Ask HN: A genie appears. What do you wish for?
141 comments
Not having to work to be able to live.
I love to work, to develop new stuff etc... But the pressure of being required to make some profit so I can pay rent, food, water, heat, etc... just takes almost all the fun out of it. If we could live in some utopia where every fundamental needs would be fulfilled, I am 100% certain my procrastination and my anxiety would just go away.
I love to work, to develop new stuff etc... But the pressure of being required to make some profit so I can pay rent, food, water, heat, etc... just takes almost all the fun out of it. If we could live in some utopia where every fundamental needs would be fulfilled, I am 100% certain my procrastination and my anxiety would just go away.
I totally feel you. I experienced the same struggle during the time when I was working in my own company. Everything felt so overwhelming to me.
What is your current balance of doing things you like vs things you have to do?
What are things that you would love to do that you currently procrastinate?
What is your current balance of doing things you like vs things you have to do?
What are things that you would love to do that you currently procrastinate?
I have the chance to love my work. I started a few years ago a company with a friend of mine that I've known and worked with for 10 years. I try to spend as much time as possible with my family, and the rest is just work.
I would basically still do the same thing if I didn't have to, but without the overwhelming pressure.
I would also travel more, my work can be done remotely, and I'd love to meet more people from around the world. But 90% of the money I earn goes to food/water/rent.
My procrastination just makes me do in a few days what I could do in a few hours. I don't really delay stuff, I just do it slower. I've stop pressuring myself into doing it quick because it would increase my anxiety.
I would basically still do the same thing if I didn't have to, but without the overwhelming pressure.
I would also travel more, my work can be done remotely, and I'd love to meet more people from around the world. But 90% of the money I earn goes to food/water/rent.
My procrastination just makes me do in a few days what I could do in a few hours. I don't really delay stuff, I just do it slower. I've stop pressuring myself into doing it quick because it would increase my anxiety.
What do you think is scarce in your life? Time? What do you think about death?
I'm not sure I understand the question, but I would say yes, if I could stop time for a while to just work, then unpause it and live life to its fullest (the other way around is useless since everybody else is frozen), that would be awesome.
> What do you think about death?
I try not to think about it too much. Contemplating your own mortality when you have anxiety and procrastinate easily, this is a highway to a depressive state (at least for me). I prefer to practice mindfulness.
> What do you think about death?
I try not to think about it too much. Contemplating your own mortality when you have anxiety and procrastinate easily, this is a highway to a depressive state (at least for me). I prefer to practice mindfulness.
It seems to me like I have been where you are and for me the solution was to first get stable via enjoying life with my pleasures e.g. spend time with people with whom I enjoy spending time, doing things I like, regular connection to my body (workout), connection to my wife e.g. book "hold me tight". And after I got stable, I found my resilience via tackling the question of death because it contained the solution to my happiness/struggles. Also, happy to share my experiences with you off-topic if you want because it changed my life. You can find my contact details in my profile
In my previous life I was the ultimate creator: there was nothing I couldn't do, no problem I couldn't solve, no goal I couldn't accomplish. I had everything you could possibly imagine. Power, influence, money. But, like with all things, after a while I got bored.
While contemplating my life and sad existence, a genie appeared and granted me one wish. "Everything that can be done, has been done. There's nothing for me to create." I said.
The genie replied "You need a challenge".
"I've met all challenges and conquered them. I don't think that will help".
"Well, then. I'll give you the ultimate challenge" the genie pronounced.
With renewed excitement, I accepted it as my wish.
The genie clapped their hands and I found myself in my new life.
This new life is the one I've always known and remembered. My old life is just a dream, barely a memory.
My new life is much more exciting. There are an infinite number of challenges waiting for me.
While contemplating my life and sad existence, a genie appeared and granted me one wish. "Everything that can be done, has been done. There's nothing for me to create." I said.
The genie replied "You need a challenge".
"I've met all challenges and conquered them. I don't think that will help".
"Well, then. I'll give you the ultimate challenge" the genie pronounced.
With renewed excitement, I accepted it as my wish.
The genie clapped their hands and I found myself in my new life.
This new life is the one I've always known and remembered. My old life is just a dream, barely a memory.
My new life is much more exciting. There are an infinite number of challenges waiting for me.
Wow, very inspiring. Thank you for sharing that! Do you want to grant me and maybe also the general public permission to cite this in other contexts?
Thanks! I got the idea from the Prelude of "Do it! Let's Get Off Our Buts" by Peter McWilliams. You can use my version but please give Mr. McWilliams the credit.
Cool and thank you! Will definitely attribute to both of you :)
I'd ask for advertising to be banned. The Internet and tech in general would become so much better as a result.
What is your problem with advertising? And how do you hope the internet and tech would change?
I have to say that I love the general notion of advertising (although I realize that this is not what is currently widespread): someone who created something awesome pays for my discovery costs. Without them paying for it, I might never put in the effort to find them - or I would not stumble across them.
However, when I think about it, I currently have a hard time thinking of something that I only discovered due to ads and not (also) via another path
I have to say that I love the general notion of advertising (although I realize that this is not what is currently widespread): someone who created something awesome pays for my discovery costs. Without them paying for it, I might never put in the effort to find them - or I would not stumble across them.
However, when I think about it, I currently have a hard time thinking of something that I only discovered due to ads and not (also) via another path
Unsolicited advertising is theft.
