Monday, January 3, 2011

Are We Becoming Robots?

How would you describe Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future in "Harrison Bergeron"? Do you think that our 2011 society is growing into the society depicted in "Harrison Bergeron"? Why or why not? Try to be specific as you defend your opinion.

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80 comments:

  1. It seems like Kurt Vonnegut's attitude twords the future is a very bad one. To him the future will be dark and sad. In his vision, while trying to become equal we made ourselfs into nothing. In the story everyone must become the lowest of low because it would be harder to make the lower people become strong, smart, beautiful etc... In his story the push for equality is what destroyed society.
    I do not think that our society is becoming anything like "Harrison Bergeron". In our society equality is important but we believe everyone is already equal. In 2011 society if someone is extremely smart or strong we do not try and hold them back. We give them new challenges to try and make them even better then they already are. There is also always a push to become better than we already are because if not, someone will pass you and be even better than you. To me our society is the opposit of "Harrison Bergeron".

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  2. Kurt Vonnegut has a bad attitude toward the future. He views it as something bad. In his story he tries to make everyone equal, there is no rich, poor, etc. This is what destroyed society because everyone is different in their own unique ways, and it would be very difficult for everyone to be the same.
    Our society is not turning into this. Yes, we do say everyone is equal, which we are, but there is still differences between us all. I don't think our society would ever come to putting weights on some to make them more equal to another. Our society is always improving. We can't let equality hold us back because others are betters at certain things then other people are. We can't stop others success just for equality.

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  3. I think that the difference between the society in the book and our society is clear, rather than handicapping the populace, the populace is constantly competing and striving for self improvement. competition is the entire reason society has progressed.

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  4. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude toward the future in "Harrison Bergeron" seemed to be pretty negative. In the story, he creates everyone as equal, but not the kind of equal that I would have pictured. Everyone in the story is made to be the same and there really isn't any room for anyone to grow or help society grow. I think it is kind of weird that in the story the future seems to be the total oppisite of what kind of free society we have now, where people can be what they want, think what they want, and discover what they want.
    I don't think that our society is turning in to the one that is depicted in this story. If anything, it is becoming the total opposite. In this country at least, everyone is free to be what they want to be, and they aren't really told that they can't do something as simple as thinking about something to a large exstent. Our society today is much different than the society that Vonnegut predicts for the future.

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  5. I think that Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is some what negative in "Harrison Bergeron". It sounds like he thinks the future will be uneasy and everyone will end up being the same. No one better, no one worse. I don’t think our society is becoming like "Harrison Bergeron" at all because we have a little thing we like to call equality. Anyone can be who they want to be, fat, skinny, strong, etc. We let people who they want to be, but in the story, they hold them back, and weigh them down mentally and physically. We don’t do that in our society and I don’t think we ever will. We have different levels of working/learning, and that’s what makes people different. Some are smarter, and others aren’t so smart. The smarter get new challenges put on their plate, while dumber people receive help with what’s on their plate. We let people excel, not hold them back and make them be like everyone else. That is what Kurt Vonnegut thinks will happen in the future. Everyone will be just like everyone else. Our society will never be like that.

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  6. Kurt Vonnegut's feelings and attitude for the future is very grim to say the least.In his story he makes everyone equal and almost the same. He leaves no room for creativiting or deep thinking in these people.
    I don't think we are growing into what his sotry is about, I think a lot of people are still diffrent and using creativity in their lives, we all have diffrent abilities that make us who we are. I don't think we will ever become like the people in his story but...we will be flawed in diffrent ways.

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  7. Kurt Vonnegut expressed the future as a sad place where no one has the freedom to do what they please, or to even really and truely live. The stiry was just sad, and hopefully will never happen. I have read many other books on a future like this, and I can't believe anything like that would ever happen. If anything, our society is moving as far away from that possibility of that future as we can get for now. Our creativity is growing, our thoughts are flourishing, and I can't ever imagine anything like this truely happening.

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  8. Kurt Vonnegut's reactions towards the future in "Harrison Bergeron" seems dark and depressing. He describes the year 2081 as if everyone is equal and no one is better than the other. In my opinion, this strategy implies that no one is special in their own ways. Everyone is exactly the same and there is no way of telling the difference. People will not have their own personality and their own characteristics and talents.

    Our society is not becoming similar to the society in "Herrison Bergeron" because nowadays we are our own person. We don't let anyone control us, and we are special in our own ways. Likewise, the society of "Herrison Bergeron" was much more different because everyone was equal. No one was smarter than anybody else. The smarter people who had a more developed brain could make advances in the world's technology, and could improve medical equipment. Our society allows the smarter people to discover more, and to improve our lifestyles.

