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Dystopia is a world or society in which people lead wretched, dehumanized, and fearful lives.

If you need a more vivid example, think of the novel The Children of Men (1992), by P.D. James where the human population has become infertile and lost all interest in politics, allowing the authorities to install various regulations such as mass "voluntary" suicides by the elderly, rampant cruel treatment toward prisoners of the state, and mandatory sperm testing and female inspections. Fatalism, boredom, crime, and religious hysteria are abundant, and it's not that pretty.

While such an environment might seem possible only in fiction, there is a subreddit whose members think we're actually on our way to making it a reality. It's called 'A Boring Dystopia' and these folks regularly share real-life examples of what they believe to be societal decay. Here are some of them.

#1

One Of The Two Remaining Northern White Rhinos In The World, Guarded 24 Hours A Day To Guard Against Poachers

One Of The Two Remaining Northern White Rhinos In The World, Guarded 24 Hours A Day To Guard Against Poachers

princess-sewerslide Report

#2

A Gallery Owner Was Arrested After Leaving A 10-Foot Heroin Spoon Sculpture Outside Oxycontin Maker Purdue Pharma

A Gallery Owner Was Arrested After Leaving A 10-Foot Heroin Spoon Sculpture Outside Oxycontin Maker Purdue Pharma

wiedmaier Report

Nowadays, artificial intelligence (AI) is widely considered to be one of the primary suspects that can send us humans into doom and gloom. And for good reason: this technology has brought many good and bad things into our lives, and it will have an even greater impact in the coming decades.

Naveen Joshi, who is the founder and CEO of Allerin, a company that develops engineering and technology solutions focused on optimal customer experiences, and has extensive experience in AI, big data, IoT, and blockchain, thinks that there are legitimate reasons to be concerned.

"Current AI research is overly focused on making advances in a narrow set of domains and pays insufficient attention to the disruptive effects on society's fabric," Joshi wrote in Forbes.

#3

Three Socioeconomic Classes In The Philippines

Three Socioeconomic Classes In The Philippines

dapperKillerWhale Report

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Babsevs
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ooof...that is a powerful image. Sad that we still have such depths of poverty in the 21st century

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#4

First Time I've Seen A Message Like This On A Vehicle

First Time I've Seen A Message Like This On A Vehicle

Mc_Ribe Report

#5

There's Nothing Good About Goodwill

There's Nothing Good About Goodwill

may_sun Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Goodwill f*****g sucks. They don't care about the homeless and needy, they really care about the money. This is a business, not a charity.

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According to Joshi, if AI technology continues on its current path, it will likely cause social upheaval for at least two reasons.

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"Firstly, AI will have an impact on the future of work. Our current trajectory over-automates work while refusing to invest in human productivity. Further advances will displace workers while failing to create new opportunities and, as a result, miss out on AI's full potential to boost productivity."

"Also, AI has the potential to undermine democracy and individual liberties."

#6

Cheerfully Snipping Some Plastic Soda Packaging To ~save The Turtles~ And Realizing I Fully Expect This To End Up In The Ocean

Cheerfully Snipping Some Plastic Soda Packaging To ~save The Turtles~ And Realizing I Fully Expect This To End Up In The Ocean

i_just_haveaquestion Report

#7

Imagine getting hit by a freakin' UwU shell

Imagine getting hit by a freakin' UwU shell

UnderstandingJaded13 Report

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Shark Lady
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Reminds me of Baldrick from Blackadder goes forth. He writes his name on a bullet because he heard that everyone has a bullet with their name on it, if he has that bullet then he'll survive the war.

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#9

Nike Sending Plastic They've Taken From The Environment To Show They Care About The Planet. Wrapped In Plastic

Nike Sending Plastic They've Taken From The Environment To Show They Care About The Planet. Wrapped In Plastic

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If things do not change, Joshi predicts that we will see massive unemployment, as many jobs will be replaced by machinery.

"Wealth inequality will be created as AI investors take the lion's share of the earnings. The gap between rich and poor will grow wider. The so-called 'M' shape of wealth distribution will become more apparent," he continued.

#10

The System Is Broken

The System Is Broken

papyrussurypap Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"The system is broken.". No, the system is working the way it was intended to. They system is just cruel.

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#12

Passenger Photo While Plane Flew Near East Palestine, Ohio ... Chemical Fire After Train Derailed

Passenger Photo While Plane Flew Near East Palestine, Ohio ... Chemical Fire After Train Derailed

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#13

Why We Have Curfews, Can’t Make It Illegal To Protest, But Can Make It Illegal If There’s A Curfew

Why We Have Curfews, Can’t Make It Illegal To Protest, But Can Make It Illegal If There’s A Curfew

lineallyHurt Report

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Burnt Bagel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not really sure most people realize how significant this was, both to a b******t war on drugs, but more importantly to blatant and persistent racism that continues until this day. Nixon sucked!

