The Genie's Three Wishes

[Pieter Boelen]

A very famous mythological trope is that of the genie in the bottle that grants three wishes.
More often than not, these wishes end up working against the person who makes them.
Because most genies are not kind and understanding.
Any loophole they abuse to rain down ruin onto those who disturbed their slumber.

As such, most people do not know what three wishes they would make.
Many who do not think deeply might go for "wealth" and "beauty" and "success".

Me myself, I have known my three wishes for 20 years now.
It is these:
1. I wish that each of my later wishes is NOT superseded by my earlier ones
2. I wish kindness and happiness to everyone I care about (which is the majority of the world population)
3. I wish that I had never been born

That is what I want.
That is what I have wanted for a long, long time.

I hope this is enough devoid of loopholes that some tiny amount of good might come of it for others.
And I hope that final wish would finally give me some peaceful oblivion.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

I am not sure what my wishes would be, even if there was no catch.
But that is not the important part. Your wishes on the other hand...

I see a major loophole. And when I say major, words can't really describe it.
Your last wish, very likely (surely) negates the second one, in at least one way.
Instead you can just count yourself in the people you care about. And that's even without wishes involved.
If you want wishes involved and won't change your mind, then I am off to go hunt a Genie and make the same wishes as you (minus the last one), before you.
For now though, I can offer my company and help if possible.

As for Oblivion... I wouldn't risk it if I were you. Even if that wish didn't negate the second one, then you don't know if what would happen would actually be good.
The place you mentioned, is one I haven't been to. And even if I was there, I have no memory of it.
Again, this also stands true if no wishes are present.

If I have learned anything, it's that while life can be hard, it's still is better than the lack of it. The good moments, no matter how small, make it worth it.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Your last wish, very likely (surely) negates the second one, in at least one way.

Except it doesn't negate it. Or at least, it shouldn't.
That's the whole point of wish #1.
If it does negate it anyway, that completely defeats the purpose of that one.

Instead you can just count yourself in the people you care about.

Sounds like a luxury.

you don't know if what would happen would actually be good.

It would be not bad.
And that's good enough.

If I have learned anything, it's that while life can be hard, it's still is better than the lack of it.

Untrue.
For old people who are slowly dying, letting them die could be a kindness.
At some point the pain outweighs the value.
So it is with all people. Of all ages.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

Except it doesn't negate it. Or at least, it shouldn't.
That's the whole point of wish #1.
If it does negate it anyway, that completely defeats the purpose of that one.

Maybe. Who's to say that the Djinn will actually follow it? Or that it will grant it technically, but it can't all be happiness?
Then is the space-time continuum. If you were never born, could make the wishes?

Sounds like a luxury.

At least you didn't say selfish. As for it being a luxury, no.
If you don't care about yourself, sooner or later you won't be able to care for others.

Untrue.
For old people who are slowly dying, letting them die could be a kindness.
At some point the pain outweighs the value.
So it is with all people. Of all ages.

Maybe. Yet a friend in such a situation told me that life is still worth it.
And if she told me that, then I can't not believe life is not worth it.
Old people a different case though, I guess, they have hopefully lived full lives.
But you are not old.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

Then is the space-time continuum. If you were never born, could make the wishes?

That was indeed my #1 reason for including that #1 wish.
Creates quite the impossible little circular thing there; doesn't it?

At least you didn't say selfish. As for it being a luxury, no.
If you don't care about yourself, sooner or later you won't be able to care for others.

If others care not about me, the same thing happens.
And I've had too many examples of "caring" being hurtful; rather than anything else.

Maybe. Yet a friend in such a situation told me that life is still worth it.
And if she told me that, then I can't not believe life is not worth it.
Old people a different case though, I guess, they have hopefully lived full lives.
But you are not old.

I might as well be a million years old.
I lived several lifetimes already.
Part of me died already back in 2014.
Or, more accurately, got killed off.
Unless resurrection is truly possible, I am surviving (not living) on borrowed time.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

If others care not about me, the same thing happens.
And I've had too many examples of "caring" being hurtful; rather than anything else.

True. If others care for you, then it's possible that you could focus on others too.
But as you noted many times people don't care.
And sometimes it's what I personally fear, you do care but can't do something.

I might as well be a million years old.
I lived several lifetimes already.
Part of me died already back in 2014.
Or, more accurately, got killed off.
Unless resurrection is truly possible, I am surviving (not living) on borrowed time.

Perhaps you are right.
But you can find a new purpose.
I know things aren't going well with family, but I just had an idea.

Tell me, how do you do with animals?
Perhaps caring for another being could help?
This needs much consideration beforehand, but maybe it would be worth to consider?
I never had a pet yet, because I can't yet take on the responsibility of it. But I do love the buggers.
Perhaps you could adopt one after consideration?
Just leaving it here for you to consider.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

But as you noted many times people don't care.

People not caring is still not so bad.
I expect as much.

People pretending to care though while hurting you some more?
That's a killer.

But you can find a new purpose.

My goals were always:
Sailing at sea and making the world a better place.

I had to give up my job at sea.
People insist on interfering at their maximum capacity when you want to make the world a better place.

Or they'll pretend small microscopic tiny little things should just be enough.

These are not enough!

Perhaps caring for another being could help?

A girlfriend, sure.

Pets are stupid.

I love animals.
Where they belong.
Which is not my home.