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  9. I would describe Kurt Vonnegut's reactions towards the future in "Harrison Bergeron" to be sad. He describes the society to be one like Hitler tried to create. He shows very little faith in mankind. The United States was able to help overcome one person that thought everyone should be the same. We have laws that same we can be who we want to be. Saying that I do think that in some ways we have become a bit like the society in "Harrison Bergeron" because as we grow up we are shaped to fit the mold of "the perfect mom, the perfect dad, the best worker and students ". I don’t think we will ever become that extreme but we have already become, in ways the same.

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  10. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is negative and is totally opposite of what I think our future holds. No, our society is not growing into that illustrated in the short story. Our society is looking forward to the future and is not afraid of the challenges that lie ahead because we have been given the tools to cop with these challenges. I believe that we are all very close to being equal. Yes, some are smarter,stronger, and more athletic than others but those who have the greater advantages don't "get it easy" they have to live up to other's expectations and deal with the challenges which are much more trying than that of an "average person."

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  11. I think Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is bad because all the strongest and smartest have to become the shortest and dumbest. In the story the government strives for equality and that destroyed the society they live in.
    I don’t think 2011 is anything like “Harrison Bergeron” because everyone in our society is equal in their own way and that’s the way we like it. Differences is what make a our society what it is now and we are fine.

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  12. I think Kurt Vonnegut's attitude toward the future is bad and depressing. In the reading, "Harrison Bergeron", he shows the future as everyone being equal and putting handicaps on superior people, similar to the video we watched in class. To strive for everyone to be equal in this case, you would have to make everyone the worst, because a person with disabilities could not perform at a high level like a superstar.
    I do not think our society would become like "Harrison Bergeron", because both societies have different views on "equal". In their society, equal means that every single physical appearance and physical capabilities have to be the exact same as every other person in the world. Whereas our society, equality is defined as a superior group helps a inferior group strive to accomplish certain things in life.

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  13. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is depressing, negative and extreme. For example, if you are smart or pretty, you have to suffer and become handicapped. As a result, "equality" has been taken to a whole new level in the sense that there is not competition and that everyone is equal according to law. On the other hand, I don't believe that our 2011 society has grown to become the society in "Harrison Bergeron". To a certain extent, our society has become very reliable on technology and is reaching for more equality in different areas. Still, our society allows competition and citizens have the right to think their own thoughts. I don't think that the society described in "Harrison Bergeron" is close to defining our society in the near future.

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  14. the future he descrides isnt the brightest of futures. like if u hav any ability to do any thing like play a sport or look good or even good at a job they handie capt you and stop all of any new technology or future every thing will stay the same and never change. i dont think we are even close to his version of the future we are very far away from equality or any equal rights in that case.

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  15. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is sad, depressing, and almost upsetting. To think that everyone would have to become the same, even those who were perfect. Meaning those whose were sick could never become like the prefect people, so the only the perfect people would have to change and become someone entirely new. This really is unfair and pretty obsured. I also think that our society now is far from being like this story. Our society is full of different kind of people, like tall, short, healthy, sick, rich, poor, and ect. Our future is far from becoming what is described in Harrison Bergeron.

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  16. I agree with everyone above me, that Vonnegut had a negative perspective on the future. I don't think in any way that our society is anything like the one is Harrison Bergeron because our society takes pride in being unique and striving in sports, academics, ect. In our society being good at something is celebrated and you are encouraged to become the best you can. I think that our society is the exact opposite of the one described in Harrison Bergeron.

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  17. Kurt Vonnegut has a bad attitude toward the future. In his story he tries to make everyone equal which has a negative effect on society because people are not able to use their gifts and talents to make their society better. I don't think our society in 2011 is anything like the one in the story, because I feel that we are taught to use our gifts to better society rather than keeping are gifts hidden, which keeps society from strengthening.

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  18. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards our future is quite sad and very disturbing. It makes me wonder how someone could think that this is what our society could become one day. I do not think that the society today of 2011 is becoming the society that is described in Kurt Vonnegut's story nor do I think that our society could ever become like the one depicted in the story. I think this because of the way that everyone in the country has their own personality and would never subject others to this because they know that they would never want to be subjected to something like that.

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  19. Kurt Vonnegut's has a very dark attitude towards our future. He believes that when we say we want equality, it will lead to an almost Nazi era situation. The attitude is an incredibly bitter one. He uses the beauty of the 'rebels' to be almost a bad thing and yet they are the only somewhat sane ones. Personally, I believe that our current society will not lead to be such a drastic situation. There definitely is that stereotypical perfect person hat people strive for but it will never be a requirement. I believe that history teaches us what not to do in our future and I think the Holocaust is a similar situation. The force was different and the process isn't relevant but it still depicts the same idea; we should all be one kind, as equals. Therefore, I believe that society will never reach the extent that this short story portrays.

