Henry Geng

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

Despite society being based on routine and order, we openly voice our disdain for it. The boringness that comes with the two is something everyone hates. Even so, boring is good. Boring is peace. It would be great if one day everyone's life could be seen as boring. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton "You get to consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't." People get caught up with all the problems and struggles that just come with life, and sometimes, it's just easier to let it go. Life's too short to be frustrated with every small thing. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

We can all understand the desire for happiness. But I think there is something fundamentally wrong with achieving that happiness at the expense of everything else. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@sydnopsis I think in the end it doesn't matter what you believe. We are all going to die anyway. If people believe there is an afterlife, and there isn't, they certainly wouldn't know, they've ceased to exist, there isn't anything to process being wrong. If there is, than great. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@Nanditaa_K Unfortunately war is not an emotional endeavor. It's a rational decision made by people who will benefit from it. So yeah, I think to win a war you have to ignore your morality. Its much easier to win when you don't care about your pieces. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

I find it interesting that the only Russian in the story was presented in a good light. Normally, when writing anti-communist propaganda all communists are villains. But Vonnegut chooses to give Barzov sympathetic traits. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

Population control is never about saving the world. It's always about taking power. The basis for any population is their reproduction. Once you control how a species repopulates, you control the species. That's the basics of domestication. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

I find it interesting that Nancy didn't have a single choice in the entire story. Both as a hostess and a nothinghead. Despite all the power she had, both physically and mentally, she wasn't allowed to make a choice herself. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton There is a lot wrong with endorsing cheating and breaking off commitments, but I get it. The idea of doing anything for love is a very sympathetic gesture. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton He feels a bit strange as a masculine character. Newt demonstrates all the traditional characteristics of masculinity, but at the same time, he doesn't feel very masculine to me. It may just be due to lack of the toxic traits associated with masculinity today. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

People are innately greedy, we will always want more. Once we attain something, we always focus on what we can get next. As long as people can recognize that they could attain more, a system like the one we see in the story will collapse. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton I think Vonnegut wanted to emphasize not only an absurd equality, but also the complacency of the communist system. George and Hazel are pretty indifferent to their son's murder. They've abandoned all forms of self thought to leave everything to the government. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton I think it has good intentions, but in the end who can truly determine what is best for a child? Everyone has different ideas about what raising a good child means, and while we can agree on a few basic points, when it comes to stuff like religion, it gets murky. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton Life isn't simple, and the choices we make don't always go as intended. But when things go wrong, it is important to actually acknowledge what went wrong and work to fix it rather than push it away. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton I think everyone needs something to believe in, but rather than something like an idol like a tooth fairy, I think people should believe in ideals and morals. When morals get tied to idols of worship, people become unable to question their morality, to see another side. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton Here we have Adam, a confused teenager who had just went through a life changing experience and when he comes to Fiona for help, he doesn't get what he wants. Adam needs someone to understand and guide him, and he had hoped Fiona would be the one to do it. She couldn't. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

I find it strange how Adam's parent's reaction to Adam being saved is "oh thank god". I mean putting aside the lawyers and doctors who worked to save your son's life, your God's doctrine almost just sentenced Adam to death. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton I think an interesting line is "I still need to talk to you". By all accounts, Adam is doing well, but it seems from the letters he's written to Fiona that he needs an emotional support in his life. His parents clearly aren't the pillars he needs. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@litwithlayton Fiona has just had a great success in her career, saving Adam's life. And the thing greeting her after the highest of highs is her cheating husband. At this point it feels like Fiona is just exhausted. Like a parent who can't even muster the energy to get mad anymore. #laylit20

[Henry Geng @GengHenry]

@matthew74547622 That's a good question actually. What makes anyone fit to pass judgement? We are all humans, imperfect and prone to bias. Personally, I don't see any way for people to be good enough to pass a perfect judgement. #laylit20