Instead of phrasing a wish to a genie attempting to cover every interpretation it makes more sense to posit numerous supporting circumstances.

[jackgreenearth@lemm.ee]

The Hidden Complexity of Wishes

[jrs100000@lemmy.world]

Now you cant help but believe you deserve this hellish existence you brought on yourself.

[popcar2@programming.dev]

that assumes you know exactly what you want though, which I think most people wouldn't at the time of making the wish

[popcar2@programming.dev]

this is actually a plot point in the graphic novel Eight Billion Genies, where people would make a wish by reading a really long contract for hours that covers all the possibilities and caveats. You'd enjoy it, OP.

[guy@piefed.social]

Ooh this is a good one

[zahille7@lemmy.world]

If I ever find a genie's lamp I'm getting a lawyer.

[eabod25@lemm.ee]

The problem is that genies or djinns were believed to be mischievous. If you took too long for a wish, then they would cause trouble for you. They were also known to be very manipulative in convincing to make a quick and sudden wish without proper thought. Imagine you're at a fast food restaurant, in the queue, but can't decide what you want. The hungry people behind you are rushing you, the cashier is rushing you, and you eventually freak out and just order something random even though you know what you picked you might not enjoy. That's a genies goal in most mythos

[infinite_ass@leminal.space]

Assuming myltiple wishes, the first wish might be to know the ideal wishes.

Which might reincarnate you as an impoverished leper of course (for the growth experience)

[pm_your_nudes_please@lemmy.world]

Yup. Djinn were, at best, mischievous. At worst, they were outright adversarial and would only begrudgingly grant wishes if you managed to force them into it. Basically, they had the ability to grant wishes, but didn’t want to. So you had to find a way to force them into it, usually by trapping them and striking a deal to release them if they granted your wish.

[fubo@lemmy.world]

Related: Legislation should come with test cases.

[theedqueen@lemmy.world]

That’s exactly what happens in an episode of the fairly odd parents