Statistically Deviant

~ Sonya
100 words about a Kafkaesque dystopian future
photo by Roman Mager

‘Barely average, your numbers. Not good enough.’

I shouldn’t give in to my anger and I know it.

‘With all due respect, sir, my numbers are bang on average.’

The body language of his bodyguards changes – subtle movements, meant not to alarm. One of them will have a hand on his firearm.

‘And average is not good enough. Government policy is government policy.’

A policy that doesn’t make sense. A policy that sets everyone but the best up to fail.

I used to be on board with the official line. But what self-respecting statistician could get behind everyone above average?

***

Story 24 of 31 for Story A Day May – today’s prompt is genre and of course I’ve gone with dystopia.

13 thoughts on “Statistically Deviant”

  3. Everyone above average becomes the new average. Your write artfully and cleverly about above-the-base-line status that isn’t reachable. The title drew me in, to start. Thanks!

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    1. Thank you!
      A couple of years ago the UK’s then Minister of Education demanded that all schools be above average – it’s worrying when one of the dumbest things you’ve ever heard comes out of the mouth of the man who’s in charge of education…

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  5. A scary distopian world introduced in such brevity. Well done Sonya. Another kind of genoicide, of those statistically below average.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Who determines average? I get the fact that schools use the grading system, even employers use the system to some extent, but like everything in life, there are variances and exceptions. The word average has been over used.

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  7. Great writing. Very tense situation. I always love your dystopian shorts. This one actually reminds me of a line from The Incredibles, when Syndrome says, “When everybody’s super, no one will be…” Funny how many lessons Disney teaches us!

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