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A mage confronts you and tells you that he will, out of the goodness of his heart, give you one of 10 magical blessings. Assume in each case that there are no genie-style drawbacks. He will disappear after blessing you and never appear again to anyone else or you.
I'm genuinely interested in what the top choice will be, seeing as I couldn't decide myself. Will you pick a quick pay off one like a perfect body or one that can reward you over the long term like the musical talent?
Poll: Which magic blessing would you pick?Your parents instantly become extremely wealthy ($100m in the bank) (18) 25% Any job with the career history and knowledge to allow you to keep it. (Paying up to $200,000 PA) (14) 19% Win the lottery - $15m in your account (12) 16% Top 10 in the world skill at any one musical instrument (9) 12% Photographic memory (9) 12% Incredible personability - you gain charm, wit and grace (DOESN'T mean everyone will like you) (4) 5% Perfect body WITH perfect athlete genetics - meaning your body responds optimally to exercise (4) 5% Penis resized by the mage to your exact dimensional specifications (2) 3% Very good looking face - 99% of people will find you a 10/10. But your body is unchanged. (1) 1% 73 total votes Your vote: Which magic blessing would you pick? (Vote): Top 10 in the world skill at any one musical instrument
(Vote): Photographic memory
(Vote): Incredible personability - you gain charm, wit and grace (DOESN'T mean everyone will like you)
(Vote): Your parents instantly become extremely wealthy ($100m in the bank)
(Vote): Win the lottery - $15m in your account
(Vote): Any job with the career history and knowledge to allow you to keep it. (Paying up to $200,000 PA)
(Vote): Penis resized by the mage to your exact dimensional specifications
(Vote): Very good looking face - 99% of people will find you a 10/10. But your body is unchanged.
(Vote): Perfect body WITH perfect athlete genetics - meaning your body responds optimally to exercise
 
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Based on the options, I found the poll pretty easy for me. I trust my parents with $100M and I have a great relationship with my mom, and I don't need $15M right now (would be my second choice, hands down). Money is far more important from a realistic and practical standpoint than most of the others, and I'd like to think that I'm not so god-awful in some of the other departments that I'd need a magic wish to perfect one of them. One hundred million (or even fifteen million) dollars is a ton of money, and can help you in far more areas in life than anything else (as far as I'm concerned).
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United States24612 Posts
On January 11 2013 23:54 Inori wrote:
People choosing money - you do realize you could easily earn much more than that with perfect genetics or top 10 music skills or photographic memory?
How would you turn musical skill into much more than a hundred million dollars, easily? If it's even possible, it would not be easy at all. Same thing with good genetics... even if that meant you could become a top tier pro athlete it would take years of hard work to make one hundred million, let alone much more. Same idea with a photographic memory (whatever that even means).
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They probably would prefer instant money to be able to invest it or they are perfectly happy with their lives but just want a shit ton in the bank...
On January 11 2013 23:59 micronesia wrote:
Same idea with a photographic memory (whatever that even means).
It really just means amazing memory.
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On January 11 2013 23:54 Inori wrote:
People choosing money - you do realize you could easily earn much more than that with perfect genetics or top 10 music skills or photographic memory?
Except that would need to become your new profession, and you're assuming that people have a passion to perform or show off in that way. Most people don't.
For example, I have no desire to perfect an instrument or do magic tricks invoking a perfect memory (and, quite frankly, you need a lot of luck and personality- not just skill- to make millions of dollars in these atmospheres anyway). As an educator, I'm quite happy teaching mathematics to others, but I'm not making bank. I certainly don't want to be moonlighting as a stripper with my new hot bod wish (lol) when I could just have millions of dollars via a more sensible and practical (for my situation) wish.
I'm sure it depends on the person 
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The money is guaranteed. Even athletes with perfect genes can sustain injuries etc. Being one of the best musicians does not imply that you can monetize said talent and I'm not sure how you would be able to make millions with a photographic memory
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On January 12 2013 00:03 2stra wrote:
The money is guaranteed. Even athletes with perfect genes can sustain injuries etc. Being one of the best musicians does not imply that you can monetize said talent and I'm not sure how you would be able to make millions with a photographic memory
Yo, I bet you a hundred million dollars I can remember what you said yesterday.
