Name that short story - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Giltwist · 03-24-2004, 08:33 PM

what is that short story where the government enforces "all men are created equal" by making strong people wear weights and putting a buzzer in smart peoples ears so they can't think smart thoughts without being interrupted?

This is going to drive me nuts til I find out.

MadHatder · 03-24-2004, 08:42 PM

Harrison Burgeron.

Giltwist · 03-24-2004, 08:48 PM

Thanks much

On a related note, I am making a list of books/movies to help me get ready for writing a book. Right now I have Harrison Burgeron for how society might handle someone more powerful than they want to admit, and Gattaca for its excellent portayal of an elitist society. Also, I have Mystery Men/The Specials for the second-rate super heroes. I need more things along these lines to write my book. Basically, the inspiration is that all the books these days are about chosen ones and superpowered heroes. I want to write a book about a society in the not-to-distant future where humanity as a whole as evolved some limited psionic abilities. The catch is I want the protagonists to be the normal folks with no powers or malfunctioning powers.

bparker805 · 03-24-2004, 08:58 PM

I hope you are going to be able to explain an evolutionary change to a species that happens in the "not to distant future"(these kinds of things take awhile). But could I recomend the award winning movie Ice Pirates?

MadHatder · 03-24-2004, 09:04 PM

X-Men and X-2 mabye.

Kadath · 03-25-2004, 06:54 AM

I love the Ice Pirates. Such a wonderfully awful movie.

Date the Banana · 03-25-2004, 06:12 PM

Wasn't that the subject of the Mutant Season by uh....(checks Amazon....) Karen Haber and Robert Silverberg?
In the future there are some folk who have psychic powers, some who don't. Can't really remember more, I believe that I was quite young when I read it.
Still, might be what you're looking for!

Giltwist · 03-25-2004, 07:27 PM

I hope it's not too similar. I have been working for a year trying to come up with something which hasn't been done or at least not in that particular way. You would not believe how much has already been done when you sit down and think about it. Pretty much every sort of magic has been done. About the only thing I could think of that hadn't been done was catching magic in a jar for later use. *checks synopsis of book* Nah, not too bad, its kinda xmen-esque. *browwipes* I thougt I was back to the drawing board.

Thanks for the input.

NoLa · 03-26-2004, 12:27 PM

Harrison Burgeron-

Great story! I have a book of short stories, that being one of them.Kurt Vonnegut is a fantastic writer.

cowudders14 · 04-04-2004, 09:25 AM

I'd never heard of this story, so did some googling to find out about it. I came across the whole story online (or at least I assume it's the whole story?):

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html

Wow! That really does make for interesting reading!! Kinda scary, and a tad surprising that Harrison hadn't had that happen before...
(leaving out details of what happened - read the stoy. It's one hell of an eye opener!

03-24-2004, 08:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Giltwist Insane Location: Pennsylvania	Name that short story what is that short story where the government enforces "all men are created equal" by making strong people wear weights and putting a buzzer in smart peoples ears so they can't think smart thoughts without being interrupted? This is going to drive me nuts til I find out.

03-25-2004, 06:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kadath Muffled Location: Camazotz	I love the Ice Pirates. Such a wonderfully awful movie. __________________ it's quiet in here

03-25-2004, 06:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
Date the Banana Insane Location: Japan	Wasn't that the subject of the Mutant Season by uh....(checks Amazon....) Karen Haber and Robert Silverberg? In the future there are some folk who have psychic powers, some who don't. Can't really remember more, I believe that I was quite young when I read it. Still, might be what you're looking for! __________________ all work and no play make Date something something

03-26-2004, 12:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
NoLa Crazy Location: St.Louis, MO	Harrison Burgeron- Great story! I have a book of short stories, that being one of them.Kurt Vonnegut is a fantastic writer. __________________ Through the warmest cord of care your love was sent to me I'm not sure what to do with it or where to put it

04-04-2004, 09:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
cowudders14 Bringer of good Moos... Location: Midlands, UK	I'd never heard of this story, so did some googling to find out about it. I came across the whole story online (or at least I assume it's the whole story?): http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html Wow! That really does make for interesting reading!! Kinda scary, and a tad surprising that Harrison hadn't had that happen before... (leaving out details of what happened - read the stoy. It's one hell of an eye opener! __________________ Moo! I'm mooey!

03-24-2004, 08:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
MadHatder Crazy	Harrison Burgeron.

03-24-2004, 08:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Giltwist Insane Location: Pennsylvania	Thanks much On a related note, I am making a list of books/movies to help me get ready for writing a book. Right now I have Harrison Burgeron for how society might handle someone more powerful than they want to admit, and Gattaca for its excellent portayal of an elitist society. Also, I have Mystery Men/The Specials for the second-rate super heroes. I need more things along these lines to write my book. Basically, the inspiration is that all the books these days are about chosen ones and superpowered heroes. I want to write a book about a society in the not-to-distant future where humanity as a whole as evolved some limited psionic abilities. The catch is I want the protagonists to be the normal folks with no powers or malfunctioning powers.

03-24-2004, 08:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
bparker805 is KING! Location: On the path to Valhalla.	I hope you are going to be able to explain an evolutionary change to a species that happens in the "not to distant future"(these kinds of things take awhile). But could I recomend the award winning movie Ice Pirates?

03-24-2004, 09:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
MadHatder Crazy	X-Men and X-2 mabye.

03-25-2004, 07:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Giltwist Insane Location: Pennsylvania	I hope it's not too similar. I have been working for a year trying to come up with something which hasn't been done or at least not in that particular way. You would not believe how much has already been done when you sit down and think about it. Pretty much every sort of magic has been done. About the only thing I could think of that hadn't been done was catching magic in a jar for later use. checks synopsis of book Nah, not too bad, its kinda xmen-esque. browwipes I thougt I was back to the drawing board. Thanks for the input.