Bold claim, I know, but some axioms to back this up:
* My attention is a finite resource
* My attention has a non-zero value (the advertising market wouldn't exist otherwise)
* Advertising consumes my attention
Ergo, if I have not agreed for you consume my attention, you are taking something from me without my permission. The very definition of theft.
The tricky bit is defining "unsolicited".
If I requested content from your web site, I think I have given you implicit permission to advertise to me. If I am watching your TV channel, you have a right to show me advertising. If I'm on your property, you have a right to display whatever you want.
But if I'm driving down a public highway, you do not have a right to steal my attention with a billboard. If I'm laying on a public beach, you do not have a right to distract me with an airplane towing your tacky-ass sign through the air.
That said, there is no way I'm wasting my genie wish on ad blocking...
Bold claim, I know, but some axioms to back this up:
* My attention is a finite resource
* My attention has a non-zero value (the advertising market wouldn't exist otherwise)
* Advertising consumes my attention
Ergo, if I have not agreed for you consume my attention, you are taking something from me without my permission. The very definition of theft.
The tricky bit is defining "unsolicited".
If I requested content from your web site, I think I have given you implicit permission to advertise to me. If I am watching your TV channel, you have a right to show me advertising. If I'm on your property, you have a right to display whatever you want.
But if I'm driving down a public highway, you do not have a right to steal my attention with a billboard. If I'm laying on a public beach, you do not have a right to distract me with an airplane towing your tacky-ass sign through the air.
That said, there is no way I'm wasting my genie wish on ad blocking...
Thank you for sharing your perspective! I did not see it in this way before.
I am wondering: can you remember a situation in your life when advertising was beneficial to you?
My problem with advertising with regards to tech is that it subverted the majority of tech into eventually becoming an ad delivery and/or tracking mechanism: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29513045
I sometimes envy other, more menial jobs because the tools they use day-to-day are still tools designed to help them do their job faster instead of trying to solicit "engagement". Plumbers' wrenches or electricians' screwdrivers don't come with a little screen and buzzer to beep at you every couple hours because you haven't "engaged" with it enough.
In tech and most office jobs we are still forced to use a lot of consumer-grade "tools" (and major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS and Android) which can technically be a lot more efficient (and less annoying) but aren't because of the advertising business model (and the same business model prevents them from offering a paid option).
> I have to say that I love the general notion of advertising: someone who created something awesome pays for my discovery costs.
As a consumer, I don't want to be forced to "discover" your product since in reality this "discovery" deliberately interrupts or slows down whatever other task I'm trying to do. Ironically, when I do want to discover new products, there is no actual "ad search engine" where I can enter a detailed search criteria (against the ads' targeting parameters) to find ads matching it despite it being trivial to build for any of the ad giants.
I don't have any particular problems with old-school print/magazine advertising since those are still within the control of the user - I choose when I have time to look at the magazine and be exposed to its ads and I've already pre-filtered which ads I'll see based on the general topic of the magazine.
I sometimes envy other, more menial jobs because the tools they use day-to-day are still tools designed to help them do their job faster instead of trying to solicit "engagement". Plumbers' wrenches or electricians' screwdrivers don't come with a little screen and buzzer to beep at you every couple hours because you haven't "engaged" with it enough.
In tech and most office jobs we are still forced to use a lot of consumer-grade "tools" (and major operating systems such as Windows, macOS, iOS and Android) which can technically be a lot more efficient (and less annoying) but aren't because of the advertising business model (and the same business model prevents them from offering a paid option).
> I have to say that I love the general notion of advertising: someone who created something awesome pays for my discovery costs.
As a consumer, I don't want to be forced to "discover" your product since in reality this "discovery" deliberately interrupts or slows down whatever other task I'm trying to do. Ironically, when I do want to discover new products, there is no actual "ad search engine" where I can enter a detailed search criteria (against the ads' targeting parameters) to find ads matching it despite it being trivial to build for any of the ad giants.
I don't have any particular problems with old-school print/magazine advertising since those are still within the control of the user - I choose when I have time to look at the magazine and be exposed to its ads and I've already pre-filtered which ads I'll see based on the general topic of the magazine.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I learned something new via this!
So, it seems like you would prefer if many of the businesses that currently choose an advertising business model choose another one. Is this correct?
So, it seems like you would prefer if many of the businesses that currently choose an advertising business model choose another one. Is this correct?
That's correct - I don't mind advertising being there as an option, just that the whole business model of it doesn't make that possible - the people who would rather pay not to see ads are those that commend the highest ad rates, so the only way out is to outright ban it or make it unprofitable with draconian regulation.
I guess there are companies that have tried to let people pay instead of showing ads but I guess that the conversation rates have been so low that the company did not achieve the same revenue than via ads.
Having said that. What do you think about a regulation that companies are required to offer a pay-for-no-ads option which gives users an option that is priced at 10% above the expected value of their ad revenues?
Having said that. What do you think about a regulation that companies are required to offer a pay-for-no-ads option which gives users an option that is priced at 10% above the expected value of their ad revenues?
Not the OP, but I agree with the sentiment. Advertising is insidious. Since having children, I can really see how much of the economy is driven by getting them hooked on shit they don't need, and that is not good for them. It's the same for adults, but with different methods.
Advertising is not free money. Just this morning there was an example discussed on NPR. Magazines targeting black communities ignored any and all evidence that smoking is bad because such a large portion of their budget came from tobacco ads. This type of thing happens _all the time_.
