Though it's easy to patch the rules:
- you only have X number of wishes;
- you cannot wish for Y (Y including whishing for more wishes/possession of new wish granting devices);
- you cannot wish you could wish for Y;
- you cannot wish you could wish being able to wish...

To be clear, I'm not saying that this is what was going on with the people you are referring to, and duly noted for the future! I just like talking about language, to the point I'll de-lurk to do it :)

Interesting, as a non-narive speaker, before reading this I'd have definitely used your first name to address you on social media (though in person I'd have gone with title and sourname) because in my head being too formal online can be another form of subtle disrespect...