A pet would be a wasteful distraction.
If I'm already in a position where I need 10 of me to do everything that I need and want to do, introducing a pet into the equation is not going to improve things.

I think I know why people get pets.
Because people do want to care; but they somehow cannot do so properly for other people.
And so they get a pet; for some beautifully manufactured 'love'.
There's something a bit sad about it.

But it's not up to me to judge, is it?
I can have my opinion.
Others do not have to agree with it.
Not like I'm going to impose a ban on pets or anything.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

People not caring is still not so bad.
I expect as much.

People pretending to care though while hurting you some more?
That's a killer.

I'd classify that under not caring. True though. Not expecting it makes it the much worse.

My goals were always:
Sailing at sea and making the world a better place.

I had to give up my job at sea.
People insist on interfering at their maximum capacity when you want to make the world a better place.

Or they'll pretend small microscopic tiny little things should just be enough.

These are not enough!

They can be enough. If they combine to something larger.
But "can" != "should".

As for goals, well perhaps there could be a way to get closer to them again. PA! and Atlantis can be the new tools to help with that.
PA! (read the people here) already has made a good impact. People feel safe and welcomed here. And depending on what point in their life someone is, this is just what may be needed.

A girlfriend, sure.

Can't ague with that.

Pets are stupid.

I love animals.
Where they belong.
Which is not my home.

...

I think I know why people get pets.
Because people do want to care; but they somehow cannot do so properly for other people.
And so they get a pet; for some beautifully manufactured 'love'.
There's something a bit sad about it.

It's not that simple. It varies widely from person to person.
Getting a pet doesn't mean you can't properly care for other people.
And animals can very well love. It's different love than that of other people.

A pet would be a wasteful distraction.
If I'm already in a position where I need 10 of me to do everything that I need and want to do, introducing a pet into the equation is not going to improve things.

Now that's a different thing.
It wouldn't improve things indeed, not in that sense.
Which is why I emphasized on consideration. If done on an impulse it would just make things worse.

But it's not up to me to judge, is it?
I can have my opinion.
Others do not have to agree with it.
Not like I'm going to impose a ban on pets or anything.

Yep, everyone can have an opinion. And if that's not the case then there's something wrong.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

PA! and Atlantis can be the new tools to help with that.

That's honestly what I'm betting my life on.
Because I see this world and the people in it ripping each other and the environment thoroughly apart.
And I cannot sell it to myself to stand by and say "not my job, chiep".
That is what EVERYONE ELSE says; and is exactly the attitude that causes this problem in the first place.
I'd rather be DEAD than be part of the problem.

It's not that simple. It varies widely from person to person.
Getting a pet doesn't mean you can't properly care for other people.

It would for me.
It would be a distraction.
It's difficult enough as it is.

I want a human to care about.
In person.
And a human to care about me.
Also in person.

And animals can very well love. It's different love than that of other people.

It's a conditional love.
They HAVE to give you their 'love'; because they DEPEND on you to keep them alive.

I cannot tell other people to not take pets.
But honestly, from me myself personally, I am not sold that it is healthy.
In the large picture of things...

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

That's honestly what I'm betting my life on.
Because I see this world and the people in it ripping each other and the environment thoroughly apart.
And I cannot sell it to myself to stand by and say "not my job, chiep".
That is what EVERYONE ELSE says; and is exactly the attitude that causes this problem in the first place.
I'd rather be DEAD than be part of the problem.

This rather nice, in fact I agree with you. People just turn away and ignore things far too often. So we must try to help how we can.
There are two crucial things to keep in mind though.
Firstly you should also consider your health. I have said it many times, but it's true. You can't help if you burn yourself out.
Secondly, you must make sure people aren't exploiting this.

It would for me.
It would be a distraction.
It's difficult enough as it is.

I want a human to care about.
In person.
And a human to care about me.
Also in person.

Unfortunately I can't help you with this myself. Unless if I move in the NL at some point.
It is the same with Cerez. I do what I could, but there always is this limitation.

It's a conditional love.
They HAVE to give you their 'love'; because they DEPEND on you to keep them alive.

Well I have met dogs that were friendly even if I wasn't the owner, and therefore not providing them food.
But I won't dismiss your point. Fact is I never had a pet, so I can't say how it is for sure.

I cannot tell other people to not take pets.
But honestly, from me myself personally, I am not sold that it is healthy.
In the large picture of things...

I also won't deny that. While there are good parts to it, there also are some seriously fucked up ones too.
For example breeding animals that are in constant pain because they are "cute".
Pugs for example are plagued with respiratory problems since birth, all for looks. Looks that I personally find unnatural and unappealing because of it.

 

[Pieter Boelen]

If I had to define a different three wishes, it would be:
1. Sailing the seas
2. Making the world a better place

Those two I've always been pretty darn vocal about.
But the third I barely ever dared voice:
3. I don't want to do the above alone; but in good company

Alone, I can accomplish jack effin' shit.

 

[The Nameless Pirate]

I think you should be equally vocal about the third wish.
I am not sure if you can't do anything alone, but I am sure that you don't have to.

Regardless of possible rejection, it is key that you voice it. Otherwise people who would like "to be in the crew" won't get the chance.
In the end it will be better having said what you want, regardless of the outcome. At worst you will have to deal with rejection, but at least you will know, making it better in the long run than keeping it in you. At best then, you will have a crew.