But in all seriousness, I don't understand why someone would want photographic memory over the money. The ability to eventually forget things is actually pretty nice, considering we can always write ourselves reminders if we need to remembers something (although I understand how terrible a disease like Alzheimer's is). But everything perfectly? I would think that would be annoying and taxing on both you and others (think Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory). I suppose you'd do quite well on your tests and in the real world though (Mike Ross from Suits). ::shrugs::
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I'm quite surprised 3 people have gone for the wealthy parents option. It's the only wish where you get absolutely nothing directly and you would therefore have to always be on your best behaviour to keep them sweet! Plus if they divorced etc.
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On January 12 2013 00:12 sc4k wrote:
I'm quite surprised 3 people have gone for the wealthy parents option. It's the only wish where you get absolutely nothing directly and you would therefore have to always be on your best behaviour to keep them sweet! Plus if they divorced etc.
Well, a 100 million is a lot more than 15 I have a good relationship with my parents and they tend to be more financially responsible than I am atm. I think I would eventually end up with more money this way, plus my parents can enjoy a carefree retirement. win-win !
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On January 11 2013 23:54 Inori wrote:
People choosing money - you do realize you could easily earn much more than that with perfect genetics or top 10 music skills or photographic memory?
well, i look at it like this, if i have tons and tons of money, then i can do anything i want. you could play sc2 whole day every day, play instrument 24/7 basically anything you want without worrying where can you get money for food, bills etc..
And i would love grinding the shit out of one instrument more than just have an instant knowledge of particular instrument and be instantly top. I would love to progress, improve, practice. But that's just me.
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having a very, very good memory (stuff like remembering the author and topic of a random email after two years with several hundred emails per day coming in over those two years) I would not go for that one and don't think it's that amazing.
would hate to be so much in the spotlight, so athlete and music guy don't work for me. no idea what job I would want (apart from arborist, ha!)
I like my parents, and they like me, so 100 mio for them it would be
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usually, I think people overvalue money... However the other options in this poll don't really compare (IMHO). It's almost only a question of "what's your relationship with your parents / siblings".
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On January 12 2013 01:43 y0su wrote:
usually, I think people overvalue money... However the other options in this poll don't really compare (IMHO). It's almost only a question of "what's your relationship with your parents / siblings".
Almost all the other things are things that can't be bought with money.
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To be honest I think I would pick the musical talent/athlete option. Sure, money is awesome to have, but for me, I gain satisfaction and happiness from being able to earn the things that I have. Also, you may not be able to earn 100million instantly, but you might. and you will definately make at least 1 million. That is enough for me, and on top of this, I have a sick talent that will stay with me the rest of my life. It's all about what gives the most pleasure.
Upon re-reading the paragraph I just wrote, it seems hypocritical: being magically granted a musical talent would take the pleasure away from me, because as I said, I like to earn what I have. That includes skill, and is not only about money.
Thus I ask, is there anyone who would choose not to be granted any wish?
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With or without money you would be able to enjoy learning/playing an instrument or a sport. Money just makes things run a little bit smoother, the lubricant of life. Why wouldn't you choose money if you had the option to get it for free?
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I just want to know who voted for the penis resize.
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East Gorteau22261 Posts
I would go for photographic memory. Naturally, a hundred million dollars in my parents' account or fifteen million in mine would be pretty damn awesome, but there is something about photographic memory that tickles my fancy. I try to maintain attention to detail down to the most pointless things, but it's no photographic memory (I know that term is both mis- and overused, but still). If I had that, there are a multitude of things I can think of that I could use it for, some of them in the long run probably helping me get pretty rich.
+ Show Spoiler +Good memory is no guarantee that you'll be rich, but remembering the small details in overheard conversations could really turn out to be quite beneficial if used correctly. Also, I don't like the idea of being given money - I want to work for what I have.
On January 12 2013 02:24 Rollin wrote:
I just want to know who voted for the penis resize.
Probably ClouD
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Godlike personality, easy. It's my biggest fault and the one I want to rectify the most but probably won't ever be able to naturally.
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Is the photographic memory perfect, and do you give any outward signs when using it? I guess my question is, is this brand of photographic memory good or bad for counting cards?
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United States24612 Posts
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On January 12 2013 03:10 farvacola wrote:
Is the photographic memory perfect, and do you give any outward signs when using it? I guess my question is, is this brand of photographic memory good or bad for counting cards?
The mage isn't granting magic powers, so it's scaled to match the best memory humanity has ever had and then exceeds it very slightly. You don't give any more outward signs than you would normally (you'll have to deal with bluffing and disguising your focus). It most certainly is good for counting cards. As good as any human's memory in history has ever been at it (even a little better).
