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Article created by: Monika Pašukonytė

While there is progress in certain areas and certain things are better now than in previous historical times, the need to look out for the downside of various processes is undeniable and possibly more urgent than ever, for the simple fact that power becomes dangerous without developing one’s responsibility accordingly.

No wonder some of the mental or real-life pictures of the contemporary world can leave us feeling… dystopian. These can include the massive amount of non-nature-friendly trash being produced and dumped all around the world, or attempts to imagine the implications of AI on our near future if we don't take the necessary precautions to play it safe.

People online stepped up, trying to raise awareness, answering one Redditor's question: "What's something that is accepted as normal, but is really dystopian when you think about it?"

More info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Young man working on laptop outdoors at sunset, illustrating things that sound normal but are dystopian in reality. All of those "Feel good stories" about people working extra super duper hard just to barely scrape by. "Kids make business to help another disabled child buy a wheelchair" "Teacher runs out of PTO days fighting cancer so the whole school district started to donate sick days" "Man walks 15 miles for a job interview, community raises money for a bicycle."

Eyruaad , Avi Richards Report

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    #2

    Worker using grinder in workshop, illustrating dystopian themes through ordinary industrial scenes. Working full-time for a wage that won't support a family.

    A family?? How about 1 person.

    Famous_Bit_5119 , Maxime Agnelli Report

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    #3

    Strawberry pie topped with almond slices and colorful letters spelling subscribe on a pink background, representing dystopian ideas. Subscription for everything

    NotToast2000 , alleksana Report

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    #4

    Prisoner in orange jumpsuit standing behind bars in a cell, illustrating dystopian concepts in modern society. Privatized-for-profit prisons, healthcare, and education.   Corporations and foreign entities buying up all of our land and housing.   Lack of Congressional term limits and self-oversight of Congress and Scotus.   2A absolutism.   Forced sex, forced birth, forced sterilization, and the medical community treating women as if being female is a "condition" while using male bodies as the standard.   Outlawing the act of collecting rainwater, while charging for the amount of runoff attributed to your property (my city has both of these).

    phoebeluco , RDNE Stock project Report

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    #5

    Homeless man sitting on city steps with a dog and cardboard sign, illustrating dystopian social issues and urban poverty. Homelessness in countries with enough money to keep it from happening

    AlthorsMadness , MART PRODUCTION Report

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    data1001 avatar
    Data1001
    Data1001
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yeah, Elon. Spread some of that wealth around a bit, rather than using it to influence Presidents and try to gain more power.

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    #6

    Fresh vegetables including carrots, cucumbers, peppers, and greens packed in reusable bags emphasizing dystopian awareness. Jailing people for stealing food while throwing away tons more every day.

    Vegan_Harvest , Markus Spiske Report

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    #7

    Times Square at night filled with bright advertisements and heavy traffic illustrating dystopian urban life. Ads everywhere you look 24/7

    chopsthedrummer , Jose Francisco Fernandez Saura Report

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    #8

    Hand holding colorful credit card above laptop keyboard, illustrating dystopian concepts related to digital transactions. Credit scores.

    raytaylor , Paul Felberbauer Report

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    #9

    Large pile of trash bags stacked on a street corner near trees and a pedestrian crossing sign, showing a dystopian scene. The amount of trash we humans produce. How distanced we are from the natural world.

    biscaya , Jas Min Report

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    #10

    Mourners carrying a coffin in a forest setting, highlighting dystopian themes in seemingly normal situations. American burial traditions. Spend thousands of dollars to preserve the body, pack it in an expensive box and bury it, sometimes in a concrete vault. To keep it from naturally decomposing? Why?

    kateinoly , cottonbro studio Report

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    data1001 avatar
    Data1001
    Data1001
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Cremation is becoming more and more popular, I think. Almost every one of my relatives in my parents' generation have stated that they prefer that option, and I think even one generation further back, it was hardly ever done.

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    #11

    Two people sitting on a couch watching a streaming service, illustrating dystopian normalcy in modern life. Reality TV.

    Muadib333 , cottonbro studio Report

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    #12

    Person typing on a laptop with a coffee cup nearby, illustrating dystopian themes in everyday internet content. Advertiser friendly language in daily life. Like people getting used to not being able to say words like "dead" on Tiktok because advertisers don't like it, so then you see a bunch of people saying words like "unalive" in real life.

