# What unforeseen negative consequences would there be for sci-fi type force-shields?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unforeseen-negative-consequences-would-there-be-for-sci-fi-type-force-shields/510986>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 21, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unforeseen-negative-consequences-would-there-be-for-sci-fi-type-force-shields/510986 "2009-09-21T19:58:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unforeseen-negative-consequences-would-there-be-for-sci-fi-type-force-shields/510986/41 "2009-09-24T03:18:50Z")

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> [@msmith537](#):
>
> I’m sure that’s from some book but it sounds like the most asinine hypothetical design for a defensive shield imaginable. Kind of like a tank made out of some sort of material that explodes on impact.

It’s from _Dune_. The author (Frank Herbert) wanted to create a world where swordfighting and high-technology existed side-by-side, so he made personal defensive shields that admitted slow-moving things (e.g., a knife or a cool breeze) but blocked fast-moving things (e.g., bullets).

Then he had to figure out why people wouldn’t just shoot each other with “lasguns” (his equivalent to phasers), so he made a lasgun/shield interaction cause the equivalent of a small nuclear explosion, which would kill shooter and shield wearer alike.

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**Author:** ![The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@The\_Tao\_s\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tao_s_Revenge)\
**Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-unforeseen-negative-consequences-would-there-be-for-sci-fi-type-force-shields/510986/42 "2009-09-24T03:25:08Z")

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> [@msmith537](#):
>
> I’m sure that’s from some book but it sounds like the most asinine hypothetical design for a defensive shield imaginable. Kind of like a tank made out of some sort of material that explodes on impact.

ITT: No love for [reactive amour](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_armor).

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