30 Examples Of Modern Day Dystopia That Might Inspire You To Change Something (New Pics)
In 1982, ‘Blade Runner’ introduced us to a bleak vision of what the year 2019 might look like: evil corporations rule the world, the planet is polluted beyond repair, and people suffer in destitute conditions.
But although 2019 passed without any androids running amok, we still live in a world not far from that idea. And it seems that this dystopic future has arrived sooner than expected.
Bored Panda has found the perfect subreddit that shows us examples of how we are living in this strange reality. r/ABoringDystopia holds a mirror up to our society and makes us feel uneasy over the influence of capitalism on our lives.
We’ve allowed these disturbing issues to happen without us realizing it, almost to the point that it’s become predictable. And this is where the term ‘boring dystopia’ comes from. You can read more about it from Bored Panda here and here.
Read on to see my interview with John A. Lancaster and his expert take on the current state of the economy and the situation with COVID-19.
This post may include affiliate links.
"Who’s Going To Pay For It?"
The posts shared here emphasize how greed and a lack of empathy affect the daily lives of people worldwide. With the cost of living seemingly out of reach for the everyday person, we have to ask ourselves: how did things get so bad?
I asked John A. Lancaster what we should expect from the economy in the near future. Being a political commentator who gives straightforward and concise takes on the most controversial issues, John told Bored Panda, "Assuming there won't be any more lockdowns, a significant issue to worry about is the return of 'Industry Policy', which is basically the government subsidizing certain industries in hopes of spurring development and innovation in those industries."
Essential Employee
He explained further about the issues that 'Industry Policy' can produce: "This means that vast amounts of funds can be (and practically always are) squandered on economically unpromising projects with little to no consequences to the government officials. These officials are going to get reimbursed with tax revenue regardless of how their subsides pan out financially."
John considers that 'Industrial Policy' is: "an extremely inefficient way to boost innovation that wastes immense amount of money and resources that would have been best left up to private firms."
He also drives home the point about where the control of money lies. John notes that: "It's important to note that government funds come from the tax paying public. Whenever there is a push to 'stimulate' new jobs, money is being taken from the public and directed as bureaucrats and elected officials see fit. When this happens wealth is not being created, but redistributed."
In America, We Got Celebrities Singing Imagine
Pretty Weird...
So businesses under the 'Industry Policy' profited massively, whilst the people that needed help the most, struggled to survive and make ends meet.
Regarding the government's control of the finances, John also raised an important question: "If the general public would've preferred to spend their money in different ways than the government, then how beneficial are the government ventures and what was potentially sacrificed for those ventures?"
You can see from the ‘boring dystopia’ subreddit exactly how people across the globe have been affected. There’s the illogical ideas put forward by these businesses that are meant to help people, but do anything but that. And astounding hypocrisy of the rich and powerful.
Found In The UK
Apparently Actually Reading A Bill Before You Vote Is Cause For Hilarity
‘Murica
There are advantages and disadvantages both to socialized healthcare and to simple free market healthcare (though between the two, socialized healthcare wins). The neat thing about the private insurance system is that it combines the flaws of both, which is great if you really hate healthcare.
It makes you think twice about who’s running the world and if they should really have this much power. These are some of our top selections from the subreddit. These examples are a cautionary reminder to reflect on society, and question what we should consider the norm. We hold the power to make a change to our society, so we should make it a positive one.
You Think 4 Billion People Could Take The 8 In A Fight
When People Try To Act Like Companies It’s Illegal
[Screw] Me
![[Screw] Me](https://static.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Boring-Dystopia-Capitalism-22-6112141179659__700.jpg "[Screw] Me")
You Can’t Afford A Home, But You Can Pay Rent
Yes, lenders should be FORCED to factor in the savings in rentals that would result when calculating affordability. It is ridiculous that the monies that will become available when rentals cease are not factored in to the calculation.