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"Issues emerge not only in the social sense but also in AI itself, as the AI that is trained and taught how to operate the given task can eventually take off to the point where human control is lost, resulting in unanticipated problems and consequences."

"It refers to AI's ability to function autonomously after being loaded with all necessary algorithms, ignoring the command given by the human controller," Joshi said.

#15

A Beer Bottle Discovered At Challenger Deep, The Deepest Point On Earth At -35,000ft

A Beer Bottle Discovered At Challenger Deep, The Deepest Point On Earth At -35,000ft

GR34SE Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is trash littering the deepest point on our earth, the Mariana Trench, and the highest point, Mount Everest. Humans are a virus and there isn't a single part of the Earth we won't affect.

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#16

Ah The Good Old Times

Ah The Good Old Times

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Many AI experts have openly spoken out about the negative effects of AI going rogue on human society, asking researchers to investigate these scenarios. The rapid advancement of AI technology necessitates constant regulation and monitoring before the negative consequences become too severe.

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#18

Findings From An Undercover Shein Investigation

Findings From An Undercover Shein Investigation

lilac-latte Report

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Mani
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All that for a sh*tty piece of fabric worn once and thrown away or "given to charity".

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#19

Huangjuewan Interchange

Huangjuewan Interchange

reddit.com Report

#20

McDonald's In The 1980s Compared To Today

McDonald's In The 1980s Compared To Today

RonSwazy Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, I don't mind this. This hardly qualifies as dystopia, and I prefer the sleeker look. Besides, I don't want a tree that's high on meth staring at me while I eat.

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#21

Won This At The Xmas Bingo At Work

Won This At The Xmas Bingo At Work

CrumpetBadger Report

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Donkeywheel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don’t get it. Who would be stupid enough to unwillingly stay at work after hours?

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"AI takeover will be limited to the entertaining plots of dystopian movies and fictional worlds if proper laws protect the users," Joshi said. "The omniscient and nearly omnipotent power of AI has been called into question. There may be no definitive answer to the question of AI replacing humans in various industries. Only predictions and observations are available."

The future of AI remains hazy, but if you would like to explore the current state of our society a bit deeper, check out Bored Panda's earlier publications 45 Pics That Show That We’re Already Living In A Dystopic Nightmare and This Online Group Is “Showcasing The Idea That We Live In A Dystopia That Is Boring” One Post At A Time.

#22

Malthus Would've Blushed Looking At This

Malthus Would've Blushed Looking At This

Flimsy-Map8750 Report

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Lakota Wolf
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She had Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. There is no cure for EDS, and Jennyfer was in constant pain. That being said, she did NOT want to die, and wanted treatment/healthcare, but she was not able to secure the treatments and care she wanted and needed. She was, however, eligible for medically-assisted euthanasia. In the end, her mental and physical suffering grew so great that she felt pushed into choosing euthanasia. I am a supporter for assisted euthanasia for those who have terminal diagnoses, but ONLY AFTER medical assistance is exhausted or refused entirely! Jennyfer did not REFUSE medical assistance - SHE was refused it.

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#23

Feel Like This Fits Too Well. The Rich Stay Rich/Get Richer

Feel Like This Fits Too Well. The Rich Stay Rich/Get Richer

Robertorgan81 Report

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John Harrison
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know those are song lyrics and not courtroom testimony, right? John Lennon wrote "I am the walrus", and he wasn't actually a walrus.

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#24

Privatized Prisons Lead To More Inmates, Longer Sentences, Study Finds

Privatized Prisons Lead To More Inmates, Longer Sentences, Study Finds

StcStasi Report

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John Harrison
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now THIS is truly dystopian. It's absolutely UNCONSCIONABLE that we use the power of the state to incarcerate people, and then hand them over to private industry. And no one seems to GAF.

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#25

Mumbai, India. The Divide Between The Richest People In India vs. One Of The Poorest. Extreme Wealth Inequality On Display

Mumbai, India. The Divide Between The Richest People In India vs. One Of The Poorest. Extreme Wealth Inequality On Display

dapperKillerWhale Report

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Burnt Bagel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you really sit back and think about it it’s a really sad, selfish, and completely unfair world we live in. In every country, relative, of course. Division, nationalism, classism…it’s all evil!

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#26

My Wage Cage. Nature Is Begging Me To Leave!

My Wage Cage. Nature Is Begging Me To Leave!

let-shit-go Report

#27

Silicon Valley Everyone

Silicon Valley Everyone

Cranberryvacuum Report

#28

I Can’t Put The Feeling Of This Picture Into Words

I Can’t Put The Feeling Of This Picture Into Words

not_andrew_a Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

America in one picture, this is literally perfect. You have an obese man, a crypto ad, a man with an extremely dangerous gun, and a McDonalds.

