R-4 got stuck on the First Law. "Can anyone really protect a human being from all harm whatever?" it thought. "No. It is inevitable that all humans must be injured, contract illnesses and ultimately die. The future can only be averted for humans who are already dead. Ergo..." It took a dozen cops to subdue R-4, after his blood orgy in a department store (83 dead, none injured).
John Thomas SladekI started writing, or rather, thinking, stories as a child, and at that time the reason was very clear.
John Thomas SladekToday's robots are very primitive, capable of understanding only a few simple instructions such as 'go left', 'go right', and 'build car'.
John Thomas Sladek