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Lets say you got a wish..or a divine visit...it doesnt matter...

Lets say that this "entity/force/wish" gave you the ability/talent of your choice.
You would be the best of the best in this one field. No exceptions and no challengers could ever compete...you ARE simply that good.

But...the catch is that you could NEVER use it for personal gain. The more you used it for personal gain, the more the ability would melt away.

For Example: I choose "I want to have the ability to play the piano". I thrill thousands of people and donate my concerts to charity, taking just enough money to survive "well". One day I decide to take a a little extra for "my effort" and give a show thats "less than spectacular". I ignore the signs and take more, only to find that my shows "Dont draw as many people". In a final desperate attempt, I charge 50,000 a ticket and give the crappiest show ever.
Once I am penniless and on the street, I volunteer to play for free at a charity auction and the auction makes a tidy profit.
I keep enough to live "comfortably", but realize that if I try to make money, I will degrade my ability.

I have an ability to do ANYTHING I choose, but at the cost of living only "comfortably"...

Question: What would YOU choose as the ability?

Serious answers only...unless you can make them work....

SB

PS. Before you answer, ask me any questions you want in PM. This is actually the basis of a study I did.

why, the ability to make fine spirits of course

I'm interested to hear how you defined "personal gain" in a way that didn't piss off the psychological egoists, though.

kiwistiller wrote:why, the ability to make fine spirits of course

I'm interested to hear how you defined "personal gain" in a way that didn't piss off the psychological egoists, though.

Seriously, no sucking up. What would you choose?

Lets say that this "entity/force/wish" gave you the ability/talent of your choice.

The ability to give a woman the theoretical height of romantic and sexual pleasure.

Trust me, I wouldn't HAVE to charge, the wealthy ones would tip very well. And since that's a gift, not me asking for it, it's a legitimate loophole.

ScottishBoy wrote:

kiwistiller wrote:why, the ability to make fine spirits of course

I'm interested to hear how you defined "personal gain" in a way that didn't piss off the psychological egoists, though.

Seriously, no sucking up. What would you choose?

Thats not sucking up. I'm dead serious, and the question's serious as well.

sence im a dog,,,, i have chosen the ability to lick my nuts,,,,,, not for persional gain ofcorse,,, but just to keep the gnats away
Mr. Spooky

I have 2 hobbies that above everything else I do, I do just to for personal pleasure... one is the guitar and the other is archery.
If I had to choose between the two, I would play guitar and use the talent for bennifit concerts and good causes, it would just make more sense because my other passion ( archery ) doesn't reach as many people to do as much good.

Fastill wrote:I have 2 hobbies that above everything else I do, I do just to for personal pleasure... one is the guitar and the other is archery.
If I had to choose between the two, I would play guitar and use the talent for bennifit concerts and good causes, it would just make more sense because my other passion ( archery ) doesn't reach as many people to do as much good.

LOL,,, i got a feeling that a good bow would reach out alot further ,, and faster that a electric twanger... sorry,,, had to say that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT1LXhgX ... playnext=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Mr.Spooky wrote:

Fastill wrote:I have 2 hobbies that above everything else I do, I do just to for personal pleasure... one is the guitar and the other is archery.
If I had to choose between the two, I would play guitar and use the talent for bennifit concerts and good causes, it would just make more sense because my other passion ( archery ) doesn't reach as many people to do as much good.

LOL,,, i got a feeling that a good bow would reach out alot further ,, and faster that a electric twanger... sorry,,, had to say that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WT1LXhgX ... playnext=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

Yeah, 320 feet per second will reach out pretty far, but not far enough!

Very difficult and interesting question SB. I'll have to think a lot before even attempting to answer, if I would even be able to answer it.

I've been blessed by HH Tensin Gyatso (current Dalai Lama) so that's out, but it doesn't fit your criteria.