    Foxlikebox , Daniel Thomas Report

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    #13

    Skyline of modern skyscrapers against clear blue sky illustrating dystopian cityscape themes online. Corporations being considered people and having more rights than real human beings.

    anon , Pixabay Report

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    #14

    Young woman in leopard print coat smiling while money falls around her against a pink background, highlighting dystopian themes The existence of billionaires whilst so many people are living in poverty. Justified cause they supposedly "work harder" or "earned it".

    intellectkills , cottonbro studio Report

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    #15

    For rent sign on a storefront window reflecting a snowy street, illustrating dystopian rental market concerns. The cost of rent. Or mortgages. Or the wealth gap. And the way minimum wage was ignored for decades while the top 1% took higher and higher raises and bonuses while paying very little to no tax. Trickle down economics.

    Graceland1979 , https://unsplash.com/photos/xlCmFoIS3oE?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink Report

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    #16

    Senior woman with glasses working on laptop in office, reflecting on things that sound normal but seem dystopian online. Working until you’re in your late sixties when 50 billionaires control most of the wealth in an entire country.

    bkornblith , cottonbro studio Report

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    #17

    Blue stethoscope next to a laptop on a white desk, illustrating dystopian themes in healthcare and technology. Health insurance.

    Rare_Cranberry_9454 , Negative Space Report

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    #18

    Wooden letters spelling hunger on an empty white plate highlighting dystopian realities concept. Food and housing insecurity in a world in which other people are billionaires.

    tangtheconqueror , Siegfried Poepperl Report

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    #19

    Person lying hidden under a blanket on a couch in a living room, illustrating dystopian normality concept. Running out of sick days, so you work sick.

    inmatenumberseven Report

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    #20

    Dairy farm workers operate automated milking machines in a sterile, industrial environment, illustrating dystopian normalcy. Factory farming. Utterly horrific.

    Singly-Errancy143 , Mark Stebnicki Report

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    #21

    Vacuum cleaner head on wooden floor with scattered US dollar bills illustrating dystopian concepts. Normalization of debt

    Atotallyrandomname , rc.xyz NFT gallery Report

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    #22

    Netflix headquarters at sunset with city streets below, illustrating dystopian themes found online about modern media control. The way big companies have conditioned us to say things we pay for are free. "You can watch it for free on netflix" "It's free if you purchase this bundle" "They keep updating the game, the next DLC is free!" Anytime you go to say something is free, try saying "it's included" short for "included in the base price"

    Altimely , Venti Views Report

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    #23

    Person typing on laptop with stethoscope nearby, illustrating dystopian themes in modern healthcare technology. Tying healthcare to employment

    heyodi , National Cancer Institute Report

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    #24

    Hand holding smartphone capturing a vibrant street scene, illustrating dystopian realities in everyday digital life. The complete lack of privacy we have in 2023. People can record you in public for their TikTok, and everyone will say “BUT ITS LEGAL!!”

    cruelsummersadness , Wendy Wei Report

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    #25

    Family watching fishermen at the beach, illustrating things that sound normal until you realize how dystopian they are Homeless people Refugee boats and sinking Anyone anywhere being hungry Bombing civilians

    buckwurst , Eric Masur Report

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    #26

    Soldiers in military gear riding together in a vehicle, illustrating themes of dystopian realities and normalcy. Militarization of local and state law enforcement.

    Strong_Somewhere_985 , Diego González Report

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    #27

    Person with red hair working on a computer, illustrating concepts of dystopian themes and normalcy online. Having to work more than one job.

    DanMontie , Annie Spratt Report

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    #28

    Two security cameras mounted on a concrete wall symbolizing dystopian surveillance in everyday life. Cameras everywhere.. "1984".

    CommissionOk9233 , Reuben Hustler Report

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    #29

    Person scrolling social media on smartphone showing images, illustrating dystopian aspects of normal online behavior. The rhetoric and life behind social media. It's totally a landscape that determines your worth by how others feel about you. It's kinda scary the more you see its use.

    GabeBlue180 , https://unsplash.com/photos/NFvdKIhxYlU?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink Report

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