Advertising is not free money. Just this morning there was an example discussed on NPR. Magazines targeting black communities ignored any and all evidence that smoking is bad because such a large portion of their budget came from tobacco ads. This type of thing happens _all the time_.
Trying to summarize: You hope that people would only use (and find) what is good for them? Instead of things that decrease their net wellbeing in life?
If this is the case, there might be other solutions e.g. teaching all people to be careful what they consume and how they consume information.
Another option might of course be policy about regulating advertising e.g. forcing them to always hint the customer to a web page that compares multiple offers that achieve the same, advertised outcome but in a different way or from a different provider. At least reminding people with every ad that there are other options out there. And if, eventually, the provider of the ad has the best offering, the summary page will reinforce that. The challenge that I see is on how to create the page and who authorizes it - especially given the wild variance among preferences of individuals.
If this is the case, there might be other solutions e.g. teaching all people to be careful what they consume and how they consume information.
Another option might of course be policy about regulating advertising e.g. forcing them to always hint the customer to a web page that compares multiple offers that achieve the same, advertised outcome but in a different way or from a different provider. At least reminding people with every ad that there are other options out there. And if, eventually, the provider of the ad has the best offering, the summary page will reinforce that. The challenge that I see is on how to create the page and who authorizes it - especially given the wild variance among preferences of individuals.
If we constrain ourselves to physically/biologically plausible stuff rather than the ability to teleport or whatever, and maybe assume you can't interfere with the lives of others:
1) Perfect health for the duration of my life (e.g., no insomnia, no autoimmune bs, no mental health issues, etc.).
2) Probably all the benefits and none of the downsides of that pill from the Limitless movie/book/TV show. Perfect memory and superhuman learning ability would be fucking amazing. (I would also be happy with just Jon von Neumann's brain.)
3) The third wishes that come to mind are too personal for me to put online, so maybe just being able to be completely rejuvenated with just 4 hours of sleep so there's more time in the day to put to use doing good with my world-class genius granted to me by (2).
1) Perfect health for the duration of my life (e.g., no insomnia, no autoimmune bs, no mental health issues, etc.).
2) Probably all the benefits and none of the downsides of that pill from the Limitless movie/book/TV show. Perfect memory and superhuman learning ability would be fucking amazing. (I would also be happy with just Jon von Neumann's brain.)
3) The third wishes that come to mind are too personal for me to put online, so maybe just being able to be completely rejuvenated with just 4 hours of sleep so there's more time in the day to put to use doing good with my world-class genius granted to me by (2).
Thank you for sharing!
I wish for either a proof that ECDLP (Elliptic Curve Discrete Log) is in BPP (Bounded Error Polynomial Time) or a proof that it isn't.
But I'd also accept the genie's statement that neither is provable in ZFC...
Why is the wish important to you?
I'm in good health, pretty happy, and have no wish for material wealth. But as a curious theoretical computer scientist, this is one of the great questions, closely related to P vs NP. Basically, it asks if all of our current public key infrastructure is safe in the absence of quantum computers (which I don't expect to see in my lifetime).
Cool, thank you for connecting the dots for me :)
I would wish to be granted the ability to have any number of wishes granted just by thinking about them, without the poor user experience of having to make genie appear first and to speak the wishes.
For instance, suppose I'm on a freeway and the car has lost control and crossed a divider into opposite traffic. I'd like to be able to have my life-saving wish executed in milliseconds (like please don't hit that obstruction/car), which is currently not possible with the high latency user interface of the genie.
For instance, suppose I'm on a freeway and the car has lost control and crossed a divider into opposite traffic. I'd like to be able to have my life-saving wish executed in milliseconds (like please don't hit that obstruction/car), which is currently not possible with the high latency user interface of the genie.
Love that. My first thought was: but what if you did not think the consequences of your wish through? But then I guess, since you have all the power in the world, you could just correct any of the inconveniences that you did not see coming in the first place, right? And all of this in real time - love it :D
- World peace, us combatting climate change together, resolve global [social, economical] injustice
- Being able to do or work on what I want without it having to be about money and employment
- Being content, most of the time. Constant happiness is utopian, but if I can just be content with what I have, what I do and what I experience, that would be great
- Less mental fog and unfocusedness (not sure if that is an existing word)
Overall I just wish that every human on earth gets the chance to feel good about themselves and where they are in life.
- Being able to do or work on what I want without it having to be about money and employment
- Being content, most of the time. Constant happiness is utopian, but if I can just be content with what I have, what I do and what I experience, that would be great
- Less mental fog and unfocusedness (not sure if that is an existing word)
Overall I just wish that every human on earth gets the chance to feel good about themselves and where they are in life.
I love your picture of the future. What are you doing to get one step closer to it? How can others help you?
Woah, good and tough question.
Where I live I get to vote on a lot of things. I vote based on what I think is fair, not what brings me or my country the biggest benefit. In a way I try to be Anti-Nationalistic. Proud to be born and living where I am, but I don't let this cloud my judgement.
I try to criticize every group I deem to be doing wrong things, without being a hater and without taking sides. Be it my country, neighboring countries, Russia, USA, China, groups I disagree or agree with.
Military Service is mandatory where I live, but I made sure not to take part in it. Naturally I am a pacifist, or at least I try to be. Meaning that I am a pacifist, but I think its a privileged thing to be able to be a pacifist.