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On January 12 2013 03:20 sc4k wrote:Show nested quote +On January 12 2013 03:10 farvacola wrote:
Is the photographic memory perfect, and do you give any outward signs when using it? I guess my question is, is this brand of photographic memory good or bad for counting cards? The mage isn't granting magic powers, so it's scaled to match the best memory humanity has ever had and then exceeds it very slightly. You don't give any more outward signs than you would normally (you'll have to deal with bluffing and disguising your focus). It most certainly is good for counting cards. As good as any human's memory in history has ever been at it (even a little better).
Thanks for the clarification, photographic memory gets my vote. Time to go Rain Man in Vegas and make that 100 mil
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I don't see how anybody can be taking the money over the actual changes to your own person. That just seems so boring. If by personality you mean a complete lack of fear of any situation then I'll take that one, otherwise I'll take the body at an age young enough for me to put it to good use. If I can't take the body from an age where I would actually be able to train from child, I'll take the face.
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On January 12 2013 03:27 Weasel- wrote:
I don't see how anybody can be taking the money over the actual changes to your own person. That just seems so boring. If by personality you mean a complete lack of fear of any situation then I'll take that one, otherwise I'll take the body at an age young enough for me to put it to good use. If I can't take the body from an age where I would actually be able to train from child, I'll take the face.
It's personability ie, the quality of being personable. Basically masses of charisma, people hang off your stories, you have great comic timing, you listen well, people often like to hang around you, you can get almost anyone over to your side. Could be a good one- works for jobs, girlfriend, friends, even entering into politics lol!
So basically you want to play the long game and take a long term boost to life rather than any insta-perks. Makes sense. I still can't decide what I would go for, but you make a convincing case.
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I picked musical skill, however If you put up
Amazing drawing skills, I think I'd have to think about it more
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i almost picked the penis one for lulz because i don't actually have one
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parents, largest lump sum, trust them to give me and loved ones enough to be comfortable, and then they could retire now and live out the rest of their lives. My parents aren't overly flashy so they wouldn't blow it all, they'd just live with it and be happy the rest of their lives after having come to america with nothing I feel they deserve it. it's literally like the only mage-gift that isn't selfish so I went with that one.
The photographic memory one getting so many votes surprises me. there are lots of people around the world with said memory, i bet you can't name any of them, why? because what does having that do for you. so you can remember your bank account number by heart? I guess you can use it to count cards or use it in poker, but having photographic memory, doesn't mean you can inherently keep track of a 5 deck shuffle in las vegas blackjack. you'll just remember stuff, but the odds are still against you.
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My parents are of the "you gotta make it on your own" mentality. They are already pretty well off but I don't get any of it. So they probably wouldn't give me much at all unfortunately. I chose lottery for myself.
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i picked the career one, because i'd get more satisfaction from making money than winning it by luck.
also, photographic memory is not all that great. i don't have it, but i'm close. all it really does is help me hold grudges for longer. it didn't really help in studying either, because although i could remember lots of facts, it doesn't help if you don't understand it all. i am also not quite sure what there is to memorize in poker. i guess you can remember every single hand you've ever saw from every single player, but since i'm not much a poker person myself, i have no idea how that will help you play better.
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If I get 15 million I could budget myself between 150k and 200k for the rest of my life, pretty much no matter how long I live. I could live like that and never be required to work a day in my life. And if I don't have to work, I probably still would, but I would just work on exactly whatever I want to work on. So I would probably make an indie game studio and never have to worry about makig money with my games. I could make whatever games I like. I could probably hire one or two other people to work on those games for me too, without straying from my budget. And if it does make money, then I could expand.
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Caught between 15 mil and perfect athletic body. I want to be able to invest and donate to a lot of things I think deserve it, but I would actually like to be more physically fit than I am now.
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On January 12 2013 04:31 Kimmay wrote:
i picked the career one, because i'd get more satisfaction from making money than winning it by luck.
I question all of you, including myself, who say that they want to earn what they have. If that were true for you, you wouldn't choose the career boost nor musical talent nor photographic memory. Isn't that still cheating; using a magically-gifted talent to make money? Granted, the only way you would ever choose this is if you were Jesus and could resist your greed. In this case, the only selfless answer is 100 million $ to your parents (still selfish due to inheritance).
