This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
narutaki2000: I have a doubt about this example: In Watchmen, Rorscharch has admired Harry S. Truman since childhood for droping two bombs in two cities full of civilians and so, "salving miles of lives and ending the war", but when he confronts the same tactic applied by Ozymandias, who destroyed 4 millions of lives and thus saving the world, he doesn't want any part of this "Utopia". Do you think it counts as a example of "Be careful what you wish for"? I think it's important not only because Rorscharch is confronted with some of his basic thinking, but because it reflects one of the themes of Watchmen, the callousnes of this kind of political thinking and the horrifing reality that implies.
Dark Sasami: Distinction needs to be drawn between this and Literal Genie. The Reboot example looks like it should be in Literal Genie, as it's an actual "alteration of reality" sort of wish, but I haven't seen the episode so I don't really know.
Red Shoe: That occurred to me as well, but not having seen the episode, I'm not sure which this is. I think the distinction is that if you get what you really did want, and it turns out to be lame, that's Be Careful What You Wish For (or Exact Words), whereas if it's lame because what you said is taken to mean something other than you intended, it's a Literal Genie. (later) That Cosby Show reference — did Theo actually learn his lesson? Seems like he ended the episode convinced that, while it was harder than he thought it would be, he could too make it as a grown-up. I think it's still a good example, since it was clearly the plot being set up, but maybe it should be noted as a subversion (or maybe a Broken Aesop).
Gus: I think Literal Genie is in the wrong category. I believe it was intended for Characters as Device. Be Careful What You Wish For (which would be better named Wish Gone Awry) was meant for Plots. That is the distinction I would draw.
Lale: If it were only the other way! If it were I who was to be always young, and the picture that was to grow old! For that—for that—I would give everything!"''
- -Dorian Gray, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Charred Knight: FFTA is about escaping fantasy not this
Mr Death: Removed this line from the Twisted Metal example:
- Which sounds suspiciously similar to M. R. James's classic story "The Monkey's Paw".
...because it more or less applies to all the examples, as that story is one long example of this trope.
Not Pigeon: Okay, there's something that's been bugging me for a while — isn't this a Fantastic Aesop? I mean, yes, if you were to somehow magically have your wishes granted you should make sure they're good ones, but when was the last time that happened to you?
Vasha: Not really fantastic. True, most of the examples here are supernatural, but that’s only because the consequences of the wish are more obvious if it happens suddenly. See, in the Literature section, Battle Circle and especially The Handmaid’s Tale and It Can’t Happen Here for non-supernatural examples.