Be respectful of others, discuss, educate yourself and others.
I try to push and support people or organizations who uncover what I think goes wrong on our world. Tax aviodance/evasion on pacific islands, corruption, inside deals, power grabs, greenwashing, rainbowwashing, pinkwashing, CO2-Certificates bullshit, you name it.
But if I want to be cynical - I don't really DO anything. All I do is talk and write about what I think. I don't really know how I can bring myself closer to my picture of the future - and that's whats fucking scary to me.
Basically, I try to talk about my picture of the future when I get the chance, vote accordingly and try to behave like I would like others to. Be mindful, try to be sustainable, think ethical etc. I am in no way perfect, not at all. I am a first world-citizen. My PCs GPU consumes a lot of power, one of my hobbies is motorcycling, my apartment can be heated all year round. But I don't own a car, live vegetarian and almost vegan. Just trying to find a balance.
Sorry for the incoherent rambling, I really don't know how to answer your question. If I could, I wouldn't need a genie to help me. But if you have tips or your own thoughts, feel free to share.
Where I live I get to vote on a lot of things. I vote based on what I think is fair, not what brings me or my country the biggest benefit. In a way I try to be Anti-Nationalistic. Proud to be born and living where I am, but I don't let this cloud my judgement.
I try to criticize every group I deem to be doing wrong things, without being a hater and without taking sides. Be it my country, neighboring countries, Russia, USA, China, groups I disagree or agree with.
Military Service is mandatory where I live, but I made sure not to take part in it. Naturally I am a pacifist, or at least I try to be. Meaning that I am a pacifist, but I think its a privileged thing to be able to be a pacifist.
Be respectful of others, discuss, educate yourself and others.
I try to push and support people or organizations who uncover what I think goes wrong on our world. Tax aviodance/evasion on pacific islands, corruption, inside deals, power grabs, greenwashing, rainbowwashing, pinkwashing, CO2-Certificates bullshit, you name it.
But if I want to be cynical - I don't really DO anything. All I do is talk and write about what I think. I don't really know how I can bring myself closer to my picture of the future - and that's whats fucking scary to me.
Basically, I try to talk about my picture of the future when I get the chance, vote accordingly and try to behave like I would like others to. Be mindful, try to be sustainable, think ethical etc. I am in no way perfect, not at all. I am a first world-citizen. My PCs GPU consumes a lot of power, one of my hobbies is motorcycling, my apartment can be heated all year round. But I don't own a car, live vegetarian and almost vegan. Just trying to find a balance.
Sorry for the incoherent rambling, I really don't know how to answer your question. If I could, I wouldn't need a genie to help me. But if you have tips or your own thoughts, feel free to share.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
I think you are already doing a lot. And the things that you talk about need consistent action. So, as long as you keep your principles, you are an agent of change. Is there more that you can do? Of course. Is there less? Also!
The question now becomes: where do you choose to draw the line?
Also reached out to you via email.
I think you are already doing a lot. And the things that you talk about need consistent action. So, as long as you keep your principles, you are an agent of change. Is there more that you can do? Of course. Is there less? Also!
The question now becomes: where do you choose to draw the line?
Also reached out to you via email.
> Also reached out to you via email
Perfect. Let's chat via mail about drawing lines ;)
Perfect. Let's chat via mail about drawing lines ;)
Ten comments in, we have first mention of world peace.. #priorites
I am young, naive, idealistic and utopian. The perfect candidate to mention world peace. But I really mean it. My life is good, I have everything I need without being rich. Well, at least not rich in my country. Globally, I am probably rich. Where I live, that's called middle class. I don't own a house or an apartment and I don't know if I ever will, but I have a well-paying job which allows me to have an enjoyable life.
+1
I was also curious when it comes up :) Glad it did explicitly, eventually :) (It would have been one of my first ones, too, but I first wanted to make sure to have more wishes :D)
Omnipotence, but in such a way that achieving what I desire will always be an interesting but not frustrating surmountable challenge.
Wishing for anything less than omnipotence is suboptimal, there's always more you could wish for otherwise. If you want to do good, even if you wish for world peace & a cure to world hunger & cures for all disease... you'll still have general human suffering. And depending on the type of genie directly wishing for such things might just mean the genie eliminates the world! If you want to maximize the good you do, you have to be able to correct for any unintended consequences (or first wish to be able to know and understand all the consequences and weigh all possible choices).
Wishing for garden-variety omnipotence would be boring. Of course you can alter yourself to make it non-boring, and with my version of the wish I could certainly remove the challenge afterwards, but I'd that makes the wish itself less fun.
Wishing for anything less than omnipotence is suboptimal, there's always more you could wish for otherwise. If you want to do good, even if you wish for world peace & a cure to world hunger & cures for all disease... you'll still have general human suffering. And depending on the type of genie directly wishing for such things might just mean the genie eliminates the world! If you want to maximize the good you do, you have to be able to correct for any unintended consequences (or first wish to be able to know and understand all the consequences and weigh all possible choices).
Wishing for garden-variety omnipotence would be boring. Of course you can alter yourself to make it non-boring, and with my version of the wish I could certainly remove the challenge afterwards, but I'd that makes the wish itself less fun.
