This is because meta-wishes ruin story lines. After all, where’s the challenge when you can (meta-)wish your troubles away? My preference for the three wishes is to first wish for the ability to use the next two wishes optimally. (Of course that could be considered “meta” in itself).
Actually, genie wishes are often more of a curse than a boon, because they are taken so literally and have unintended consequences. It might be that the best first wish is for no wishes!
I’ve told it before but, … my favorite is the two shipwrecked sailors adrift in a lifeboat for days. One day a brass lantern floats by and one of the sailors grabs it and rubs it. Of course, a genie appears and grants them one wish. They’re both parched and thirsty, so the first sailor tells the other to think hard about what they should wish for and not make it frivolous. The second sailor thinks for a minute and then blurts out, “I wish the ocean was made of beer!”. In a flash the ocean is all beer, foaming with the waves, and the genie is gone. “You idiot”, the first sailor says, “now we’re going to have to pee in the boat.”
GROG Premium Member over 4 years ago
Don’t be such a wish hog!
Concretionist over 4 years ago
Genie says (quoting the rules): “No meta-wishes!”
This is because meta-wishes ruin story lines. After all, where’s the challenge when you can (meta-)wish your troubles away? My preference for the three wishes is to first wish for the ability to use the next two wishes optimally. (Of course that could be considered “meta” in itself).
danketaz Premium Member over 4 years ago
We’ll, he didn’t ask for a nice one…
The Brooklyn Accent Premium Member over 4 years ago
I do believe that’s a new one! Well played, Mr. Rubin.
matzam Premium Member over 4 years ago
yeah, but, the first jin would disappear & he’s back to square one.
the humorist formerly known as Hotshot1984 Premium Member over 4 years ago
if you look hard, you can find a loop hole in everything (and everyone)!
AtariDragon over 4 years ago
I might wish for Barbara Eden c. A.D. 1965.
Lablubber over 4 years ago
Where’s Robin Williams when you really need him.
Lightpainter over 4 years ago
I always wondered why noone ever thought of wishing for more wishes, or an extra genie.
ekke over 4 years ago
Actually, genie wishes are often more of a curse than a boon, because they are taken so literally and have unintended consequences. It might be that the best first wish is for no wishes!
HappyDog/ᵀʳʸ ᴮᵒᶻᵒ ⁴ ᵗʰᵉ ᶠᵘⁿ ᵒᶠ ᶦᵗ Premium Member over 4 years ago
I’ve told it before but, … my favorite is the two shipwrecked sailors adrift in a lifeboat for days. One day a brass lantern floats by and one of the sailors grabs it and rubs it. Of course, a genie appears and grants them one wish. They’re both parched and thirsty, so the first sailor tells the other to think hard about what they should wish for and not make it frivolous. The second sailor thinks for a minute and then blurts out, “I wish the ocean was made of beer!”. In a flash the ocean is all beer, foaming with the waves, and the genie is gone. “You idiot”, the first sailor says, “now we’re going to have to pee in the boat.”