To always be 15 minutes ahead. Whoa...does that qualify for 'no personal gain'? I would no longer be late for the dentist, no more procrastination etc and my life would go better except I'll be waitin 15 minutes before jumpin into a coffin. Could also be the ability to outsmart allcomers and get real rich.

It has to be a spiritual thing. How about the ability to know all knowledge past present and future? I'm told this is one of the steps on the spiritual journey, but this step cannot be had if there is the slightest trace of 'me' or 'ego' being present. 'Personal gain' doesn't count when the 'personal' itself must be discarded

Been a carpenter for 24 yeears. Always enjoyed a good days work and a very measureable sence of accomplishment that we get from building things.

It has only been recently (hat I have had doubts about my path as the construction industry is in the tank and my body is failing.

As to your question SB,,,,,,apparently I have been working for charity all along.

Interesting responses

Personal gain would be defined as "accepting, deriving, or soliciting/expecting benefit from your ability, directly or indirectly"

Pissing off the occasional psychological egoist is something I consider a benefit. I cant stand Ivory Tower thinkers...

The ability to physically fly - as in body fly - kind of like superman - but he really only jumps, so I guess it would be different than superman. I have always imagined how that would feel, and have many dreams about flying....and alwyas when I am dreaming I know that there is this place in my brain that is kinf of lieka switch that I turn on and I can fly...but wne I wake up, I can feel this ache in the back of my head where the switch is kind of like after you turn off the motor on you saw and it is warm - same feeling but I can't turn it on when I am awake!!!!

Could you profit from flying? likely, but I would only do it for presonal pleasure, like I do cycling or sailing.

By the way....I am at work and haven't had a drop to drink since last night and all I have had is two cups of tea and a coffee so far today.

After seeing Roger waters perform The Wall last night, I am sure that I would love to be an awesome guitar player. Sorry I am still pumped from last night.

I don't think I will ever be able to answer this. It's far too hard. I wish I could just forget all about the bloody stupid question.

As an aside I just learnt that I'm about to become a great grandfather in June. I suddenly feel terribly old.

As an aside I just learnt that I'm about to become a great grandfather in June.

That's great news blanikdog. That's quite an accomplishment. Congrats. bd.

To be more in tune with materials. So I can make more beautiful/practical things in a creative, skillfull way for others.

Dammit, SB. I read this forum to occupy the "now" mind and quite the "deep thought" mind so I can fucking sleep at night. NOW I have to spend the next few hours trying to begin to lay the ground work for a few thousand word reply that could probably be summed up in two sentances. CRAP!

Honestly, you've hit on a subject I've thought about once or twice in my life. I've always said that I'd only need one wish( in the instance of the ever popular djinn) and it would take a LONG time of asking questions about limits, duration, areas of effect, variations, phraseology, responsibility,...

I've started typing this 5 times and still haven't got it even close to a beginning I'm happy with. Phuk it. If you really want a deep philosophical discussion, we'll have to meet sometime to discuss the duality of man and what is gain/ profit and who decides if personal enjoyment of ones ability is exessive, and if a truely selfish ability weighs against its duration/ strength,...

Dammit! 6 times.

Beelah, I dream of flying, too. Alot. Breathing underwater, as well.

Thats easy.

I'd like to be able to make ANYONE smile.

I would like the ability to cause any chosen career politicians/bureaucrats to quit forever and choose a different but productive career, by simply smiling at them.

I have a long list to smile at.

H.

To be 18 years old again.

The best 18 year old on earth as per your parameters.
Which means that I could be the BEST at ANYTHING that I wanted.

squidd

Would that be cheating ?

blanikdog wrote:I don't think I will ever be able to answer this. It's far too hard. I wish I could just forget all about the bloody stupid question.

As an aside I just learnt that I'm about to become a great grandfather in June. I suddenly feel terribly old.

Congrats Blanik

Have you started to build the itty bitty still toy for him yet ??

squidd wrote:To be 18 years old again.

But then you'd probably get banned from this site.