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| Would you instead fly or be invisible? |
Recently one of my son’s favorite TV stations surveyed children. They asked kids which superpower they would rather have: the ability to fly or invisible?
To me, it seemed to be a no-brainer–to fly most definitely!
First of all, I think the ability to fly offers a lot more opportunities for fun, adventure, and freedom. Just think about being able to go anywhere, anytime you want, without worrying about traffic, road conditions, or gas money!
While being invisible offers a range of opportunities, it seems so sneaky to me that I feel uncomfortable even thinking about it.
My son agreed with me. He thought flying would be a lot more fun. There is no surprise there as he is a physical child who enjoys being on the go.
Then I started to think about the question. What does our choice say about us? I think I would want to know why a child would choose invisibility over flying. I would fear that a child who decided on that option already felt invisible or wished they were. I would worry about their self-esteem and security in social interactions.
Of course, on the other hand, there are specific practical considerations. There are several instances where invisibility could serve many purposes for good on a small or large scale.
This question has been around for some time. A public radio station did a program on superheroes some time ago. It took a survey asking which power their audience would prefer, the ability to fly or invisible.
Men voted that they wanted to fly, and women wanted to be invisible. Why? So that the men could fly their kids to school and soccer instead of fighting traffic, and women wanted to be hidden so that they could sit in on conversations and hear what was being said about them. No one wanted to use the superpower to help others.
I find that survey even more disappointing than the one for kids. But not surprising. I am not a cynical person (except when it comes to my students’ excuses for not doing their homework) in general, but more often, when I hear some act of courageous good, I am surprised rather than affirmed.
So while this could certainly appear to be a simple question, something like Barbara Walter’s “If you could be an animal, what would you be” type, I think it could lead to a much deeper discussion. What do you think?
Which would you rather be? Which superpower would you rather your child have?
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