On Tuesday, I asked FOTM John Michael McGrath to pop on Humble and Fred's podcast to discuss the election results. The Liberals won 169 seats, 3 shy of a majority. During this chat, I heard John Michael McGrath refer to wishcasting.
I wishcast all the time! It's forecasting, or making a prediction, but it's done in accordance with your personal preference. So it's less forecasting and more wishcasting.
For example, in 2016 I predicted that Hillary Clinton would defeat Donald Trump. This was me wishcasting. In 2024 I predicted that Kamala Harris would defeat Donald Trump. Again, more wishcasting.
I have predicted that that Leafs would beat the Sens in six games during this opening round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is still possible, with the Leafs leading 3 games to 2 heading in to game six, but it's still wishcasting.
With Devin Heroux on Friday, I predicted on Toronto Mike'd that the Liberal Party would win a majority. I was wrong, the safer bet would have been to call a Liberal minority victory, but I do enjoy wishcasting.
Unless you're a professional oddsmaker, or placing money on outcomes, or a professional forecaster of some sort, wishcasting is really just positive thinking. Your glass is half full and you're envisioning everything turning out in your favour.
One caveat before I publish this post... when I wishcast, it's done in scenarios where I can legimatically see such an outcome. As I recently said to Mike Wilner, I think the 2025 Blue Jays team is awful, and I have no interest in following them this season. I also forecast that Doug Ford's Progressive Conservative party would win a majority earlier this year, and that would not have been my wishcast.
But when it's an entirely possible outcome, I hope for the best, and am happy to wishcast it so.
