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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 2 days ago by WizardGed@lemmy.ca to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.ca

93 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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[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day 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 3 points 22 hours 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 3 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

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?

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 2 points 10 hours ago

Yeah, if you use the broadest possible definition, then pretty much everyone would be gone. Even if you restrict it to only adults who are aware of what they are doing and still choose to be an asshole fairly often, you would be removing a huge part of the population. Sounds like a pretty bad move to me.

That sort of thing might come close to nuking the entire species back to the stone age. Then again, that would be good for the environment in the long run. It could take like 20 000 years for the human species to fully recover from that one button press. I think I'm beginning to see some benefits... nah. Still a bad idea.