ADVERTISEMENT

While we may imagine a dystopian future of thought police, killer robots, and nuclear fallout, the real future predictions are much more boring. Instead of being brutally brainwashed and enslaved by fascist, authoritarian regimes, we have willingly enslaved ourselves. By allowing the top 1% to get exponentially richer, we drown in a sea of debts, tech, advertising, endless wars, environmental destruction, addictions, depression... the list goes on.

Brilliant, isn't it? But it's ok; there's always Facebook to scroll through (Bored Panda too, obvs), Netflix to watch, chemical-laden meals to consume, manufactured outrages over a mermaid's skin color to comment on. Who's got time for thoughtful resistance in this sick, sad world? Even those that think they are resisting by electing bigoted billionaires, bankers and Eton toffs to represent them are simply playing into their hands, as their dishonest, scaremongering claptrap divides us ever further over political, racial and gender lines!

Sometimes we need to take a step back and see the forest for the trees. This list, compiled by Bored Panda, contains some pretty terrifying examples of present-day dystopian society, things that make you realize that beyond all the distractions of trying to survive and thrive in the rat race, something's not quite right with this world.

So if you didn't find the sinister scenes of mindless automatons chanting “send her back” chilling enough, scroll down below to get a reality check on the spookily Orwellian society we are allowing to be constructed, and let's see if we can fix our near future in the comments! If you want to see even more proof of our dystopian world, be sure to check out our previous list!

The term 'boring dystopia was coined by the late academic and cultural theorist Mark Fisher in 2015. He used it to refer to the "bland, mildly coercive signs that abound in late-stage capitalist society, which foster a vague sense of isolation or unease."

He started a Facebook group that documented these signs as a way to develop consciousness about the world around us. "It was understood from the start to be a consciousness-raising exercise, encouraging people to perceive the actual state of Britain rather than the PR state," Fisher said in an interview with Vice. "Which is surprisingly hard, because there's this mixture of Silicon Valley ideology, PR and advertising which distracts us from our own aesthetic poverty, and the reality of what we have. Which is just all these crap robots…"

#2

This Is Caleb. Caleb Has A Degree In Zoology And Asks His Customers What Their Favorite Animal Is. He Gives Them Facts While Completing Their Orders!

This Is Caleb. Caleb Has A Degree In Zoology And Asks His Customers What Their Favorite Animal Is. He Gives Them Facts While Completing Their Orders!

JendolsWRGaming Report

"Boring Dystopia was partly about the fact that no one can care about stuff any more," said Fisher. "It's not that they don't care, but in a city like London, or any intensely pressured urban metropolis—add to that the pressures of capitalist cyberspace and people just feel like they perpetually have no time."

ADVERTISEMENT

"Our resources for caring are depleted, and that has aesthetic consequences."

#4

Charity

Charity

JAFD74 Report

#5

Put The Blame Where It Belongs

Put The Blame Where It Belongs

RelevantSwimmer Report

Add photo comments
POST
kathieleonetti avatar
Kathie Leonetti
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Let's not forget the politicians and celebrities who fly all over who have huge SUVs .

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The Facebook group was short-lived, with Fisher quickly becoming disillusioned with Facebook itself. "For me the point at which the group started to go downhill was when it became like every other Facebook group. It was just recirculating 'content' and sending links, keeping people inside what I would call capitalist cyberspace instead of looking outside at their own environment. It felt like it was reinforcing the condition it was intended to displace," he explained.

"It didn't work at that scale, and you could feel that it wasn't the right place for it… It was just an experiment, and Facebook probably wasn't the right platform. I didn't want it to be diluted."

#6

A Child Can’t Stay On The Transplant List, Solely Because He’s Homeless

A Child Can’t Stay On The Transplant List, Solely Because He’s Homeless

livfenty Report

#7

Calling An Ambulance In USA

Calling An Ambulance In USA

thetrudz Report

Add photo comments
POST
giovannat1979 avatar
giovanna
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is just RIDICULOUS. I really, honestly don't understand how come the American people are not crazy mad in the streets protesting about that. Like, protesting all the time.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

After Fisher's tragic death in 2017 at the age of 48, his work remains as his legacy and is as important and relevant as it's ever been. His 2009 book Capitalist Realism is a must-read for anyone wanting to understand the modern world, and his 'Boring Dystopia' group lives on mainly in the subreddit r/ABoringDystopia.

