipotent couldn't you *give* yourself the wisdom needed to handle such power.


I suppose, but where would it come from?

[OmegaPsi]

Ooo, If I were all powerful...I woud definitely make someones life exactly like a play, like Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet and just watch and amust myself. Another thing I'd do is completely disturb alot of peoples reality. I mean seriously, God must have been bored as hell and really just wanted to see some disaster. Hurricane Katrina? God was bored. Black Death?(Probably my favorite, because that is one of the truest events where religion completely failed. Ah, they could have followed God's Word to the letter, but their family was afflicted all the same, they prayed for his forgiveness for what ever they could of possibly done, "Nah', said god. "I'm bored." So the religious were afflicted as any person was, may they be saints or heathens. (This is one of the main reasons why I became an Atheist...but thats off topic..) Holocaust? Not even going there.

So I would emulate some of those past events. Another thing I would do is introduce a new energy source and just watch some ecconemies fall into despair and crumble. Ah what a beautiful thought.

[sriv]

Would I be able to kill myself? :huh:

[Dave C C]

Make our bodies instantaneously reparable, so no matter how you stab, blow up or shoot someone they will still be there. We will have to learn to live with one another, it would be sort of a pre hell.

[Mozzes]

I suppose, but where would it come from?

Does it matter?

[elfece]

I would create a stone so heavy that I couldn't lift it.





elfece added to this post, 6 minutes and 14 seconds later...

Oh, and then I would rejoice within the infinite mysteries of Pi and e decimals.


Seeing the faith-crisis on today's culture, I think that zibber is right, more plagues is all that I would deliver to make the world a better place.

[True Rune]

I would create a stone so heavy that I couldn't lift it.





elfece added to this post, 6 minutes and 14 seconds later...

Oh, and then I would rejoice within the infinite mysteries of Pi and e decimals.


Seeing the faith-crisis on today's culture, I think that zibber is right, more plagues is all that I would deliver to make the world a better place.

Was waiting for that one.
I don't know exactly what I'd do to better the world, Maybe replenish some supplies and inspire some minds, make evil a little harder to do and then GO AWAY.

[simoncpu]

If I were all-powerful, I'd like to destroy the whole universe, then recreate it a few times just for amusement.

[Tocsin]

If power means having control, then he notion of being "all powerful" seems a little stupid.

To truly be "all powerful" would be the same as having the world's largest doll house with the world's largest collection of inanimate dolls.

As soon as someone/something else exists capable of exercising independent thought and will, you are no longer "all-powerful."

Why does it always seem that the weak are attracted by fantasies of power?

"Power-lust is a weed that grows only in the vacant lot of an empty mind."
--Ayn Rand

"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power."
--P. J. O’Rourke

[Josh]

Sterilize everyone with an IQ under 90

[Mozzes]

If power means having control, then he notion of being "all powerful" seems a little stupid.

To truly be "all powerful" would be the same as having the world's largest doll house with the world's largest collection of inanimate dolls.

As soon as someone/something else exists capable of exercising independent thought and will, you are no longer "all-powerful."

Why does it always seem that the weak are attracted by fantasies of power?

"Power-lust is a weed that grows only in the vacant lot of an empty mind."
--Ayn Rand

"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we’re looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn’t test people for drugs, we should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed and love of power."
--P. J. O’Rourke

Of course in the original hypothetical how one gained their power was irrelevant. I suppose it does, however, beg the question of whether a fallible mortal found themselves with "unlimited power" (whatever that means) whether the only moral act (whatever that means) would be for that person to destroy himself or herself.

[LordMaiestas]

Make a single government.

Where each country will be replace by a representative or a governor that they elect.

And when the governor is able to elect the top committee and the committee has the highest leader who is able to pass down all instruction
As in the king


Next step . No country will be able to hold fund.
One economy one world

People will be judge by works not by race country or anything.

Strip down on military

Military for technology for exploration of others planet.

[Antares]

I'd probably make myself... NOT all-powerful. The world will thank me for it.

[Anderson]

1) Make everyone in the world speak one, universal language.

2) Make everyone in the world a rational human.

3) Destoy reality tv.

5) Merge all of the continents like Pangea or Middle Earth--no particular reason, I just think it would be cool to simply drive to Africa or Europe.

[muguly]

Nothing, a perfect world is boring. That or give everybody flying or teleporting abilities. Think about the amount of energy we'd save if we all didn't need planes, cars, boats, or trains.

[AresX9]

I'd implement all of the technologies that are currently science fiction to us, and allow major space exploration and colonization. I would also permanently remove lobbyists and put bureaucrats that do their jobs in place of the current ones.

I'd also plaster banners of the Libertarian concept everywhere and place the real Constitution in the Oval Office, and force all future Presidents to understand that the Constitution is the foundation of the country.