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#29

Middle Class Neighborhood In Dubai, UAE

Middle Class Neighborhood In Dubai, UAE

sikeig Report

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James016
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V, Ctrl-V.

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#30

Crime Against Humanity, But Ecological

Crime Against Humanity, But Ecological

RonaldDoal Report

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Sonja
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have totally sick idea! what about...what about stop shooting at people?

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#31

Not Even Death Stops Work

Not Even Death Stops Work

Ironlord456 Report

#32

This Old Toys R Us Is Now A Gun Store

This Old Toys R Us Is Now A Gun Store

teedeeguantru Report

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bread lord
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I miss toys r us... the good ol days of buying a new pawa patrol toy every weekend.

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#33

A Stroll Through The Ruins. Parisians Rioting Against Pension Reform

A Stroll Through The Ruins. Parisians Rioting Against Pension Reform

dapperKillerWhale Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This isn't boring or dystopia, though. It would be if they just accepted this as their reality, but they are protesting and rioting against it.

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#34

Most Grateful Employer

Most Grateful Employer

Drostiiwu Report

#35

UK's Oldest First-Time Buyer Finally Gets His Own Bungalow Aged 86

UK's Oldest First-Time Buyer Finally Gets His Own Bungalow Aged 86

guppygirl103 Report

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Susie Elle
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

His happy face <3 How can something be so sweet and so depressing at the same time

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#36

Local Supermarket Has Started To Put A Protective Barrier Around The Employees Whilst They Put The Reduced Food Out On The Shelves. Out Of Shot Is A Horde Of Eager Pensioners Ready To Pounce

Local Supermarket Has Started To Put A Protective Barrier Around The Employees Whilst They Put The Reduced Food Out On The Shelves. Out Of Shot Is A Horde Of Eager Pensioners Ready To Pounce

tonypotenza Report

#37

£2100 Per Month For This Airbnb In Central London

£2100 Per Month For This Airbnb In Central London

Round-Beyond5477 Report

#38

Get Back To Work Toilets

Get Back To Work Toilets

flappy-doodles Report

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James016
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People with medical issues such as IBS and their legal reps would like a word

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#39

Londoners Trying To Survive Like

Londoners Trying To Survive Like

SNVOR Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey, you can sleep anywhere you want as long as they don't know about it.

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#40

“Finally, No Human Employees At Our Grey Minimalist Mcdonalds”

“Finally, No Human Employees At Our Grey Minimalist Mcdonalds”

sailorsensi Report

#41

Can't Even Get A Bathroom Break At Home

Can't Even Get A Bathroom Break At Home

1100101001101 Report

#42

No Worries

No Worries

Adorablyflow Report

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Scrogginj
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I donated at Talecris for many years when I was younger. I’ve got permanent scar tissue in my arm that makes me look like a junkie. 20 years ago it helped me pay bills and rent. To this day plasma centers help a lot of people out that need the extra income.

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#43

Sacred Advertising

Sacred Advertising

Logan_Mac Report

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia in Spain. It's only temporary, Samsung agreed to pay for repairs to the church and in return they would get to advertise their products. The ad in this picture is covering up the damage, temporarily.

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#44

It Will Cost An Extra $50 To Use The Fridge In My Hotel Suite

It Will Cost An Extra $50 To Use The Fridge In My Hotel Suite

diddone119 Report

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Burnt Bagel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As a person who traveled frequently during his career, I give you a big, Big, huge, f**k you!

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#46

El Salvador - Center For The Confinement Of Terrorism (Cecot)

El Salvador - Center For The Confinement Of Terrorism (Cecot)

plopplopfizzfizz1 Report

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Burnt Bagel
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sorry…but this s**t don’t work! Just another band-aid to try and stop the bleeding. Gotta figure out how to get to the source….

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#47

We Steal Your Water And Sell It Back To You

We Steal Your Water And Sell It Back To You

Artistic-Monitor4566 Report

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Luna Crow
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm failing to see how this is worse than any other bottled water scheme..

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#48

This Packaging Uses An Optical Illusion To Make The Vegetables Look More Green

This Packaging Uses An Optical Illusion To Make The Vegetables Look More Green

NitroThunderBird Report

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Rachel Grig
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Are we talking about the green lines? Or does the plastic wrapping have a shade of green?

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#50

When A Billboard Is More Important Than A View. A New Way To Crush The Souls Of Office Workers

When A Billboard Is More Important Than A View. A New Way To Crush The Souls Of Office Workers

kittybeer Report

Note: this post originally had 89 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.