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That sounds like a world in which I would like to live in, too :) Thank you for sharing your very nuanced/balanced view :)
Time. I can work and try to figure out how to make more of whatever else I want, but there are hard biological limits on how long I can last at a sufficiently high quality of existence to be worth doing anything else. I don't want immortality and the eventual infinite boredom of experiencing the heat death of the universe, but give me the duration of humanity's existence. I want to see everything we ever do.
Caveat that I'd have to think long and hard about the terms of this and confer with other wishers on how trustworthy this genie is. I don't want to degrade to the point I can't move a single joint yet stay alive, or spend 700 million years encased in concrete or trapped at the ocean floor or whatever other horrible crap a malicious genie might come up with. So I need to figure out some way to word it in terms of not aging or suffering injury. Perfect resilience, but I still want the ability to die by choice.
Caveat that I'd have to think long and hard about the terms of this and confer with other wishers on how trustworthy this genie is. I don't want to degrade to the point I can't move a single joint yet stay alive, or spend 700 million years encased in concrete or trapped at the ocean floor or whatever other horrible crap a malicious genie might come up with. So I need to figure out some way to word it in terms of not aging or suffering injury. Perfect resilience, but I still want the ability to die by choice.
What do you hope humanity would do in the future (that you will then experience/observe)?
Also, are you familiar with the work of Dr. Sinclair e.g. "Why we age and why we don't have to"? It seems like he aims for a version of (optional) immortality that you describe.
Also, are you familiar with the work of Dr. Sinclair e.g. "Why we age and why we don't have to"? It seems like he aims for a version of (optional) immortality that you describe.
I'd like to be able to detect the truth in any formal statement. When I'm watching a youtube video and the presenter says "80% of the mass in the universe is made up of dark matter" I'd like the be able to know if that's true or false. This would be for everything I read or hear, from anyone, all the time.
I like that and would totally love to see that, too.
The question is: what is the truth? What kind of "proof" would you believe in?
I guess the answer of science is: I show you an experiment that you can repeat and then we share our observations when repeatably running the argument. That is what we then call an "objective observation". If it is repeated over and over, people sometimes start to calling it a law etc.
Maybe you can share a concrete video and then we discuss which statements you would like to have fact-checked and in which way?
I guess the answer of science is: I show you an experiment that you can repeat and then we share our observations when repeatably running the argument. That is what we then call an "objective observation". If it is repeated over and over, people sometimes start to calling it a law etc.
Maybe you can share a concrete video and then we discuss which statements you would like to have fact-checked and in which way?
Could you hack this to find a theory of everything?
Just hear every possible theory out there, every math, every interpretations, etc... until you find the true one. Sort of like a Guess Who game.
Just hear every possible theory out there, every math, every interpretations, etc... until you find the true one. Sort of like a Guess Who game.
Off the top of my head, $5 million USD tax-free. I’d never do a damn thing again and never worry about money again.
What would you do then when "never doing a damn thing again"? Or maybe easier: what would you not do any more?
I retired for 3 years in my mid-20s. During that time, I walked, rode my bike, watched TV, went to the movies, worked out, read books. Would just do that until I died.
Cool - thanks for sharing! :) Did you already schedule your next longish break?
The same, but I would try to do things that I want:
- Try some ideas for inventions I had
- Make a nice game
- Support my family goals some more.
- Try some ideas for inventions I had
- Make a nice game
- Support my family goals some more.
I love your intentions and hope that you maybe can already find a little bit more time to allocate to those until the 5mio arrive in your bank account :)
Yep, I've started working on first point in march, already designed some components, waiting for basement workshop to be finished. Having a big dream is a powerful motivator. Third point - I'm doing whatever I can, plus made some pallet furniture and installed new lamps in backyard ;). The game will have to wait, but I don't think it would be that successfull, maybe someday. So, genie would only speed up the inevitable.
Not me. Just go to the coffee shop, exercise a bit, and scroll on the internet. Just stay out of the way until I die.
What were your past experiences with "getting in the way"?
That's pretty low. Why not 50 million, or 5 billion?
I’m not the OP, but 5 million as an American wouldn’t fundamentally change your life. The interest from the money would be comparable to a decent salary as a tech worker, probably similar to OPs current salary.
More money and you’re probably spending it on servants and lavish housing or entertainment. Those things might be cool, but it’s mental overhead that I imagine a lot of people just don’t want to deal with.
More money and you’re probably spending it on servants and lavish housing or entertainment. Those things might be cool, but it’s mental overhead that I imagine a lot of people just don’t want to deal with.
So, what would fundamentally change your life? And which actions would you be able to perform in a desirable life (without the servants etc)?
Just in case the genie doesn’t grant wishes to anyone who’s too greedy.
Realistically, I’d live the life I want with $5 million. I’m an asshole but I’m not the kind of asshole who wants to be a billionaire.
Realistically, I’d live the life I want with $5 million. I’m an asshole but I’m not the kind of asshole who wants to be a billionaire.
Rest assured, the genie grants all wishes even if you choose to be greedy for a change.
Sounds like a modest, reflected asshole to me ;)
Sounds like a modest, reflected asshole to me ;)
Maybe in a similar direction: why would 5 million be already enough for you?
First, I would wish for access to unlimited wishes in the future. Then, I would reflect on what to use those for.
Same - no need to start my own thread to respond.
Happiness.
Whatever you wish for is rarely what makes you happy. Rich people have same-ish issues with depression as the rest, even though you'd think they can have all their wishes fulfilled.
