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You Have found a genie that grants 3 wishes! What are your wishes, how do you avoid loopholes or "the monkeys paw"? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 1 week ago by WizardGed@lemmy.ca to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.ca

88 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Lets assume that genies grant wishes literally, but will twist your words. How do you wish without unintended consequences? Typical rules of no more wishes, no resurrection, no forced love, no altering the past, can't defy logic, can't break physical laws, can't create paradoxes, and can't affect higher powers (this is one tough genie!).

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[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 7 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

When Fox Mulder encountered a genie like that, his wish was delivered in written form. It was a binder with probably more than 1000 pages. Basically, he wished for world peace, but he had to lawyer his way out of all the usual genie BS. If the genie is playing dirty, you have to design the wish like you would design a law.

Bonus showerthougt: The law is a book series specifically written for assholes.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I was just discussing that episode when my son asked me if I pushed a button that killed all assholes on the planet would I push it. I didn't even hesitate in saying yes. He then asked even if it killed me too, and I still said yes.

This led to whole discussion around this whole concept and the monkey paw theory and I also brought up the episode as well. The ending was the only correct choice to make.

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I wouldn’t press that button. Getting rid of assholes is a temporary fix. The human nature will always produce more in the next generation. Besides, thanos snapping away such a big part of the population will probably result in some sort of societal collapse, famine and disasters.

[–] CanadianCorhen@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 days ago

yea, seems likely that it would kill 100% of humanity.

Babies are fucking assholes. they might not know better, but they are assholes.

My toddler? often an asshole, does things just to see what happens.

Teens? totaly assholes Adults: have you met them?

[–] WizardGed@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The genie is wondering how you managed to get all that done before spontaneously finding him. He claims you must also be a genie and per genie law owes you no wishes!

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Nah, I would just put the genie on hold for 7 months while I’m cooking the wish with a team of lawyers.

[–] WizardGed@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If you can leave genie on hold for 7 months genie's leaving you on hold till your dead before granting your wish (genie was pretty damn offended here, this is worse than the war crime stuff for him!)

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Fair enough. World peace achieved even though I didn’t get to enjoy it. Totally worth it though.