ADVERTISEMENT

What do you think? Are we truly living in a boring dystopia? Scroll down below to see the rest of the examples for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Need Books? Donate Plasma!

Need Books? Donate Plasma!

ContraMuffin Report

Add photo comments
POST
dirigobill avatar
Bill
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You are supposed to sell plasma for beer at that age. This isn't right

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

I Had To Pay $39.35 To Hold My Baby After He Was Born

I Had To Pay $39.35 To Hold My Baby After He Was Born

halfthrottle Report

#11

Anything Different Would Simply Be Un-American

Anything Different Would Simply Be Un-American

Tacoking Report

Add photo comments
POST
beverlyhasegawa avatar
Beverly
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is one thing we can do: Get out and vote. Vote for the senators and representatives who aren't afraid to push for single-payer, universal health care. And if someone calls you a socialist, tell them to look at Japan, which a) is hardly socialist, b) has the world's longest life expectancy, and c) has a well-established universal health care system.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

Health Care

Health Care

Lons Report

Add photo comments
POST
eglantine_thorn avatar
Tamara Neimet
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't have to wait for it. Come to Ukraine, we are constantly crowdfunding some sick child's care.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Watch This Advert Or Choke To Death

Watch This Advert Or Choke To Death

StephenMerchant Report

Add photo comments
POST
haoyun2001 avatar
María Hermida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you need to watch a video before trying to do something to help, it doesn't matter whether there are ads or not; the person will probably die anyway. That's the reason why everybody should learn some very basic first aid skills, like the Hemilich Maneuver, at school, instead of soooo much useless rubbish.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

Only In America Would A Restaurant Display On The Wall That They Don’t Pay Their Staff Enough To Live On

Only In America Would A Restaurant Display On The Wall That They Don’t Pay Their Staff Enough To Live On

M7plusoneequalsm8 Report

Add photo comments
POST
khairunisaasyikinnoordin avatar
nanashi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always wonder why they made it that it's the customer's job to make sure if the workers/servers are paid or not. does this system works?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

Public Relations

Public Relations

JordanUhl Report

Add photo comments
POST
miklosnagy avatar
Miklós Nagy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And people working in the media industry earn way more than any manual laborer or most of the engineers, scientists, medical doctors...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#17

"Today My Client Was Excited To Push The Elevator Buttons On The Way To Her First Deportation Hearing"

"Today My Client Was Excited To Push The Elevator Buttons On The Way To Her First Deportation Hearing"

LivingRaccoon Report

Add photo comments
POST
jksimm515 avatar
Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My niece is 5. I cannot imagine her having to represent herself in any legal matters. I'm 30, and I can't imagine representing myself in any legal matters.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#18

I Don't Like This Episode Of Black Mirror

I Don't Like This Episode Of Black Mirror

nokia621 Report

Add photo comments
POST
anne-karina avatar
Anne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well.. we are too far in killing bees and the environment.. so.. we will need to do both at the same time. There is no planet B.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Capitalism In A Nutshell

Capitalism In A Nutshell

zechareyah Report

#20

Good Article. No Surprises. “It’s Not About Wanting A Pay Raise Or Extra Income, It’s Just About Wanting A Livable Wage”

Good Article. No Surprises. “It’s Not About Wanting A Pay Raise Or Extra Income, It’s Just About Wanting A Livable Wage”

twentysixdoubleO Report

Add photo comments
POST
danielmichaelmorgan avatar
Daniel Morgan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And yet Trump has the audacity to say how amazing the country is doing and how everyone is wealthier than ever. Prick.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

Both Are In The Wrong But Look At How The Pictures Are Depicted

Both Are In The Wrong But Look At How The Pictures Are Depicted

Choreutic Report

Add photo comments
POST
wil_vanderheijden avatar
Wil Vanderheijden
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The blindfold of Lady Justice is eaten by the moths and she turns out to be a racist, conservative b!tch.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#22

Not A Bad Plan

Not A Bad Plan

heyspacequeen Report

Add photo comments
POST
jksimm515 avatar
Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a girl who got Hep C from her ex-boyfriend. Her insurance would not pay to fix it unless she was very very ill. As far as I know she still has it. Had she gone to jail she would have been treated and it wouldn't be an issue anymore.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

Teeth Are A Luxury Only Paying Customers Are Allowed

Teeth Are A Luxury Only Paying Customers Are Allowed

ItsDanSheehan Report

Add photo comments
POST
jksimm515 avatar
Koalamonster
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I still have all of my teeth- one of them just stays in my drawer now.

david_hollenshead avatar
David Hollenshead
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand, as I was kicked in the face and can only chew on one side of my mouth now...