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On January 12 2013 04:40 jrkirby wrote:
If I get 15 million I could budget myself between 150k and 200k for the rest of my life, pretty much no matter how long I live. I could live like that and never be required to work a day in my life. And if I don't have to work, I probably still would, but I would just work on exactly whatever I want to work on. So I would probably make an indie game studio and never have to worry about makig money with my games. I could make whatever games I like. I could probably hire one or two other people to work on those games for me too, without straying from my budget. And if it does make money, then I could expand.
You could probably live off of more. Even if you got the smallest amount of interest from depositing like 1% that comes out to 150k every months
I would have to go with the perfect athletic body. Have you seen bourne identity and stuff. The things you could do would be sick!
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Some good arguments but I haven't seen anyone sticking up for the career. Remember, there are two important elements to it. Firstly, you get a career history, which is something that is worth its weight in gold and will allow you a lot of manoeuvrability in getting a new job. Secondly, and most importantly, consider your age. If you are 21, having a 200k a year job is just the START, you can get promoted and get advancements and be making mega bucks soon. Or you could choose the job to be something important in the movie industry or...most importantly...the video game industry :D.
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"Perfect body WITH perfect athlete genetics - meaning your body responds optimally to exercise"
Does that mean that you use 100% of you brain ? I heard somewhere that the human race is using less than 15% of it's brain. Using 100% could be huge.
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On January 12 2013 07:24 algue wrote:
"Perfect body WITH perfect athlete genetics - meaning your body responds optimally to exercise"
Does that mean that you use 100% of you brain ? I heard somewhere that the human race is using less than 15% of it's brain. Using 100% could be huge.
Firstly, that's a misunderstanding. We use 100% of our brains, just different parts at different times relating to which part we need to use. You don't need to activate your spacial awareness area when you are trying to talk french, for example.
Secondly, I couldn't write everything in the poll Q so I can see why you might think it includes the brain but no, it doesn't. It also doesn't include health. It just means a fantastic aesthetic to your body. The perfect athlete genetics allow you to train your strength or cardio to taste.
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I went with the penis one because having a huge schlong would automatically lead to charisma, confidence, wit etc and would then lead to a great career.
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you do realize that no one gets paid for knowing shit, right? and that you still have to DO the job you magically obtained the knowledge for? unless you're saying that you also get magical creatures that will complete any task for me. for example, i know how to drive a car. do i also get a magic self driving truck so i can be a trucker? if i were to pick being a business man, will my reports automatically get done? does a doppelganger attend my meetings for me? or do i actually have to do work after obtaining this magical knowledge?
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Definitely "Any job with the career history and knowledge to allow you to keep it. (Paying up to $200,000 PA)"
I could get to do what i want with my life without having to study for it. What i want to do is something i'm not planning to share here, but i'd basically hate studying for it, which is why i'm not doing it. But if i could get straight to the working part, i'd love the shit out of it.
I don't care much about money in the end, i just want to do something that i enjoy
@Above, it says you HAVE the job and you have the ability and knowledge to also keep it without being fired/being replaced/whatever. You'd have to work and so on, you would probably still be fired if you stopped meeting up, you just have the dream position of your life and the abiltiy and knowledge to keep it. You'd still have to work yourself.
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On January 12 2013 09:07 Kimmay wrote:
you do realize that no one gets paid for knowing shit, right? and that you still have to DO the job you magically obtained the knowledge for? unless you're saying that you also get magical creatures that will complete any task for me. for example, i know how to drive a car. do i also get a magic self driving truck so i can be a trucker? if i were to pick being a business man, will my reports automatically get done? does a doppelganger attend my meetings for me? or do i actually have to do work after obtaining this magical knowledge?
Yeah of course you have to work. But it would be awesome to be a game designer at Creative Assembly. I can honestly say that's more of a dream than most of the other options on the list...for me...
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Any job? I'll be the CEO of an interbank or one of the top fund managers. 100m < 1b any day.
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I trust my parents. LOLOL
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United Kingdom16710 Posts
Does your voice count as a musical instrument? If so, probably that, and preferably a voice akin to Pavarotti's. If not, probably the 15mil. I would go for the 100mil, but my parents are very devout christians and they would probably give most of it away to churches and charities. That and I'll probably have to convert to christianity or at least pretend to see any of what's left. My freedom is easily worth the downgrade from living in ridiculous opulence to luxury.
As for the professional thing, I would consider it if I wasn't such a sloth at heart.
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EPT