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  20. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude toward the future is pretty pessimistic in the sense that he thinks equality will ultimately damage society more than it improves it. I think that our society is actually going in the polar opposite direction. Everyone is getting more and more competitive to be the best at whatever it is they do. Average is no longer good enough in so many aspects these days.

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  21. Kurt Vonnegut's has a very dark and boring attitude In his story. He makes everyone equal by handicapping individuals who are better than everyone else. He does not let people have creativity and the ability to think deeply. I don't think our society is heading into a future like this. I think that we all have traits and habits that make us each unique individuals in 2011. I don't think our society will ever come to a point like this because I don't believe the strong people in the world could be handicapped to be equal to the weakest person in the world.

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  22. Kurt Vonnegut's perspective for the future was not pleaseant or kind in anyway.He descirbes a society that is so different from us in many ways basicly opposite from ours. we show our value in different ways and are admired for everything we do to help build a better society

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  23. Kurt Vonnegut's look towards the future is very negative. And sad that he wants his society to live that way. I do not think that 2011 would ever end up that way, or even if some people tried to make our society live this way people would rebel against it and it would not happen. Or would i think our society would ever come to that point how it is in that story, or the people in our society would not even let it come close to.

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  24. I believe that Kurt Vonnegut look is not as pleasant as I thought it would be in the future. I think that it would be more exciting since we will increase more and more with technology and other things consisting of power and how our society is growing more these days. I hope that this wouldn't happen, that everyone is the same because everyone is unique and special in their own ways whether it is in their disabilities. It would be very tragic and sad to take such drastic measures, I don't think that anything would evolve from this. I do believe it would be really hard to make everyone in the entire world be the same; in brain smarts, in beauty, ect. But, I do also see that our society is growing with technology and growing in power. Although power is growing more and more I don't believe that the power will grow so much to the extent to everyone being the same.

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  25. What happens to the lowest people?

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  26. Why would Society tear people down instead of bringing them up to make society better?

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  27. How can they just lose their memories out of no where? The wife isn't even handicap and yet she forgets what she was crying about when her son was shot. How does that happen?

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  28. Kyle

    I think the goal of the society is to have no lower or higher people.

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  29. Kyle- The lowest people don't have any handicaps and everyone else is handicapped down to their level.

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  30. Brendan- I think this whole story is based on the worst vision of the future. They don't want to make society better.

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  31. kyle- I think the lowest people would just stay the same and nothing would happen to them, since everyone else is forced down to there level.

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  32. Kyle-
    Instead of bringing them up to the best they just bring the high people down to the low.

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  33. Kyle,
    I think that then society moves down so they're equal with them.

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  34. Do you think someone could pretend to be "normal" or "average" in order to prevent themselves from being handicapped?

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  35. Jessie~
    I think that the wife is mentally challenged with like short term memory loss or something because she isn't forced to wear a mental handicap.

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  36. Brendan it is impossible to improve everyone rather than just making it harder for someone to be good.

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  37. why would people be ok with living in a society like this?

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  38. Kyle-
    The lowest people are treated as if they are exactly the same as the people who are smarter or stronger than the lower people. There are no advantages in this society.

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  39. Brendan- I think the story is just all about the bad of the future and not any of the good. Thats why everyone is handicapped and the same.

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  40. What caused the society in "Harrison Bergeron" to become what it is?

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  41. Brendan-
    I think that would take to much work and the government like to take the easy way out.

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  42. Maybe it's easier to bring the high people to the low level, instead of bringing the low people to the high level.

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  43. How would they know if you were better at something then others?

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  44. Jamie- I don't think so because I think people just know, if you know what I'm saying.

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  45. Jamie~
    No I do not think that someone could pretend to be average because if they could then someone would so they probably have to take tests or something to see what types of handicaps that they need to wear.

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  46. Why did the government enforce these laws if they would've known that there would be no progress in the society, and in technology?

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  47. alex i think u need to be smart handie capted

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  48. Sarah-
    I think that the people really have no idea of what society really should be like. It is almost as if they were brain washed to think that this society is normal.

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  49. Why do you think Kurt Vonnegut depicted such a negative view of the future?

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  50. Sarah- It doesnt say really how the story started, but im guessing they just saw people being better then other and thats how they knew how much to handicap someone

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  51. Sarah,
    Because I don't think they know anything else. Society evolved over time and they weren't used to the freedoms we are. They basically are brainwashed.

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  52. Brendan: Because in reality there are people that are faster, smarter, prettier and i think they is trying to feel like they is a god that is try to control every thing in front of them

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  53. Sarah-
    I don't think that the people in this society know of any other society because they haven't had the opportunity to think about it.