Load More Replies...
dysamoria-accounts avatar
Jace
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haven’t been to a dentist in over ten years for this reason. While I could go to someone on medicare, I don’t trust the low-ball places to have decent oral hygienists. I brush and floss nightly (most Americans seem not to floss at all), and I scale my teeth with an over the counter scaling tool (inferior to the ones an oral hygienist uses, but hey, I have a damaged root because one of my oral hygienists scraped and dug away at me irresponsibility). I need a periodontal graft; can’t afford it. It’s not covered under even dental plans. The USA is a shithole country because of laissez-faire capitalism.

abdallah06apple avatar
Blue Cicada
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

AND... poor diet contributes to poor dental health. AND... poor hygiene is a symptom of depression. AND poor dental health, especially gum disease, contributes heart disease and other health problems.

leoh avatar
Leo H
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

True that..esp if you knock out one of the front ones..they won't pay for a replacement..they say those two teeth aren't functional

elizabethcwest avatar
Pretty Pangolin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just got Masshealth Standard and it pays for dental! I'm waiting to get the booklet, to see if it includes my dentist.

nikkid avatar
Nikki D
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God I wish I could afford a dentist. I've never even been to one and I'm 30. Eventually getting them all pulled and getting dentures will be cheaper than treating the cavities and rot right now. And yes, I brush and floss religiously. Nothing takes the place of routine dental care.

haoyun2001 avatar
María Hermida
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a widespread belief. Even in countries with a health service, like Spain, you have to pay for your own dental treatment in a private doctor. I don't know in the rest of European countries, but that's the way in Spain. Considering that many people get minimum salaries, around €700 or less, and the cheapest dentist charges at least €50 for a simple cavity, it's easy to understand why many people just don't go to the dentist.

tristessa avatar
Tessa
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

J. Zingler nope. I live in Germany, public insurance. Everything is free. Filling cavities? Free. Loosing a tooth? Free. Antibiotics for inflamed (later removed tooth) did cost me 10€ for a week. New tooth? Insurance will pay for it. And I have public insurance! The only thing that would cost me money is professional whitening and cleaning and even for the cleaning insurance will cover more than 50%.

Load More Replies...
sharonljeffords avatar
sharonljeffords@gmail.com
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you can be very patient you can get dental work done at the schools for a fraction of the price.Full dentures are less than 2000.00 and they do implants.

brandygrote avatar
Brandy Grote
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Teeth, eyes, and ears. Things you need for any job, are generally not covered by health care.

kevinperry_1 avatar
okpkpkp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had a sergeant in the army tell me after I complimented him on his teeth say, My teeth are like the stars...They come out at night.

gerry1of1 avatar
Gerry Higgins
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have never understood why teeth and eyes are separate insurance plans. As if they aren't part of your body. Like having to get Foot Insurance

ripsnortinroy avatar
Roy Phillips
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Remote Area Medical services, https://www.ramusa.org/, offers free dental services. Catch is, you have to show up 24 hours before the services are offered, and hope you get to see someone before the thing ends. People will literally come untold distances for a chance to see a dentist, and the state of their teeth is awful, maybe even life-threatening in some cases. Been going on for forever. I read an article in the New Yorker about the poor state of our NATION re; dental care, or the lack thereof: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/19/upshot/how-dental-inequality-hurts-americans.html

kris_kocis avatar
Kris Kocis
Community Member
4 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

lonanods avatar
Lona nods
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep, i have to get two implants and even with insurance they will cost me around 5k apiece. my dentist keeps asking and telling me that i need to replace them soon or my bite will be off. but even with a good job, 5k a piece is not at the top of list to pay for those teeth. beside that's 10k for two teeth. that's just too much and they are molars at that. but i have other expenses and things that are at the top of my lists. i been eating just fine with my other back teeth for now anyway.

