Module 10

“A logic named Joe” is a short story written by Murray Leinster in 1946. For this module we were asked to read this short story and discuss some of the prophetic ideas in it. The story is about a “logic” (Like a computer) with a slight alteration from all of the other logics that allows it to change the programming of all other logics to provide any information anybody wanted. In the story this causes many problems such as children being able to see things about the birds and the bees that should be censored, angry husbands finding information on how to kill their wives, and providing plans on how to rob banks to anybody who asks for them.

            The main character of the short story is a man nicknamed “Ducky”. The story is told from his point of view and his problems are told to the reader. An ex-girlfriend (Laurine) uses a logic to track him down and when she finds him and finds out he is married she tells him she will talk to his wife and separate them so that they can get married. Not wanting Laurine to do this, Ducky finds a way to shut down the machine that is causing all the problems by using information that the machine itself gives him, and saves himself and everybody else.

            The “logic” in this story seems to be prophetic of our modern day computers connected to the internet. One of the differences between the “logic” and the internet is that the logic gave one response to each question while the internet gives many responses to each question. The “logic” in the story seems to be able to do the things that everyone is currently trying to do. Every company that produces anything that uses the internet is trying to find a way to have their devices come up with the best answers for each individual. For example IPhone can now give you advice on what music you will like based on what you have listened to in the past.

            The problems in this story are very real problems that we deal with all the time in real life. Keeping control of the ever expanding information on the internet is nearly impossible. With all this information available to nearly everyone on the planet there are going to be people who use it as a way to hurt others or take advantage but without it the world would regress greatly.