[Moriarty]

If I were all-powerful, I'd show every sentient being in the universe every point in the universe. It might compel some behavioral modifications.

[Autoptic]

I suppose, but where would it come from?

Simple, the same place as the power, now just give the power to your past self.

[Kisai]

If you were all-powerful, what would you do to make the world a better place?

Gods... it would probably look like "Vampire Hunter D" anime after I'm done with it...

[Hdier]

I wouldn't. I would find an alternate dimension I'd enjoy, and renounce my powers. Well, most of them anyways.

[SmileyMan]

If you were all-powerful, what would you do to make the world a better place?

I wouldn't make the world a better place. I would use the world for my own amusement, and that does include doing "evil" things.

[JohnEricMartin]

I would start by dissolving all bloated bureaucratic organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union. Following that, I would establish a constitutional republic in every nation -- constitutional republics that protects the individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I would ensure that state and religion would never again be mixed, and that the evils of socialism and communism would never resurface. Followers of militant Islam would no longer be a factor.

[Skatt]

I couldn't change a thing if I had the power to do it myself. I respect the balance. I suppose I may allow a significant event to systematically cut down on a large portion of the world's human population. I think I would have to make it a result of the humans that aren't so accepting of others so that a lesson could be learned. I don't really think much needs to be changed with the big picture though. Maybe I would make the majority of a few generations sterile, that would probably cause panic and unforeseen consequences though. I don't want the power...

FINAL ANSWER: If I were all powerful I would use my power to make myself normal.

[Tocsin]

Just for the sake of indulgence, imagine changing human sexuality so that everyone was a hermaphrodite. Almost one half of the human population would have to find out about the joys of menstruation, PMS, and pregnancy... imagine what that would do to the whole "pro-choice/pro-life" debate. Former "guys" would have to deal with telling their stiff "girl"friends, "not right now... I have a headache," the whole "date-rape" landscape would change... and the phrase "go f**k yourself," might finally make some sense.

[Skatt]

Just for the sake of indulgence, imagine changing human sexuality so that everyone was a hermaphrodite. Almost one half of the human population would have to find out about the joys of menstruation, PMS, and pregnancy... imagine what that would do to the whole "pro-choice/pro-life" debate. Former "guys" would have to deal with telling their stiff "girl"friends, "not right now... I have a headache," the whole "date-rape" landscape would change... and the phrase "go f**k yourself," might finally make some sense.

That's the best response to this question I have ever heard.

[simoncpu]

Just for the sake of indulgence, imagine changing human sexuality so that everyone was a hermaphrodite. Almost one half of the human population would have to find out about the joys of menstruation, PMS, and pregnancy... imagine what that would do to the whole "pro-choice/pro-life" debate. Former "guys" would have to deal with telling their stiff "girl"friends, "not right now... I have a headache," the whole "date-rape" landscape would change... and the phrase "go f**k yourself," might finally make some sense.

This will cause the demise of the human race because there would be no incentive to reproduce.

Although people can self-reproduce by f**king themselves, this would cause inbreeding, and will lower the human race' average IQ on each generation. =)

[enWTFp]

If I were all-powerful I'd just make sure that nobody ever could become all-powerful, including me.

[Skatt]

This will cause the demise of the human race because there would be no incentive to reproduce.


What do you mean no incentive? There's still primal nature in a hermaphrodite.

[cncracer]

I would do several things.
1- I would back history up to correct the many atrocities and eliminate those organizations responsible for them.
2- I would remove the gene which lets people be sucked in by religion and replace it with a gene that allows man to view the world and universe in abstract conditions without looking for gods.
3- I like the one standard set of laws (one government) mentioned in an earlier post; which would work hand in hand with no prejudice or greed.
3- I would give the species the ability to expand it knowledge and capacity for mental growth up to and beyond any supposed god or super being with ultimate powers.
4- I would retire and go some place where I would not be bothered by humanity if they screwed up again.

[DrEast]

Is this a trick question? Abolish evil seems too obvious and I always did love oversimplified answers to complicated problems. So, abolish evil, final answer.

Really? You'd abolish yourself? Seems a sort of self-destructive thing to do with infinite cosmic power.

[Avid]

You guys don't want me all powerful. I already have weird, sick visions of me having telekinesis and sending the slow jerk driver in front of me flying into a tree.

[DrEast]

You guys don't want me all powerful. I already have weird, sick visions of me having telekinesis and sending the slow jerk driver in front of me flying into a tree.

Why not just make all matter incorporeal when it enters a vehicle? Eliminate the need for traffic laws! Including the laws of physics as it relates to traffic.

[Avid]

Why not just make all matter incorporeal when it enters a vehicle? Eliminate the need for traffic laws! Including the laws of physics as it relates to traffic.

