This is a question that occured to me as I was driving (that’s when I come up some of my best thoughts); thought it may amuse some of you:
You find the proverbial magic lamp & genie granting you 3 wishes. You make your 1st wish (doesn’t matter what it is). You decide the 1st wish isn’t working out and say “I wish I hadn’t made that 1st wish”. This wish is granted. Now the fun starts: How many wishes do you have left? 1 because 2 wishes have been granted? 2 because you now haven’t made your 1st wish? Or 3 because since you haven’t made your 1st wish, you also wouldn’t have made your 2nd wish?
If you really need to know: you have two. Not because of what you said:**because you now haven’t made your 1st wish. **
You made one wish. You were granted three wishes total. Whether or not you have the result(s), is irrelevant, one wish is used. When you say “I wish…”, it is not a formal wish, just a conjunctive phrase, a desire. You have to begin your wish: “I want …” Don’t you know the rules?
So, one wish was used (wasted). You have two more. Be careful now. These genies are pretty strict.
Penn & Teller, in one of their books, answered the big question about the ‘three wishes’ situation - how to get your wish(es) without coming to a bad end, as usually happens.
WISH ONE: I wish that you answer any questions that I may have, with truthful, concise replies, that if acted on, would most be in my best interests.
Question, not a wish: What are the two wishes, if any, stated in full, that would most benefit me both here-and-now and in the future?
WISH TWO: I wish that the first of the two wishes you have stated in response to my question to you be granted to me, as you have stated it.
WISH THREE: I wish that the second of the two wishes you have stated in response to my question to you be granted to me, as you have stated it.
Or words to that effect. It’s been a while, so your milage may vary.