Which special ability would you choose?

I chose to be able to understand and speak any language on Earth because that would be an amazing tool both socially as well as career-wise.

I didn't choose a message from God because a) I'm a non-believer and b) I have no idea what the content of that message would be if God does exist. It could be something supremely trivial such as "Cheese is a dairy product", or it could be something horrifying such as "I will punish you for your sins by denying you entry in to heaven and damning you to hell where you will be eternally tortured." Every month. FOREVER!

I didn't choose 'to be an amazing artist' because I feel like if I work hard enough I could become an 'amazing artist' anyway, and there are a few people who already think I am an 'amazing artist' (which I don't agree with but it's still a great feeling).

I didn't choose to be above the law because I think I might end up doing very stupid and horrible things with that power. Also, if other people were aware of my privileged status, I don't think I'd be very well liked.

I didn't choose to find the cure to one disease of my choice because a) I wouldn't be able to select just one, it would be too difficult and b) there's no guarantee a slight variant of that disease won't appear in its absence nullifying the impact my choice had.

I didn't choose to invent the greatest, most destructive weapon of war because, although I'm flawed, I'm not a total, utter, sadistic bastard.

I didn't choose to know what animals are thinking / feeling because I don't know how useful that power would be in my life. Knowing a dog walking by was thinking "I smell shit, where is that shit? I want to sniff that shit! I can't get away from my owner! The lead is too strong! I SMELL SHIT!" wouldn't improve my day-to-day living. Also, since humans are also animals, I don't think I could deal with that level of knowledge - seeing into the private thoughts of every person would probably drive me mad! And of course anybody that knew I could read their mind wouldn't be too happy either.

To find the cure to one disease. I could sell that shit and make so much money. And saving lives and whatever. They're both good reasons for having that ability.

I already have decent artistic skills. I know if I practiced long enough in one medium, I could be good at it given enough time and dedication.

I'm a believer, however, like How said, just because I am receiving a message, doesn't mean it is worth anything. It could be trivial shit for all I know. If I need guidance from God, I could pray for that guidance. That's the purpose of faith and prayer.

To be above the law would be pretty useless for me. I'm not a murderer nor am I a fan of theft. I may be above the law but I wouldn't be above public reprimand.

I could probably learn other languages if I dedicated myself to it.

I'm not much of a war person. Like we need more ways to kill each other.

Knowing what animals think would be great. Had you said COMMUNICATE with animals, I'd definitely be sold. However, just knowing what they think is not good enough for me.

This was a refreshing change o.p. Kudos for a thought-provoking question.

these are epic well thought out choises...

i'd go with "To find the cure to ONE disease of your choice."
then cure HIV & AIDS,
And go on a screwing spree.

the most powerfull weapon is already here...duke nukem.

The language one sounds lovely.

I choose most powerful weapon because a) I'd be filthy rich and powerful b) We need something better than the A-bomb now that Pakistan,Iran,N.Korea etc have one too. Such a weapon too would only be dissuasive anyway.

Aw crap. I thought I read a massage from God. :/

I'd like to be able to cure a disease, or at least come up with an effective vaccine for it. But I'd have a tough time choosing between: Malaria, HIV, and the Plague.

And I would give it free for the whole world.

Of your choices, I'd go for artist. I've always wanted to be able to express myself better.

I'll pick the ability to understand and speak any language on Earth, for similar reasons to what disthing said: it's excellent for me career and social-wise, so it's the most useful and practical for me, personally.

So I'm the only one arguing for the weapons? Ok then.

If I had the world's greatest weapon, hopefully its greatness resides in its intimidation power as that would hopefully result in world peace. A tenuous peace but peace nonetheless. Then, hopefully we can focus on all these other problems like the cure to diseases and actually making Google translate into a viable alternative to actually knowing different languages.

"Speak softly and carry a big stick."
-Teddy Roosevelt

Between the cure, God, and weapons. Those three can open new doors.

Cure for cancer, I would become famous and rich for it. Weapons, I could also become rich and famous for it, a Tony Stark Jr (lol), and with God, I can talk to him and figure out so much about life, if there is more life out there, and so on.

"To be an amazing artist in ONE genre/medium, of your choosing."

To choose just one would be much too hard for me. Sure, I could probably choose acoustic and still be awesome at everything, just as long as it is in acoustic style but it wouldn't be the same. Though it could be a stepping stone to get better at other genres.

But I think it would be cool to speak any language. Mainly because I want to travel and I don't want language to be a barrier. I don't want it to affect where I can go.

I'll go with the animals one. It would be interesting to understand what my pet chickens are thinking about.

It's got to be the God one, becaue who wouldn't want to be able to check in and make sure that you're doing right? After that, the selfish part of me would want to play guitar the way I hear it in my head, rather than the way it comes out of my fingers; but I couldn't pass up the cure. How would you go about choosing the disease, though? Most fatalities? Most childhood fatalities? What about curing schizophrenia - can you imagine the benefits of that? The animal one is also pretty cool too. Good list.

These are all lame. No lasers = fucking lame.

I'd want to fly. Im already above the law and a great artist so from your list I'd cure cancer.

Can I combine two? I'd like to mix the understanding of what animals are thinking and feeling with knowing every language on earth. Humans are animals so maybe by default I can have both.

amazing artist! because i am already an artist, but i wanna be an amazing one.

I'm already above the law. ^_~

I choose to know what my critters are thinking and feeling, because it would help me take better care of them.

It was between the "animals" one and the one about speaking different languages. I picked the "animals" one because I always wondered what animals are thinking and if they think in their own form of communication, but I was considering the one where I can speak different language because I get a lot of Mexican immagrants at my job and not too many of them speak english so it's hard to communicate.

To know what animals are thinking and feeling, since I like animals more than people.