Neil Postman’s book Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985) contrasted the striking differences between Orwell’s 1984 and Huxley’s Brave New World. But don't forget what the major similarity they shared.
Do people know it when they live in a dystopia: I'd say no, because dystopias don't just pop out of nothing, or they rarely do (unless there's a coup or something, in which case they might know). In all other cases the creeping nature of the takeover and 'normalization' of what is absolutely not normal has the required habituating effect. I could site multiple examples from the world we live in now!
My late friend and local media guy, Dick Vaughan, used to say "There will always be a government, but nobody knows how to run a government." I began referring to it as Vaughan's Law.
Even the most competent crew of World Controllers or most able politburo will screw it up.
I don't believe people know it when they live in a dystopia, sans a minute minority. We can point to one factor: government-issued fiat currency. Very few of us realize what really drives inflation - an increase in monetary supply as opposed to a general increase in prices. There are a lot of people out there who either don't know about or don't care about the national debt, how it affects them, and who is ultimately responsible for it.
For many, it's so much easier for them to recite and repeat the "greedy corporations cause inflation" and ridicule anyone who dares to disagree with them. Many of us who opposed the COVID lockdowns/restrictions or funding Ukraine have been subjected to that same ridicule.
This quote, from the Matrix, I think, sums it up: "You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."
Do people know it when they live in a dystopia: I'd say no, because dystopias don't just pop out of nothing, or they rarely do (unless there's a coup or something, in which case they might know). In all other cases the creeping nature of the takeover and 'normalization' of what is absolutely not normal has the required habituating effect. I could site multiple examples from the world we live in now!
I think you're correct.
Dystopia is what you make of it. Be creative.
This is actually good advice.
Huxley and Orwell both got it right. It’s a synthesis that you face.
My late friend and local media guy, Dick Vaughan, used to say "There will always be a government, but nobody knows how to run a government." I began referring to it as Vaughan's Law.
Even the most competent crew of World Controllers or most able politburo will screw it up.
Everything eventually reduces to its absurd.
Dystopia is what you make of it. Be creative.
I think some know it.
Among that set, I suspect the majority suppress their awareness because the truth is simply too horrible to face.
I don't believe people know it when they live in a dystopia, sans a minute minority. We can point to one factor: government-issued fiat currency. Very few of us realize what really drives inflation - an increase in monetary supply as opposed to a general increase in prices. There are a lot of people out there who either don't know about or don't care about the national debt, how it affects them, and who is ultimately responsible for it.
For many, it's so much easier for them to recite and repeat the "greedy corporations cause inflation" and ridicule anyone who dares to disagree with them. Many of us who opposed the COVID lockdowns/restrictions or funding Ukraine have been subjected to that same ridicule.
This quote, from the Matrix, I think, sums it up: "You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inert, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."