[2013-May-02] Genie Paradox

[Jewlian]

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db ... 2964#comic
If the genie changes the dude's life then he never meets the genie, which means the genie never changes the guy's life and *brain explode*. Is this some kind of ruse by the genie to destroy the Universe?

[fytyog]

all roads lead to old man weiner

[GUTCHUCKER]

That's if the Genie wanted to do so. I imagine any event he changes is tailored to his own preference, which probably involves existing.

[hightechartist]

Its funny, in the oddly many times I've thought about what I'd want from a genie wish, I've always wanted to be able to rewind time Prince of Persia style, except with no limitations to how often I can do it or how far back I can go, but I guess rewinding time would rewind the genie wish...

I need to crowd source the wish wording on this one, heh.

[therandus]

If I had 3 wishes I would do this.

First wish: Wish that there could be no unintended consequences that I could not forsee for all future wishes.
Second Wish: All of the powers attributing to the christian god.
Third Wish: I dunno... a box of kittens or something.

[Lethal Interjection]

If I had 3 wishes I would do this.

First wish: Wish that there could be no unintended consequences that I could not forsee for all future wishes.
Second Wish: All of the powers attributing to the christian god.
Third Wish: I dunno... a box of kittens or something.

The first wish is rubbish. If you think that small phrase will somehow protect you? You think there are no loopholes or such? Why do you think even simple contracts are pages long?

[sheriffpony]

I think once you wish to be able to see all consequences, you'd suddenly have the knowledge that nothing you could possibly wish for would have no unintended consequences and you'd be stuck.

[Jewlian]

If I had 3 wishes I would do this.

First wish: Wish that there could be no unintended consequences that I could not forsee for all future wishes.
Second Wish: All of the powers attributing to the christian god.
Third Wish: I dunno... a box of kittens or something.

The first wish is self defeating as you cannot forsee the unintended consequences it entails. For example, one way of technically fulfilling the first wish is by turning you into a turnip.

[Bahffling]

Wait, if you have the powers attributed to the Christian god, then you are Omniscient. If you are Omniscient, you can see all consequences.

But still, you use that last wish. You fool.

That box of kittens will claw you from Heaven and drink from sea's boiling with your blood as fire and ash rain from the skies. You caused this. YOU

[Paradox]

If I had 3 wishes I would do this.

First wish: Wish that there could be no unintended consequences that I could not forsee for all future wishes.
Second Wish: All of the powers attributing to the christian god.
Third Wish: I dunno... a box of kittens or something.

What about unintended consequences that you CAN forsee.

For example: Having all the powers attributed to the Christian God comes with omniscience

Given that your now omniscient, your personality will change to account for the infinite knowlege you now posess, normal human thought no longer applies, even logic had no meaning to you...

The person you were before no longer exists, your personality and memories are consumed by enternity, and you die, only for a different being to take your place


This is a fairly obvious outcome, and therefore not unforseen.

Also, since the 1st wish is for all FUTURE WISHES, there could be a multitude of unforseen consequences to your 1st wish (simple example: You are unable to make wishes unless you know EXACTLY the outcome, therefore all consequences are then known beforehand)

[MeisterKleister]

The correct date would actually be 2013-5-1, just sayin'.

If I had 3 wishes I would do this.

First wish: Wish that there could be no unintended consequences that I could not forsee for all future wishes.
Second Wish: All of the powers attributing to the christian god.
Third Wish: I dunno... a box of kittens or something.

Much of the attributes of the Christian god are meaningless or even paradoxical. He is described as omniscient, but yet he doesn't seem to know where Adam is hiding and he gets disappointed by his creation. Disappointment is the not-fulfillment of expectations. He is described as all-loving and perfect and yet he murders and needs worship.
If God is both immortal and omnipotent, can God kill himself?

[Sahan]

Say it to my face!

[MeisterKleister]

Say it to my face!

Okay, I'll meet you on the roof in 5 minutes.

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db ... 2964#comic
If the genie changes the dude's life then he never meets the genie, which means the genie never changes the guy's life and *brain explode*. Is this some kind of ruse by the genie to destroy the Universe?

Well, this is a variation of the Grandfather paradox, I believe, and it has several proposed solutions.
But I'm guessing the genie would solve all the problems and/or paradoxes with magic, since the whole point, it seems to me, is to make fun of people who claim they wouldn't like to change their past mistakes.

Anyway, I personally think this is only useful if you retain your current memories and only alter your recent past.

[Guest5439284]

Much of the attributes of the Christian god are meaningless or even paradoxical. He is described as omniscient, but yet he doesn't seem to know where Adam is hiding and he gets disappointed by his creation. Disappointment is the not-fulfillment of expectations. He is described as all-loving and perfect and yet he murders and needs worship.
If God is both immortal and omnipotent, can God kill himself?

Your premise of logic is false. A god can defy logic as it is just a mechanism used by man because we are bound to the rules of this unverse. God can kill himself, bear himself, mail himself a bobcat, eat himself, move out of existence and come back all at the same time.

[GUTCHUCKER]

Unfortunately the argument for god being able to do such things is 'because I said so'.