The dead Genealogist…
The detective arrived at the crime scene and was confronted with a researcher in a white coat sprawled on the floor with blood splattered across his head. A newly minted Optimus humanoid robot was calmly sitting on a bar stool next to the dead genealogist with a bag filled with small stones in its cold robot hand. The detective asked the bartender what happened. “The damn robot whacked him in the head”, he said.
During the investigation, the detective learned from the robot that the dead man was a Genealogist and had just read Jonathan Swift’s Gullivers Travels, wherein in the book’s third voyage to the Island of Laputa he learned of “flappers” and had an epiphany… he would have the robot be his flapper.
The purpose of the flapper
- Waking thinkers: The people of Laputa are so consumed by theoretical pursuits in mathematics, music, and astronomy that they lose track of reality. Without constant intervention, they would become completely detached from their surroundings.
- Aiding conversation: The flapper would gently strike the mouth of the person who was supposed to speak and the ear of the person who was supposed to listen.
- Preventing accidents: In addition to helping with conversations, the flapper would also tap their master’s eyes when walking to prevent them from accidentally falling into a ditch or bumping into a post.
The detective turned to the robot and stated, “I get it, you were to accompany the man and keep him from getting distracted and focused… is that correct?” “Yes”, stated the robot. “Then why did you hit him and knock his brains out?” asked the detective. “He did not say how hard”, answered the robot.
Leave a Reply