Online gamers
Please........doing well, or not, at your chosen "game", does not constitute "absolute power", unless you're driving a massively armed UAV (for real). So, like the last QOTW, failing or doing well, it's not for real and does not count one bit for real life, and the sort of person you really are. Same goes for those twats on youtube, who post gaming or simulator footage with flash titles.
(M61A1 CUPID- STUNTS, Sat 10 Jul 2010, 1:05, 6 replies)

Good thinking batman
rather than allow a loose interpretation of the question in order to promote (hopefully) humorous responses, we should restrict answers to those who have genuinely been in a position of absolute power - there must be a load of absolute monarchs, dictators, and the like kicking around random internet forums, afterall.
( Happy Phantom has been to Hastings, Brighton, and Eastbourne too, Sat 10 Jul 2010, 11:43, closed)

What does constitute absolute power then?
Being good at a real game that does mean something in real life, not those imaginary computerey ones that don't really exist?

Being the manager of your office?

Being the manager of three offices?

Having a gun?

Telling your girl or boyfriend to make you a cup of tea?

Wanking into a sock and not having to clean it up?

Do tell. I'm sure there's all sorts of genuine absolute power out there, and it's not at all a relative concept that you can interpret how you like.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Sat 10 Jul 2010, 12:04, closed)

I appreciate
that some people love these games, and they may or may not be good at them, that's terrific, but for fuck's sake it's just a game (like football).Personally, I think absolute power could apply almost anywhere in life, except a sim, that is why it shits me when I see posts and have to listen to people at work, who carry on about their chosen game as if it were some life changing heroic adventure.As much as you love it, there is no risk, no danger (physical or emotional), nothing you do with your keyboard/controller, will have any power over anything , anywhere, except what appears on a screen. I can't tell you definitatively what absolute power is, but I can tell you what it isn't.
(M61A1 CUPID- STUNTS, Sun 11 Jul 2010, 6:45, closed)

Crotchmonkey insult rescinded.
However, bear in mind that what you're saying only applies to single player games.
Because you're interacting with real people in things like WOW or Second Life, you're...well, interacting with people, with everything that entails. That arguably makes it real enough.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Sun 11 Jul 2010, 10:51, closed)

Ok, it's not real...
But people who have control in online games still control the experience of those who use the game -- and, after all, we know that many people use online games for hours on end. So, without actually controlling anything in real life at all, those with influence in online games (or other online communities) can have a profound effect on many people.
(Me, I'm not... in any way intoxicated, Sat 10 Jul 2010, 21:17, closed)

I can see
that this is part of the appeal, I love combat flight sims myself, it is something I will never get to experience for real. My point is that these games are not really worthy of title "absolute power", not even if you are on a forum for games.
(M61A1 CUPID- STUNTS, Sun 11 Jul 2010, 6:49, closed)