We have the tendency to see the next thing we want, and to think "ahh, then I'll be happy. Just that one more thing". Then we get it and hours/weeks/months later we think, "really, that thing?".
Happiness probably doesn't look like what I imagine. Maybe it's hard work, but just so fulfilling? Maybe it's harm to me, which brings me to a whole different path of life? Or hell, maybe it's just a wad of cash, but at least I know it will make me happy.
Whatever you wish for is rarely what makes you happy. Rich people have same-ish issues with depression as the rest, even though you'd think they can have all their wishes fulfilled.
We have the tendency to see the next thing we want, and to think "ahh, then I'll be happy. Just that one more thing". Then we get it and hours/weeks/months later we think, "really, that thing?".
Happiness probably doesn't look like what I imagine. Maybe it's hard work, but just so fulfilling? Maybe it's harm to me, which brings me to a whole different path of life? Or hell, maybe it's just a wad of cash, but at least I know it will make me happy.
It seems to me like your current challenge is the path to happiness. Is this correct? What is your next step on that journey?
Hmm, depends what you mean. In some sense all life is striving for happiness.
I’m sure that if I pick one thing that is supposed to make me happy, it will probably not do that. It’s like thinking a software rewrite can fix your problems.
Ask for good software, not the opportunity to rewrite everything in Rust.
I’m currently focusing on my sports for happiness. But I’m also fairly sure that if I asked the Genie to make me an amazing sportsperson to make me happy, I’d find it disappointing.
I’m sure that if I pick one thing that is supposed to make me happy, it will probably not do that. It’s like thinking a software rewrite can fix your problems.
Ask for good software, not the opportunity to rewrite everything in Rust.
I’m currently focusing on my sports for happiness. But I’m also fairly sure that if I asked the Genie to make me an amazing sportsperson to make me happy, I’d find it disappointing.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)
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I would wish for true love.
As shown in this cartoon: https://pbfcomics.com/comics/wishing-well/
If it was true love, his girlfriend would support him in all his hobbies and interests, and he shouldn't feel held back.
haha! good one. Too bad the guy is illusioned. In the end, I think he made the right choice, though! However, I might want to remind me of this from time to time, too, when I get lured by other things where I think they are incompatible with the true love I already found.
That is the most damning thing I've seen lately.
What was your experience with that in the past?
Not great, I don’t think I was ready and messed it up. Oh well, plenty of fishes in the sea. How about you?
Do you have hope that you will find it in the future? It seems like you did not find it yet?
I am grateful that I found my key to love both with my spouse but also via being increasingly able to connect to all the other lovely persons and creatures (dogs,...) in my life :)
But it was a long path for me. For me, I discovered it more and more after years of dancing Salsa, Bachata etc where the best teachers always focus on connection as well as leading and following. Those experiences together with regularly changing between the lead and the follow - while always being clear who plays which part - was the key for me. And also the book "Hold me Tight" gave me mental clarity which led to mental clarity for organizing the experiences that I had in my life before. It was a life-changing event for me when I learned about this. together with watching the following video (which I did 1 year before and practiced it regularly with my wife): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7TONauJGfc&t=2s
I am grateful that I found my key to love both with my spouse but also via being increasingly able to connect to all the other lovely persons and creatures (dogs,...) in my life :)
But it was a long path for me. For me, I discovered it more and more after years of dancing Salsa, Bachata etc where the best teachers always focus on connection as well as leading and following. Those experiences together with regularly changing between the lead and the follow - while always being clear who plays which part - was the key for me. And also the book "Hold me Tight" gave me mental clarity which led to mental clarity for organizing the experiences that I had in my life before. It was a life-changing event for me when I learned about this. together with watching the following video (which I did 1 year before and practiced it regularly with my wife): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7TONauJGfc&t=2s
To have more time to experience more of the world, learn new skills, spend time with friends and family, start (and finish!) more side projects, etc.
I'm not entirely sure how 'more time' would be accomplished. It could be living longer, not requiring sleep, not needing a salary to pay for basic needs (which would free up existing time).
I'm not entirely sure how 'more time' would be accomplished. It could be living longer, not requiring sleep, not needing a salary to pay for basic needs (which would free up existing time).
May I ask: why? :)
For a basic living wage to magically appear in my account every month. Basically kinda like UBI, I guess, lol.
It would be nice to not have worry so much and work so hard to just pay rent and cover basic expenses.
I've been doing this for (what seems like) a long time and I'm really kinda burnt out at the moment.
It would be nice to not have worry so much and work so hard to just pay rent and cover basic expenses.
I've been doing this for (what seems like) a long time and I'm really kinda burnt out at the moment.
How much money would you hope to arrive?
I have been burnt out myself in the past and it was not a pleasure to be in that state of mind. Do you have hope that this might become better in the future? Do you see "light at the end of the tunnel" so to say or are you more like trodding ahead in the dark?
I have been burnt out myself in the past and it was not a pleasure to be in that state of mind. Do you have hope that this might become better in the future? Do you see "light at the end of the tunnel" so to say or are you more like trodding ahead in the dark?
> * How much money would you hope to arrive?*
I'd be so happy with just enough to cover rent, food, utilities and my pets' (minimal) expenses. Nothing extravagant, nothing for splurging.
