Monty by Jim Meddick for January 08, 2017
January 07, 2017
January 09, 2017
Transcript:
I am the genie of the lantern! For releasing me from my prison, I shall grant thee three wishes! Um... Let's see... Wish #1... Um... I wish for a Tesla Model X P100D! Here is the warranty to the vehicle you have chosen... It awaits you at the nearest authorized Tesla dealership... Um... Ok. Great! My second wish is for... Uh, a million dollars! Here! Here is the currency you have requested! Wow! Awesome! And for my last wish... I wish for three more wishes! Ha! Ha! Pretty good, huh? I... Well, he gave me three more wishes, but unfortunately I have to grant them to the first person who comes along and rubs this Mountain Dew bottle...
I love this fantasy as a thought experiment. I’m pretty sure there’s always a way the genie is going to screw you. Is the dealership going to ask you where you got that key? How will you explain? Where did that million dollars come from? From a bank vault, in marked bills, more than likely. Meddick just showed how wishing for more wishes will screw you. “Magic always comes with a price.” The only safe wish is to be freed from the curse of the wishes. You can tell the genie you wish him not to harm you, you wish to remain uncursed by any wishes, and you wish him freedom and happiness.