What to Do When a Genie Sits on the Edge of Your Bed
This is the time of year to wish peace on Earth, a goal and prayer that seems always before us, and “When will we ever learn?” echoes in our minds.
But what if you had a magical chance to change things….?
I pondered this question many years ago and was recently asked it again in an interview. As a child, my answer was always simple and the same: I’d wish for a horse.
As I grew older and more sophisticated, I started appreciating the entanglement of the question: What kind of horse? Do I need to use my remaining two wishes for funds to maintain the horse and keep it healthy? How much do I wish for? What if someone I loved got sick, and I had to use a wish to make them well?
In fairy tales, I noted that the first two wishes, though well-intentioned, got the protagonist into hot water of some sort, and the third wish invariably had to be spent rectifying the situation. Very poor decision-making, in my opinion. The same is true in writing, a decision by the characters often takes the story in another direction entirely.
I pondered the problem (because you never know when you might find a genie on the edge of your bed, right?) When the solution came, I was very relieved. I had the answer. I was prepared. The resolution was beautiful in its simplicity and legal soundness: My first wish would be—to be granted three more wishes whenever I used up the other two! Clever, right?
As an adult, I realized that the real lesson of fairy tales was not how to use one’s wishes wisely but that there are always unintended consequences.
Creating more food with less work and loss is a worthy goal, and we have accomplished it. It came about through the use of pesticides that, indeed, resulted in fewer insects but also killed off the beneficial insects along with the pests and introduced sneaky carcinogens into our food chain that, in turn, raised health care costs and cut short the lives that “more food” was supposed to support.
China tried to control its population growth with a one-child limit, which resulted in a significant reduction of female babies (which were seen as less desirable than male children), and now, the country has negative population growth and a problem with too few women available for marriages.
In New Zealand, rabbits were introduced and became a problem, so they brought in stouts (a type of weasel) to eat the rabbits. However, now, the stouts are a threat to the bird population.
In the American South, we are “blessed” with kudzu, a prolific Asian vine imported for cattle grazing. Unfortunately, cattle don’t like it. It will eventually consume the world.
Even wishing for “peace on Earth” could have unintended horrific consequences. Hitler wanted a reign of peace. He just needed to conquer a few countries and wipe out a few peoples first.
This is one of the problems we would/will face if Artificial Intelligence (AI) were tasked with such a goal and could make real-world changes. Imagine what lengths it would go to ensure “peace!” We might be stripped of the ability to speak freely or even interact or force-fed the “blue pills” [The Matrix] to remain in contented ignorance. Freedom and safety have always been a matter of delicate balance.
That said, I admit I would be sorely tempted to use a wish to bring about peace on Earth. But it would require a well-thought-out document with a team of lawyers and futurists! Even then, we know what happens to the best-laid plans of mice and men….
Happy Holidays to All!
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Interesting analysis – and so right about consequences.
It’s all your fault, Debra. You submitted the question in another Clicking Our Heels interview, and it got my brain spinning! 🙂
Goodness, TK, that was depressing! However, after spending a week in Amazon hell because their left hand doesn’t know what their right hand is doing, and I’ve been stuck in the middle, I fear that you’re quite right. What’s that quote about how we’ve created a monster, and it’s us?
Apologies, Lois! I didn’t mean to be depressing, just thought-provoking, and it was Debra’s fault! LOL!
You raise several good points about being careful what you wish for. I, too, am concerned about unintended results from man’s actions, and sometimes I wonder how evolved we really are.
Saralyn,
I think we are far more evolved physically and mentally than emotionally. I agree with you and sometimes wonder if we as a species will survive. But Lois is really going to jump on us for this pessimism, LOL! Let’s hope, pray, and work for a more evolved world!