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  54. Why do George and Hazel forget that their son died immediately after he was killed?

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  55. Brendan- I agree with brad that the story is about the bad in the future not the good because it seems like in life we focus on the bad things rather than the good things. There has to be something good about this society he predicts. Even if it is small i still think it is better than nothing.

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  56. Jamie

    I think that the people could pretend to be average, but i think they would and up being caught by the government.

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  57. Sarah~
    I don't think that they do like having to live like they do but like the story demonstrated if you disobey the rules then there are harsh punishments.

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  58. Nouhad,
    I think its because the leader was power hungry.

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  59. Shmedley- They are not brainwashed really, they know exactly what happening, they just dont do anything about it.

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  60. Sarah: they would have more handicaps.

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  61. -Nouhad E,
    I hate to give you a simple answer as all it would do is keep them equal but that is the only reason I can think of that they would keep society from growing.

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  62. Tyler W

    I think that they forgot the tragedy of their sons death because there was a buzzer going on in George's ear, and that kept him from thinking without losing his thoughts.

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  63. brendan- I think he views the future so negative that he only See's the negative. and no good. and he likes it that way.

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  64. Well Brad, technically they aren't capable of progress because they're being held back. When they think of resistance, the nose goes off and they forget what they were just thinking about.

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  65. I agree with Connor because kids arent good sometimes at sports but they play just to have fun!

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  66. I think that Kurt Vonnegut's view of the future is very dark and negative. He focuses on how normal people are the ones that are stupid and non talented, just an average person. With everyone either being non talented or handicapped there is no room for progress and no one would be able to come up with anything new. I also think that this story is not just a story but a fear of what could happen in the future.

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  67. Wellllllllllllllllllllllll Shmedley, I disagree because they can think to a degree.

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  68. Brad- i dont really agree i dont think it would be that fun, because there would be no point to play if no one every won.

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  69. What is the definition of equal in the story compared to our definition? Well, I think that our equality has more to do with how everyone is treated, but their equality is more like what they look like, how strong they are, and more of physical attributes.
    While listening to the conversation, I began to wonder what kind of actions led to this type of strict government and way of living?
    Also, the story seems to be portraying a bit of communism. It was published in 1961, so it is understandable that the author, probably being afraid of a communism take over, would write such a drastic view of the future.

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  70. Do you think in the future in 2081 society will stay the same with people competing against each other to make it better?

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  71. Do you think that by making the people equal that there is room for anyone to be different in their unique ways, and to be true to themselves?

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  72. Brad it cant be enforced though. Whether or not they can think about things, they can't think it through far enough to take action.

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  73. Sarah- I think it would be fun if you didnt know everyone was the same as everyone else, but if you knew, then yes it would be boring

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  74. Sarah- you dont have to be good at sports to have fun playing them

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  75. TyW-

    The mother is so dumb that she forgets right away and the father has noises going off in his head every 20 seconds to scatter his thoughts.

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  76. I think that Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is very negative and depressing because he realizes that everyone is being repressed but also knows he has to accept it.
    I also don't think that the 2011 society is growing into the society in the short story because it feels like everyone is pushed to be themselves and not give in to things like peer that would change who they are. In the short story the exact oppisite was happening and everyone was forced to be the same.

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  77. Kurt Vonnegut's attitude towards the future is dark and bad. In "Harrison Bergeron" he makes it sound like the future will be terrible and a restraint to any individuality. This idea seems twisted and unlike anything we would want to lean towards. It's taking any competitiveness away from life and making it boring. Sometimes our society seems like it is trying to be like this but I don't think it could ever become this way. Humans all have a competitive edge and strive to be better at what they do. Athletes compete to win, and that is mostly the only reason even though there are sometimes added benefits. A lot would have to happen before we ever came near to a completely "equal" society.

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  78. Kurt Vonnegut’s attitude towards the future, he seems mad about how much society wants to be equal even though we are not. He shows us that have to stop trying so hard otherwise this will be are future. I think that perfect equality like communism looks good on paper and would work in a perfect, but as we all know the world is anything but perfect. Someone might try this, but like communism it will fail because there is no perfect system.

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  79. Kurt Vonnegut's view of the future is very grim. He seems to think that we have no hope for our society and that we will keep progressing to the society he describes.
    I don't believe our society is headed towards anything similar to the one in "Harrison Bergeron" because I don't believe our society has the same goals as they do. We strive for everyone to be equal when it comes to the law and how people are treated, but we accept that there are people who are naturally gifted in different ways than others. Some people are more talented when it comes to art, for example. Also we know that some are better at reading and writing than others and same for math and science. So I don't think we will end up like the society in "Harrison Bergeron".

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