Seems About Right
My son works 2 jobs, in a store and on a garbage truck. We live in a small town and STILL had to gift him a small house that we own just so he can live on his own. He couldn't do it otherwise.
I am from Eastern Europe, and we can afford a basic rental with the minimum wage for the country. The word here is basic, don't forget! I will never, however, afford my own home.
Current minimum wage is quite a step backwards since the time of Henry Ford, who once coined the saying: "Make the best quality of goods possible at the lowest cost possible, paying the highest wages possible. Unfortunately many of today's companies only focus on the middle part of the quote, leaving out all the rest.
I can't afford a two bedroom rental and my full-time job requires a master's degree
Let's see a map of all the red states that could survive without blue state tax $$
Pfft glad here in Canada I share a 2 bedroom for $1250 per month total in a capital city in Canada and in a good part of town with a garage and make over $20 an hour.
If you knocked that down to a one bedroom rental, you still wouldn't have any red.
Isn't that true with most of the world though? I'm all for shitting on the Americans, but we can't honestly say there are more than a handful of countries were that is possible
Minimum wage is supposed to be the lowest wage that will still allow you to afford housing, food and medical care. When it started, that was the case.
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I remember learning about a program at my library to provide free English lessons to US immigrants. In conversation with the organizer, she said she was going to shut the program down because nobody was attending. The classes were being held at 11 am on Mon, Wed and Fri. I asked her if she knew about the average work opportunities for non-English speakers in the US. I had to point out to her that county statistics indicated that most immigrants ended up with two, sometimes three, low paying jobs, and often worked 7 days a week. They would NOT be free at 11 am. We were open till 9pm, so I asked if she could organize at least one of the classes to be 8-9 one weekday, and possibly on Saturday night too. Next thing we knew, the classes were packed to the seams. The fact is, two adults working one minimum wage job each cannot afford a two bedroom apartment, which is why immigrant families often end up living in cramped rooms in shared houses, in poor conditions. It's tragic.
From the ground up, every system needs improvement. How do we do it?
Not true, minimum wage in Arkansas is $11hr, my 3 br House with yard and garage is $415 ....paint Arkansas red
For the last year no one's had to pay rent, even with available jobs if they didn't want to so there's that.
When FDR instituted the minimum wage, he made it plain that it was indeed intended to be a *living* wage. Do you right-wingers never get tired of being wrong?
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That's a myth. Maybe you should get more educated before you spout off. In the 60s someone full time on minimum wage could support a family of 3, on just that one salary.
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Pretty sure there are plenty of "burger flippers" that would rather be doing that than signing over their bodies and their rights/autonomy to the military. Not everyone needs someone to tell them when (and what) to eat, when they can sleep, when they can sh!t and of course, and this is a big one, when they will get the "honor" of being shot at/killed at a whim.
Load More Replies...Only The Rich Can Be Brave
And Call People Back
I once had a man from a firm tell me to come do an interview for a job he knew I was not qualified for and I had told him as much. I had to cycle about an hour to get there - no public transport, no car. He told me ' the cycle trip would do me good'. I cycled for an hour, got soaking wet and got told I was not qualified as soon as the interview started. I had to go as refusing could cost me my unemplyment benefit, which I couldn't afford. The power these people think they can wield over the unemployed. Psychopathic is the word I would use for these kind of people.
The Ruling Class Wins Either Way
Why Did Blue Collar Become Unskilled Labor?
All Too Common
$280,000,000,000
This Might Be Too Crazy But Hear Me Out, The System May Be Rigged
When I was 10 years old I received a birthday present from an aunt of 1 share of McDonalds Corporation (~$12). To this day, the transaction fee for selling that 1 share would cost more than the share is worth, so I just enjoy my quarterly dividend check for $1.19.
Oh Fun
What I Got For ‘Employee Appreciation’ After Working An Entire Year During A Pandemic
Did You Know We Don't Pay Our Servers A Living Wage?