Good idea. Could just make it so everybody could fly around...

[DrEast]

Good idea. Could just make it so everybody could fly around...

Admittedly, that would make for some odd chase scenes in movies.

So I'm all for it.

[Mozzes]

Really? You'd abolish yourself? Seems a sort of self-destructive thing to do with infinite cosmic power.

I don't know, many people have argued that morality is merely the whims of those with power over those without power.

Besides, evil isn't corporeal. Why would purging evil imply destroying the physical entity?

On the other hand your comment could be an underhanded slap in the face by attempting to imply that I'm wholly evil. :evil: But I wonder if the act of abolishing evil would be proof enough that I'm not completely evil.

So many tangents so little time. *gets distracted by something shiny*

[tp6626]

What do you mean if I was all powerful? Who's to say I'm not already? ;)

[DrEast]

On the other hand your comment could be an underhanded slap in the face by attempting to imply that I'm wholly evil. :evil:

What evidence can you offer that you aren't?

[Valiyn]

If I was all-powerful.....I would have alot of galaxies to go through and make sure they are thoroughly conquered.


Just being honest with myself......*cue Imperial March*






Because if an INTJ was all powerful, they wouldn't do shit. THey wouldn't need too. Everything works perfectly and effectiantly the first time around and sentient beings would just call your work "natural".

[simoncpu]

What do you mean no incentive? There's still primal nature in a hermaphrodite.

If you have a weewee and a coochie,
You would no longer have any incentive to make woopie,
Unless your weewee and coochie,
Are located at opposite sides of your body,
Such that it's impossible to make woopie.

[Avid]

If you have a weewee and a coochie, you would no longer have any incentive to make woopie, unless your weewee and coochie are located at opposite sides of your body such that it's impossible to make woopie.

That made me laugh and almost spit coke on my keyboard.

People would probably still feel the need to make more of themselves in some fashion. We are all prisoners to our basic biology and for some the need for kids seems strong.

[Skatt]

Agreed, my only point is that everything wouldn't just stop because of that change. It would clear up a lot of the irrational behavior I think. I think though that running the universe is like understanding the chaos theory to the fullest. It would probably require doing all kinds of very little things to sort of direct to flow. I think even a perfect being would suck at that.

[Tocsin]

This will cause the demise of the human race because there would be no incentive to reproduce.

Although people can self-reproduce by f**king themselves, this would cause inbreeding, and will lower the human race' average IQ on each generation. =)

Oh, come on! Don't be such a killjoy.

Just think of how entertaining the confusion would be.

Considering all the normal teenage sexual confusion that gets poured out here everyday in various threads, just imagine how comical it would be if every teen here was a boy-girl.

Who asks who to the prom? How do you decide whether to try out for the football team or the cheerleading team? (Although I must admit, I wouldn't want to see cheerleaders in very short skirts with a full tackle box filling out their panties... eugh!)

And consider this; if you could screw yourself any time of the day, would anyone ever really be bored in math class?

As for inbreeding lowering the general IQ, the way things are going these days, I'm not sure the difference would be that noticeable.





Tocsin added to this post, 5 minutes and 56 seconds later...

Additionally, I think it would change "girl's" gymnastics quite a bit. There's a lot of things you don't want to be doing on parallel bars if you have dangly bits hanging loose down there that are quite sensitive to pain.

[Ijz]

I would make all politicians geniuses and give them a conscience.

[metamagnet]

One man's utopia is always inevitably another man's dystopia

[ArchonAlarion]

Eh, I'd probably let Earth be. I'd save it from world destroying disasters like asteroids only because while I do not like most humans now, I know they are capable of the most spectacular things.

Basically, I'd be the Ellimist from Animorphs. I start planets off with a few tweaks and see how they develop.

Oh and I might give humanity a few shoves towards anarcho-capitalism. Unveiling certain organizations and enlightening the right people is all.

But I wouldn't want to screw with humans too much because then theists wouldn't understand that I wasn't really God, and they'd be all like "I told you so", to atheists.

I'd mainly spend my time living out all the storylines I make in my head or have read about. That would be awesome.

[Ligda]

Nothing, a perfect world is boring. That or give everybody flying or teleporting abilities. Think about the amount of energy we'd save if we all didn't need planes, cars, boats, or trains.

i agree. nothing exists without it's polar opposite... peace wouldn't exist without war, good wouldn't exist without evil, etc.

"your joy is your sorrow unmasked"

[MindOverMatter]

I would keep things the same exept I would weed out the stupid, corrupt and close-minded people so the human race would be more likely to be successful. A world without conflict would be as horrable as hell. Plus I don't feel solving their problems for them would be as much help as allowing then to learn for themselves.