Short Story about value of learning

August 29, 2024 7:59 AM

Can you remind me of the title for this story? A sci-fi short-story in which two friends prepare for a job placement exam. One friend (typical of the setting) goes through an automated, fast, easy process where the information is essentially copied into his mind. The other friend spends a lot of time studying the underlying fundamentals of the field and gains a basic understanding of the technology.

At the end, the friend with auto-knowledge is disappointed because his knowledge was slight outdated and so he didn't do very well on the test. The friend who learned how to think is invited to an institution where all of the other "anomalous thinkers" spend their time developing new things and the auto-knowledge tech.

(I want to say the technology was some sort of info-tape type thing, but that part is hazy.

posted by oddman to Media & Arts (6 answers total)

Is this Isaac Asimov's Profession?
posted by Frowner at 8:24 AM on August 29 [3 favorites]

Is this Isaac Asimov's Profession?

Definitely sounds like it. I’ve also seen it published with the title “Why do they call them Olympics?“
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:39 AM on August 29

I find it kind of a sadistic and cruel story - I remember the very first time I read it, in an old collection from the junior high library while I was on the very long bus ride home, and even then it sort of seemed morally dubious. With a lot of Asimov, I feel like we all remember the cool stuff ("it's the moon! Low gravity means humans can use artificial wings to fly in special domes!") and sort of blot out the sadistic and misogynist parts, which I think speaks to how Asimov's work is not what you'd call character-driven.
posted by Frowner at 8:51 AM on August 29 [4 favorites]

("it's the moon! Low gravity means humans can use artificial wings to fly in special domes!")

I think that's Heinlein, unless Asimov did it, too.

(I've always loathed Asimov. Always thought of him as a lightweight compared to Heinlein and Clarke. Recently, I thought I might enjoy the Foundation series, so read the first book and bounced right off of it because it failed the Bechdel so hard. Two women in it. In the whole book. One was a secretary. The other was a shrewish wife. Neither had any "lines." The wife never appeared "on screen.")
posted by BrashTech at 3:03 PM on August 29

I think that's Heinlein, unless Asimov did it, too.

And Clarke makes three.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 7:52 PM on August 29

Just popping in to say thanks and I love this thread. Yes, Profession. I have a shelf in my bedroom with three sections: Heinlein, Asimov, and Clarke.
posted by JimN2TAW at 4:11 PM on August 31