Bc Itd Be Just Horrible If Homeless People Were Allowed To Sleep
They Used The Key Word
That's what astounds me about Americans who don't / won't / haven't travelled to see how good life is in other parts of the world. They cling to ideas that are not true like children told fairytales they believe as real. It's bizarre. And sad for them.
Billionaires
Really people! Do you actually need a new iPhone every 5 minutes? Apple and their upper echelon just get richer and richer because you fall for it. Learn to spend money on needs not wants. Do it now. Because if you keep doing this you may need to learn to do that the hard way. Your not the one accumulating all the money here. They are.
Look At The Bright Side
With all those fires burning down the trees along with over-lumbering and deforestation, I think this is the the beginning of the hottest summers we will experience :(
Glad Critical Medical Care Is Being Taken Care Of By Private Companies That Definitely Give A Sh*t
The Truth
I work more hours, am calmer and significantly more productive since work from home started (March 2020) and has been going on since and is an obvious improvement. Yet the company now (at start of Delta variant, looking fwd to Lambda variant) makes me go to the office at least two days, where I will work 8 hrs (and not a minute more, trust me), will be worried about people coughing on me, will spend two hours in traffic....I can go on
Casual Price Gouging
Which Timeline Is This???
"Bruh Walmart has removed nearly all of their stock of video games except for those rated E for Everyone but still has the audacity to keep their entire gun section"
With What Money? With What Money
I told my alumni telemarketing that unless they contribute to my student loans, they can fūck off. Never called me back
Nothing To See Here,folks. Just Good Ol' Fashion Capitalism
imagine charging for electrons stolen you'd have to take the halogens to supreme court
Productivity Over Your Safety
Priorities...
Another Day, Another Extremely Depressing Thing To Learn About The Healthcare System
If you're bit by a rattlesnake, you'll survive because that antivenom is still being made - and you'll be paying for it for the rest of your life.
Who Knew?
$2,000 Checks, Retroactive Back To March 2020 And Up Until 3 Months After Covid Settles Down. Anything Less Is An Absolute Failure Of Covid Relief From Our Government
Kinda seems like we should get our machetes and have a revolution doesn't it?
Thanks To All The Heroes
Villains in movies: "Oh, I'm being punished for my crimes!!!" Villains in real life: "Now let's see what subsidies the government is spreading around today for me."
Not My Winter Vacation Bungalow!!
Won't be surprised if they already haven't voted for a law that covers the renovation costs of their first, second and third house in case if a natural disaster.
Single Use Packaging And Healthcare Extortion. 2 For 1
Just Pay Off The Law If You Don't Like It
Everyone Knows That Massive Billboards Are More Important Than Ac
Self Explanatory
Shaun On How Landlords Can Cope With The Impact Of Coronavirus
People are missing the point on both sides there. As with so many things, the bad guy isn't who you think it is. I was a small landlord at the start of the pandemic. Had 4 rent houses. They were in decent condition because I had them built new. The rent was more than I really felt comfortable charging. But I really couldn't charge less as the cost of insurance on the property immediately ate more than 50%. I even paid all utilities, and that was merely a fraction of the amount to have the property insured - which was required by the financing I took to build the houses. I eventually had to sell the rent houses (I did, at a loss) or let the bank seize them. If you find an industry people are complaining about - healthcare, rental property, cattle farming - I will just about guarantee the place all the money is actually going is an insurance company or bank.
Seeing This Meme. What Even Is This World?
Damn This Edit Took Me Long
Accurate
Oh yes, mine is coming in September, and they don't even say how much. And they are making suuuch a fuss about The Raise! >:(
Police Guarding Dumpster Food Is Peak Capitalism
The Amazon Sweatshop I Work At That Forces Me To Pee In Bottles Really Cares About Gay People
R/Askreddit On What Problems Would 5000$ Solve
And We're The Snowflakes?
