The Status Civilization

"That duty is performed for us by the robot-confessors." "Yes?" "The notion came to us from the ancient root-faith of Transcendental Freudianism. The robot-confessor instructs children and adults alike. It hears their problems within the social matrix. It is their constant friend, their social mentor, their religious instructor. Being robotic, the confessors are able to give exact and unvarying answers to any question. This aids the great work of Conformity." "I can see that it does. What do the human priests do?" "They watch over the robot-confessors." "Are these robot-confessors present in the closed classrooms?" "I am not competent to answer that." "They are, aren't they?" "I truly do not know. The closed classrooms are closed to abbots as well as other adults." "By whose order?" "By order of the Chief of the Secret Police." "I see.... Thank you, Citizen Abbot Boeren." (Citizen Enyen Dravivian, age 43, occupation government employee. A narrow-faced, slit-eyed man, old and tired beyond his years.) "Good afternoon, sir. You say that you are employed by the government?" "Correct." "Is that the state or the federal government?" "Both." "I see. And have you been in this employ for very long?" "Approximately eighteen years." "Yes, sir. Would you mind telling me what, specifically, your job is?" "Not at all. I am the Chief of the Secret Police." "You are--I see, sir. That's very interesting. I--" "Don't reach for your needlebeam, ex-Citizen Barrent. I can assure you, it won't operate in the blanketed area around this house. And if you draw it, you'll be hurt."