# Names and/or authors of two old Sci Fi short stories **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 31, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588 "2013-12-31T20:39:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588/21 "2014-01-01T22:00:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by Sherrerd > I hope no one unfamiliar with Futurama reads this… > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Do such people exist??? FFS, tell me where and I’ll rush right over with my DVDs! 😃 You are a true humanitarian! ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588/22 "2014-01-01T22:49:42Z")
Sherrerd writes: \> And when this fact becomes generally acknowledged–and accepted–many, if not \> most, human institutions will have to change radically. You exaggerate. This is fairly well known. It’s been mentioned on the SDMB (sometimes by me) many times. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2014, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588/23 "2014-01-01T23:34:20Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Sherrerd writes: > > \> And when this fact becomes generally acknowledged–and accepted–many, if not > \> most, human institutions will have to change radically. > > You exaggerate. This is fairly well known. It’s been mentioned on the SDMB (sometimes by me) many times. Sure, it’s probable that a fairly large proportion of regulars at The Straight Dope are aware of this viewpoint (that memory is highly subjective, fallible, and constructed-rather-than-recorded). And a fairly large proportion of that proportion, I would guess, accept this as true. But regulars at [straightdope.com](http://straightdope.com) cannot be said to be a representative sample of all humans. We are talking about people who value education and an open mind. Such is not a majority view amongst our species. Worldwide, I’d estimate that only a tiny percentage of people (2%, maybe?) would be willing to entertain the notion that they are _not_ in control of a mind that records Reality in impartial, complete, and reliable fashion. We, here, are _not_ typical. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588/24 "2014-01-02T01:29:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A previous thread on Clarke’s “History Lesson”: [What Disney cartoon was Arthur C. Clarke referring to in this short story? - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=403695) Thanks for this link. It seems like the consensus in that thread was there was no particular Disney character being described. So, **Wendell** ’s claim that it was “Donald Duck” above may be another instance of ‘creative memory’ (NB: I am not in any way meaning to be pejorative to Wendell). ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588/25 "2014-01-02T01:41:40Z")
I forgot to say (ha!) that I _was_ aware that many memories are created, or at least are ‘semi-synthetic’. I just thought I was immune to the phenomenon! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588/26 "2014-01-02T03:01:30Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I forgot to say (ha!) that I _was_ aware that many memories are created, or at least are ‘semi-synthetic’. **I just thought I was immune to the phenomenon**! I suspect we _all_ do (even if we know better). 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-and-or-authors-of-two-old-sci-fi-short-stories/677588.md?page=1)