llsewer avatar
Jaguarundi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Having clear vision is also a luxury. I pay an extra stipend for vision, dental and medication coverages.

maribeltenorio avatar
Remliel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Everyone in the world need better teeth care. I was at comic-con and this year the smell that permeated panels was that of rotting mouth.

princessmoonslove avatar
Evelyn Moon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia most dentistry is cosmetic. Because they fluoridate the water. Amazing what you can do when greedy dentists aren't telling everyone fluoride will make you stupid or whatever.

enolac avatar
enjoyinglife
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YES! I have sorry a*s dental insurance! Lost a front tooth and that is what I was told!! $1000.00 just to have a fake one to lodge in when I am in public!!

breakmyheart avatar
Something
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Outside bones! Outside bones! Never forget teeth are outside bones! They’re bones that you wash, and when you’re a kid They fall from your head And to make things less weird we say they got stolen By a demon that your parents knooooooooow!

thinkback avatar
Jon Payne
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s why there is dental insurance. Just like if something is stolen from your car; auto insurance and personal property insurance provide different coverages.

freya_600 avatar
Freya Fluharty
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My husband used to pull his own teeth. Absolute insanity. Now in Britain, he had the remaining few extracted by a dentist and dentures made. All paid via the NHS.

tehbonz avatar
B
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Prison Song by System of a Down - sums it up nicely.

margarethsu avatar
Margareth Su
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Come to Indonesia. It costs $500 to get one of my molar teeth removed in a 1-hour surgery. And here's why a third-world country has better dentists than America: 1. we actually have HUNDREDS of cases daily, dentists work tirelessly every day to provide care compared to dentists who actually only do it once a day. 2. I am your proof of the doctor's reliability, I had all my teeth (and about hundreds of millions of other Indonesians) cared for here and we're fine. Why do you have to pay 10x for the same care? 3. My sister-in-law lives in Australia for more than a decade and she still chose to return to Indonesia to get her teeth cared for because of the cost

mannise3 avatar
Anne M Sim
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have known quite a few Australians who choose to go to Asia for non urgent medical and dental treatments.

Load More Replies...
abdallah06apple avatar
Blue Cicada
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dental insurance is completely separate from health insurance. I had to cancel my dental insurance, because it only allowed me to go to a small number of dentists in my area, and their prices were exorbitant and service was crummy. My preferred dentist has a annual "plan package" for a slight discount on cleanings, fillings etc.

michellec0581 avatar
Michelle Chevalier
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a shame...and when you pay the extra some of these insurance companies still make it almost impossible. They will only cover 100% to get it pulled but not fixed.

james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Australia you need to be a low income earner to receive cheap dental otherwise it is still costly even with health insurance. I am a low income earner so I have access to cheap government dental services. This year alone I have had 2 wisdom teeth removal, 3 sessions of dental clean (I have hypocalcification), I need another 2-3 dental cleans and I will also be getting 2 fillings. All of this will cost me $203 but if I went to a private dentist it would cost me anywear from $2000+

amandagraczyk avatar
Minnie-me
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

not to be that person, but why not just take care of your teeth? Unless some type of unavoidable accident happened to ruin your teeth.

dopethronepunkuk avatar
HoffLensMetalHedLovesAnimalsUK
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Many people have dental problems and have always looked after their teeth, a lot of dental problems are genetic, like receding gums for example. I have always looked after mine and i still have a few fillings.

Load More Replies...
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Ambulances For 3k? Lets Just Call An Uber

Ambulances For 3k? Lets Just Call An Uber

deray Report

Add photo comments
POST
luismilian avatar
Luis Milian
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

in the US, the cost for an ambulance to take you to the ER is as expensive as buying a new car.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

This Is How Expensive It Is To Attempt Suicide In The US

This Is How Expensive It Is To Attempt Suicide In The US

alcumist Report

Add photo comments
POST
carolynrehmer avatar
Care
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hope they're doing better now. Debt definitely doesn't help depression.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

Open Office

Open Office

sweis Report

Add photo comments
POST
miklosnagy avatar
Miklós Nagy
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The 90s when people were angry about their well paid, stable jobs and about their peaceful life...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 62 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.