Microfiction I

[vakkotaur]

I suppose this was partially inspired by the_gneech's fictionlets.

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"It's possible. Not only possible, it'd be easy!" exclaimed the excited Stanley.

Roger looked up, "What would be easy?"

Stanley sighed, annoyed at Roger's not having registered what he'd been explaining for a considerable time, "The Stupidity Bomb."

Roger looked quizzically at Stan, "Stupidity Bomb?"

"Yes! If detonated, it would unleash a tremendous blanket of idiocy over a vast area. Possess that and you can hold any nation that values its wits hostage. Imagine what they'd pay not to be rendered imbeciles!"

"Uh huh. Have you read any newspapers, or popular magazines lately? Maybe listened to the radio or watched television?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

It was Roger's turn to sigh as he switched on the usually dormant television, "Watch, and learn." He started slowly flipping through the channels.

Stanley stared. His jaw dropped. Profanity followed. There was only one possible explanation. Not only had someone beaten him to building the bomb, but whoever did it also had quite obviously detonated the wretched thing. That much idiocy simply could not have occurred naturally.

Comments

[michaelmink.livejournal.com]

Query: how does one determine the difference between natural and artificial stupidity?

For example, is someone licking a frozen metal pipe demonstrating natural, or artificially-induced, stupidity?

"Stupid is as stupid does."

[vakkotaur.livejournal.com]

It's not a case by case thing, but a matter of overall quantity here.

I'm not sure it would be possible to distinguish without knowing the history of the observed subject and thus knowing whether this a typical or atypical behavior for that person.

[malterre.livejournal.com]

I like it :)