A thought on wishes

[cmdr_zoom]

A link on someone else's journal reminded me of a certain movie, and a thought I had back when I saw it that's still true now:

When a Higher Power has offered to grant a wish, and you have chosen something ambitious and open-ended - immortality, ultimate knowledge, something like that - and that Higher Power asks with a smile, "Are you suuuure?" That is your cue to apologize, explain that you've changed your mind, and run. It may not save you, but at least you won't be an active participant in your death (or worse-than-death) by hubris.

Comments

[caluche.livejournal.com]

I think the fact that these kinds of stories are so old (genie granting wishes that end up killing you dates back a few thousand years, iirc) is something of an ancient version of "money can't buy you happiness", that is to say, being granted what you want doesn't mean you're actually getting what you *want*.

I've always wondered what would happen if you turned the tables and wished outright for something bad for yourself (instant, painful death). Would the genie turn it around somehow and make you a multimillionare living a life of luxury?

[cmdr-zoom.livejournal.com]

True. Of course, it's only become more relevant in the modern age...

"One does not have conversations with computers. One issues commands and then watches helplessly while they carry them out to the letter."