I try not to talk about personal stuff on HN, but I guess today is an exception, here's a bunch of context you didn't ask for:
I moved out of a bad home environment at a very young age, while I was still a student. Juggling being a full-time student and being a full-time employee at the same time took a serious toll on me. And then I never got to take a break or vacation, never had time to 'reset', because rent is always due in a few weeks, I just had to keep working and working and working. Hence the burn out.
To make matters worse, I like to work as a generalist. I do development, graphic design, web design, writing, marketing, and a bunch of other stuff. I love this, but it's really hard to find people who are willing to bring on relatively young people for such a role.
Startups are open to it sometimes, but I've had some not great experiences where they've been borderline/outright exploitative.
The cost of living is very high where I live, and it's generally hard to find companies willing to pay someone my age a proper salary on which they can live alone, unfortunately. :/
It's not all bad though. Luckily I have some amazing people as friends, and they're a great support system. And last year I found an amazing therapist, and I think that has helped me a lot.
> Do you see "light at the end of the tunnel"?
I think I do, yeah. (But it's a tiny speck, faaaaaar away!) I've been though worse, and I always do find a way to get through it, it's not like I have a choice, right? :D
I would also not say I'm particularly depressed at the moment. I kinda just feel exhausted a lot lately, I would really just love a break, honestly.
I very recently started trying to find work as a PHP backend engineer. It's never something I've done full-time, but it's a language I've used extensively since I was a tween, and I have a lot of fun with it, so I think that would be pretty awesome if it works out :)
Anyway, yeah, sorry for the huge wall of text, dunno if it's something that interests you, haha. Thanks for asking this question though, I've had fun going through the other responses.
I'd be so happy with just enough to cover rent, food, utilities and my pets' (minimal) expenses. Nothing extravagant, nothing for splurging.
I try not to talk about personal stuff on HN, but I guess today is an exception, here's a bunch of context you didn't ask for:
I moved out of a bad home environment at a very young age, while I was still a student. Juggling being a full-time student and being a full-time employee at the same time took a serious toll on me. And then I never got to take a break or vacation, never had time to 'reset', because rent is always due in a few weeks, I just had to keep working and working and working. Hence the burn out.
To make matters worse, I like to work as a generalist. I do development, graphic design, web design, writing, marketing, and a bunch of other stuff. I love this, but it's really hard to find people who are willing to bring on relatively young people for such a role.
Startups are open to it sometimes, but I've had some not great experiences where they've been borderline/outright exploitative.
The cost of living is very high where I live, and it's generally hard to find companies willing to pay someone my age a proper salary on which they can live alone, unfortunately. :/
It's not all bad though. Luckily I have some amazing people as friends, and they're a great support system. And last year I found an amazing therapist, and I think that has helped me a lot.
> Do you see "light at the end of the tunnel"?
I think I do, yeah. (But it's a tiny speck, faaaaaar away!) I've been though worse, and I always do find a way to get through it, it's not like I have a choice, right? :D
I would also not say I'm particularly depressed at the moment. I kinda just feel exhausted a lot lately, I would really just love a break, honestly.
I very recently started trying to find work as a PHP backend engineer. It's never something I've done full-time, but it's a language I've used extensively since I was a tween, and I have a lot of fun with it, so I think that would be pretty awesome if it works out :)
Anyway, yeah, sorry for the huge wall of text, dunno if it's something that interests you, haha. Thanks for asking this question though, I've had fun going through the other responses.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I find it very inspiring! Looking at the suicide rates in the world I am glad that you are not part of the statistics although you were struggling a lot in life.
Also, it's heart-warming for me to read that you have hope and a path forward and I wish you all the strength to get ahead and ... to ... keep ... moving.
Just like in the poem https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night
And I hope that every now and then you find something pleasureable in life as well! (A notion which I miss in the poem - maybe there is a better one? :D)
And I am glad you enjoy reading the other responses! Thank you for mentioning this!
Also, it's heart-warming for me to read that you have hope and a path forward and I wish you all the strength to get ahead and ... to ... keep ... moving.
Just like in the poem https://poets.org/poem/do-not-go-gentle-good-night
And I hope that every now and then you find something pleasureable in life as well! (A notion which I miss in the poem - maybe there is a better one? :D)
And I am glad you enjoy reading the other responses! Thank you for mentioning this!
Thank you :)
> And I hope that every now and then you find something pleasurable in life as well!
Here's a poem I like to read to remind myself that there are some really beautiful things in life that we don't notice: https://englishverse.com/poems/leisure
> And I hope that every now and then you find something pleasurable in life as well!
Here's a poem I like to read to remind myself that there are some really beautiful things in life that we don't notice: https://englishverse.com/poems/leisure
I love it - thanks for sharing :)
1. I’ll ask the genie about the nature of our reality, how big is the universe, how did we reach here, is anyone else out there ?
2. I would wish for technology the technology to move intergalactic distances in reasonable amount of time. This will help our species advance to next level.
2. I would wish for technology the technology to move intergalactic distances in reasonable amount of time. This will help our species advance to next level.
1 - why?
2 - why?
:)
2 - why?
:)
An orange for a head.
To fulfil a classic anti-joke.
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vx9bDegjn75KrpNTn/the-orange...
To fulfil a classic anti-joke.
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vx9bDegjn75KrpNTn/the-orange...
I love it :D Thanks for sharing!
I the post, it links another post which tries to find predictors for which people like it and which don't. However, that link is broken. Do you know about a solution for this?
