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"I'm strictly an ivory-tower person. I can explain things but I can't do things."
- Isaac Asimov
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| Mental Radio-Handicap | ||
| A device that destroys concentration. |
In the world of Harrison Bergeron, if a man were to have, let's say, exceptional mental acuity that makes him stand out from the average personal, it's a problem. No one should have to feel bad that they aren't as focused and smart - therefore, his ability to concentrate must be destroyed for the good of society.
| But he didn't get very far with it before another noise in his ear radio scattered his thoughts. George winced. So did two out of the eight ballerinas. Hazel saw him wince. Having no mental handicap herself, she had to ask George what the latest sound had been.
"Sounded like somebody hitting a milk bottle with a ball peen hammer," said George. "I'd think it would be real interesting, hearing all the different sounds," said Hazel, a little envious. "All the things they think up." "Um," said George. |
| Technovelgy from Harrison Bergeron,
by Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.. Published by The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction in 1961 Additional resources -
|
Thanks to Connor Lawrence for contributing this item.
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'What would you do,' Eric asked the robot cabdriver, 'if your wife had turned to stone, your best friend were a toad, and you had lost your job?'
'those suits they wear -- call them 'stillsuits' -- that reclaim the body's own water...'
'Now, except for weight and heat, the same conditions prevail in this chamber as in space.'
'there were so many worms and counterworms loose in the data-net...'
'Now, look, let's start with the three fundamental Rules of Robotics...'
'..the synthetic intellects at the Place of Knowledge had far outstripped the minds of men.'
'But after washing and drying clothes had to be smooth - free from fine lines and wrinkles ...'