America The Beautiful
Loo, they have updated the meaning of the word Dystopia in the dictionaries :(
"Let Them Eat Stimulus Checks"
I Love Being Quarantined
*hrmph*
Let us know in the comments if you have any examples of ‘boring dystopia’ to share. Maybe you have your own stories where something similar has happened to you.
I'm honestly terrified what the world will be like when I'm older (currently 21). When I'm now entering adulthood, I realize I underestimated how hard it is to make a living, and how stressful it is to find an apartment I can actually AFFORD. Its f*****g terrifying knowing I'll be living like this for the rest of my life, supposing it doesn't get worse.
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The rent thing isn't only there, my friend right now is looking for a place in the city, he is on a decent wage around 30k a year but because he's doing it on his own, even on that wage he can only find small places to rent, like studio flats and he has 2 dogs so that can't happen, he will end up going further out away from where he works, to a not so busy part just so he can live comfortably.
Glad I live in Canada. Yes we are a capitalist nation but also but have more equality and more services And safety nets.
Alright then, I’m packing my bags and moving to London. Or the moon. Anyone wanna come with me?
Those millenials blaming boomers for all this are now 40 and are the people in power. Where is the change? Wait, maybe it wasn’t a boomer problem, but a rich people problem all along?
Millenials are not in power, they might be in low management positions but CEOs and CFOs are on average early Gen X. Also, changes don't happen overnight and now we feel the results of legislations and laws that were made a decade or two ago when boomers had the majority of voting power. Boomers voted for capitalism as it is today. There are many poor boomers but as a generation they caused today's situation. The US lawmakers by age are boomers on average. I have nothing against boomers but I can't deny they are still "driving the bus".
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Inspire ME to change something?! Unfortunately, the billionaires and our government has the power to change it. Pretending like we do is just false hope.
This is so true and so heart breaking at the same time. A very hard pill to swallow as an American.
The US is the land of equal opportunities (so long as you're white, heterosexual, male, and middle-class).
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This isn't abt 'stupid Americans' like a lot of the other articles are. This is abt the corrupt social system that provides for no one but the rich. It's abt the money not the people.
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I'm honestly terrified what the world will be like when I'm older (currently 21). When I'm now entering adulthood, I realize I underestimated how hard it is to make a living, and how stressful it is to find an apartment I can actually AFFORD. Its f*****g terrifying knowing I'll be living like this for the rest of my life, supposing it doesn't get worse.
Load More Replies... The rent thing isn't only there, my friend right now is looking for a place in the city, he is on a decent wage around 30k a year but because he's doing it on his own, even on that wage he can only find small places to rent, like studio flats and he has 2 dogs so that can't happen, he will end up going further out away from where he works, to a not so busy part just so he can live comfortably.
Glad I live in Canada. Yes we are a capitalist nation but also but have more equality and more services And safety nets.
Alright then, I’m packing my bags and moving to London. Or the moon. Anyone wanna come with me?
Those millenials blaming boomers for all this are now 40 and are the people in power. Where is the change? Wait, maybe it wasn’t a boomer problem, but a rich people problem all along?
Millenials are not in power, they might be in low management positions but CEOs and CFOs are on average early Gen X. Also, changes don't happen overnight and now we feel the results of legislations and laws that were made a decade or two ago when boomers had the majority of voting power. Boomers voted for capitalism as it is today. There are many poor boomers but as a generation they caused today's situation. The US lawmakers by age are boomers on average. I have nothing against boomers but I can't deny they are still "driving the bus".
Load More Replies... Inspire ME to change something?! Unfortunately, the billionaires and our government has the power to change it. Pretending like we do is just false hope.
This is so true and so heart breaking at the same time. A very hard pill to swallow as an American.
The US is the land of equal opportunities (so long as you're white, heterosexual, male, and middle-class).
Load More Replies... This isn't abt 'stupid Americans' like a lot of the other articles are. This is abt the corrupt social system that provides for no one but the rich. It's abt the money not the people.
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