I the post, it links another post which tries to find predictors for which people like it and which don't. However, that link is broken. Do you know about a solution for this?
I would wish for " ... all of Suleiman-bin-Daoud’s Palace and this garden here to immediately vanish in a clap of thunder.", for that would be wishing without showing off, and maybe I won't get bit that way.
Why? :)
Thank you for sharing, I did not know that before.
[META] Please put any comments that are not about self-revelation here e.g. discussing the conversation, guidelines, random jokes that you cannot tell your Mum, etc
I think wishing for money is sort of a way to deflect making the actual wish. If I get the money now, I can choose lots of things to spend them on later, and maybe some of those are what I really want.
The boring, but "cut to the chase" wish would be for happiness and the "larger than myself" wish would be peace on earth.
The boring, but "cut to the chase" wish would be for happiness and the "larger than myself" wish would be peace on earth.
I think along similar lines. Also, when I thought about it, I more often find myself actually wishing for a constant stream of money rather than an one-off payment. Although that might change if I actually find something that I would love to afford and that is only payable once but then there are financial markets that would happily transfer a steady flow of money in the future to a large payment now.
What is currently missing from achieving more happiness for you?
And I also join the wish for peace in the world :)
What is currently missing from achieving more happiness for you?
And I also join the wish for peace in the world :)
The invention and implementation of a significantly more efficient and effective form of government that prioritizes the happiness of people.
What do you think is currently the best form and when do you think it failed?
Hard to tell what works best there are so many different forms around the world and they work differently depending on culture and education. I don’t see a clear winner that would work everywhere.
Thank you for sharing :)
Universal sentient rights including the UN's list, healthcare, education, food, shelter, and solid internet devices and connections.
Do you know if or who currently works toward achieving universal sentient rights? It resonates strongly with me - especially because it is more broad than just "humans".
Um, do genies get universal sentient rights? And if so, is the genie going to continue handing out wishes?
Why do you want to know?
You should read “The Man Who Could Work Miracles”, a short story from H. G. Wells’ “Tales of Space and Time”.
When I first read this, I was not sure if this is your wish or if the comment rather belongs to the [META] comment but I assume you read the guidelines and are following it, so thank you for your wish and the recommendation! I will definitely have a look! What was your experience with the book?
It is my wish that you should read that (free) short story.
Will do - thank you for sharing!
I did - thank you for your recommendation! This will now forever be a part of my life! :)
Yeah, be careful in what you wish for. My wife and I were remarking the other day about life being a string of paths taken and paths not taken. Seems commonplace, but is yet profound.
If I understand that story correctly, the universe got stuck in a loop at the end.
If I understand that story correctly, the universe got stuck in a loop at the end.
A cure for cancer. That's something no amount of money can currently buy.
Why would you like to have this?
Because my wife has cancer and I don't want our kids to grow up without their mom.
I hope your wish will become true and that your wife will survive!
Do you already have back up plans to let your kids experience the unconditional love of her mom even when she is not around in a body any more?
Do you already have back up plans to let your kids experience the unconditional love of her mom even when she is not around in a body any more?
I wish to have all the powers of the genie without any of the limitations.
Granted! What do you do next?
Fix my teeth, eyes, back pain, weird moles… make me healthy forever :)
I wish this to you, too!
What are you currently doing to stay healthy?
What are you currently doing to stay healthy?
Enough intelligence to solve any kind of problem eventually.
Which problem would you tackle? Is there a problem that you are currently stuck with?
"eventually" is the word the genie will play with and mess with you
Sounds like you think the genie will conn you? What is your mental model of the genie? Malevolent or benevolent?
yea. I am not sure where this comes from.. maybe the joke-y Aladdin genie? or other more malevolent genies from other stories? honestly I don't remember, but I can imagine a genie being very accomodating, or very evil, in the way it will grant the wish.
Thank you for sharing! I also remember a blue and black genie - where one was malevolent and the other benevolent. No idea where exactly that was mentioned though ^^
A blessed, fixed, silver dragon scale mail.
WAT? What is this? And, maybe, why? :)
Self administered euthanasia
I totally agree! Giving people the choice over life and death instead of forcing them to live!
In which situation did that wish come up for you?
It's the compounding failures over time across social, economic, and physical systems. Avoiding specifics to not turn this into a pseudo therapy session.
Sure, thanks for sharing what you did :)
What do you think about therapy sessions?
What do you think about therapy sessions?
I think therapy is probably the right tool for most people, most of the time. A lot of problems can be solved with professional help that can boost confidence and give a new aim in life that the patient believes they can achieve.
Thank you for sharing! What were your thoughts before when you said "Avoiding specifics to not turn this into a pseudo therapy session"?
So your wish is for others to look at the comic?
Any other wishes given that the genie seems to have escaped the control of the lawyers?
Any other wishes given that the genie seems to have escaped the control of the lawyers?
Perfect health to everyone on the planet. The ability to reincarnate with my past lives memories. The end of capitalism and the success of the concepts related to the solarpunk aesthetic.
Why do you want to reincarnate with past lives memories?
What do you not like about capitalism?
And thank you for sharing solarpunk - it looks astonishing :)
What do you not like about capitalism?
And thank you for sharing solarpunk - it looks astonishing :)
an infinite number of more wishes.
I posted my wishes in the comments as well.
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