The Copy Crypt: Ring or Lamp, find your own damn genie.

Originally published: Week of January 8th.

CURRENT MOOD:

I’ve been listening to an oral tradition version of the original “Aladdin” story. It’s… interesting.

The original character Aladdin (as in the Arabian Nights version) isn’t a thief. He’s a bum.

He’s lazy, foolish, and lives off his mom. Running into an evil sorcerer that tricks him into lamp hunting is arguably the best thing that could have happened to him.

Also, he has the service of two genie slaves at his command. Genies that were probably evil, but they’re set into lamps to be slaves forever, so we don’t care.

But beyond the genies, Aladdin gets his power from a very normal source: Talking to people who are smarter than him.

The tale emphasizes the fact that Aladdin spends time consulting with the wise men and merchants hanging out in the bazaar. It’s because of them he doesn’t freak out and become drunk with power once he obtains the genie slaves. Hence, his acquired advantages last.

Personally, I like this story a lot better. Fortune can rise or fall. But if you’re not open to learning, you’ll end up losing…