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After Dinner Conversation Short Story Series
The Mind Reader: After Dinner Conversation Short Story Series
Synopsis - An outspoken bar patron runs an experiment to see if the world can be divided into the “weak” and the “strong” in an attempt to prove he’s not an authoritarian fascist.
After Dinner Conversation is a growing series of short stories across genres to draw out deeper discussions with friends and family. Each story is an accessible example of an abstract ethical or philosophical idea and is accompanied by suggested discussion questions.
Podcast discussions of this short story, and others, is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Youtube.★★★ If you enjoy this story, subscribe via our website to "After Dinner Conversation Magazine" and get this, and other, similar ethical and philosophical short stories delivered straight to your inbox every month. (Just search "After Dinner Conversation Magazine")★★★
After Dinner Conversation is a growing series of short stories across genres to draw out deeper discussions with friends and family. Each story is an accessible example of an abstract ethical or philosophical idea and is accompanied by suggested discussion questions.
Podcast discussions of this short story, and others, is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and Youtube.★★★ If you enjoy this story, subscribe via our website to "After Dinner Conversation Magazine" and get this, and other, similar ethical and philosophical short stories delivered straight to your inbox every month. (Just search "After Dinner Conversation Magazine")★★★
33 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 14, 2020
9 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 25, 2023
The Mind Reader
John Doble
An Intelligence Quotient is what an IQ Test measures. A truism that says the test measures what it measures but doesn’t necessarily measure intelligence or wisdom. Nature vs Nurture comes into the equation. The person’s social status, economic condition, cultural background, nutrition, language, opportunities, even genetics influence how well they will score on such a test.
So why did an entire nation succumb to fascism and why is it enjoying a rebirth today? Why are people in democratic societies electing autocratic leaders--strong mayor in Ontario. Why are denominations with charismatic fundamentalist leaders so popular today. Why is dogmatics again popular when systematic theology makes so much more sense to me. In an uncertain world an anxious population looks for answers and those who would supply them gain popularity. And in a complex world the average person doesn’t realize what is best for them in the long run--hence the paradox of the four-year elected term. What may be popular and get you re-elected in the short term may not be the best policy long-term.
The central character in this short proves to his friend that as the stronger person he can intimidate a fellow barroom patron.
John Doble
An Intelligence Quotient is what an IQ Test measures. A truism that says the test measures what it measures but doesn’t necessarily measure intelligence or wisdom. Nature vs Nurture comes into the equation. The person’s social status, economic condition, cultural background, nutrition, language, opportunities, even genetics influence how well they will score on such a test.
So why did an entire nation succumb to fascism and why is it enjoying a rebirth today? Why are people in democratic societies electing autocratic leaders--strong mayor in Ontario. Why are denominations with charismatic fundamentalist leaders so popular today. Why is dogmatics again popular when systematic theology makes so much more sense to me. In an uncertain world an anxious population looks for answers and those who would supply them gain popularity. And in a complex world the average person doesn’t realize what is best for them in the long run--hence the paradox of the four-year elected term. What may be popular and get you re-elected in the short term may not be the best policy long-term.
The central character in this short proves to his friend that as the stronger person he can intimidate a fellow barroom patron.
October 13, 2023
“I was like the rest of them. Jeffrey was not.”
John (I’m sick of Nameless Narrative MCs, so we’re going with John in this one) is in college in 1973, during the Vietnam War.
Most of the events in the book take place at the Waystation, on a Thursday night. It’s a favorite watering hole for both the locals and the college students.
At age 23, John is a psychology student. Jeffrey is John’s friend.
Jeffrey is a graduate student in photography. Prior to his university studies, Jeffrey was an acclaimed soldier—he was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Jeffrey is so much smarter than John…John is actually clueless. It’s why he’s so threatened by Jeffrey’s intellect.
That night at the bar, a bizarre psychological experiment/event is conducted.
Interesting points are made. Not sure that the writer knows what this story exposes—especially when read by someone with an open mind.
“People can be divided into two types? The weak and the strong?”
“I understand. I think I finally understand.”
“I think so too.”
John (I’m sick of Nameless Narrative MCs, so we’re going with John in this one) is in college in 1973, during the Vietnam War.
Most of the events in the book take place at the Waystation, on a Thursday night. It’s a favorite watering hole for both the locals and the college students.
At age 23, John is a psychology student. Jeffrey is John’s friend.
Jeffrey is a graduate student in photography. Prior to his university studies, Jeffrey was an acclaimed soldier—he was awarded the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.
Jeffrey is so much smarter than John…John is actually clueless. It’s why he’s so threatened by Jeffrey’s intellect.
That night at the bar, a bizarre psychological experiment/event is conducted.
Interesting points are made. Not sure that the writer knows what this story exposes—especially when read by someone with an open mind.
“People can be divided into two types? The weak and the strong?”
“I understand. I think I finally understand.”
“I think so too.”
May 27, 2021
We have ways to make you talk.
Author freebie. Suitable for teens and adults. A parable or morality play about a pair of men playing authority games.
Author freebie. Suitable for teens and adults. A parable or morality play about a pair of men playing authority games.
November 4, 2020
I read a lot of ADC stories twice - this was one that definitely deserved a second read. I had a hard time understanding the two male characters and what their motivations were. That being said, I perfectly believe the actions of the female character, and am convinced that you could go to any bar today and do something similar - I'm just not sure why you would and why it was seen as such a bad thing to the men. In the end, he did good for her - he saw her, and broke her out of her stupor. Sure he was manipulating and could have done something bad, but he didn't, so where is the harm? But maybe that is just my perspective on the situation, and others would have a different view. That is why it fits so well in the ADC series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews