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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."

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"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

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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 .

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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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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#9

Need Books? Donate Plasma!

Need Books? Donate Plasma!

ContraMuffin Report

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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

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#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

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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.

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#12

Health Care

Health Care

Lons Report

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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.

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#13

Watch This Advert Or Choke To Death

Watch This Advert Or Choke To Death

StephenMerchant Report

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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.

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#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

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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?

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#15

Public Relations

Public Relations

JordanUhl Report

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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...

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#16

Remember The Panama Papers?

Remember The Panama Papers?

ColsBols Report

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

Yes, a member of the 1% drank 2 liters of wine, ran a stop sign at 40 mph hitting the car I was traveling in, causing it to roll over, breaking my back & putting me in a coma, and then he attempting to flee until his Mercedes ran out of transmission fluid. No ticket or DUI for him, but he did try to sue me for the loss in value of his car and emotional distress since he thought I was dead and he could be charged. Instead the cop took a five figure cash bribe on the scene to let him off....

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JK Rowling
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe the author of those was murdered in a car bomb explosion

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Rory O'Flaherty
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indeed. And the suspects still haven't gone to trial. Such is the corruption.

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Tim Duenkel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, something did happen. The reporter who broke the story was murdered by a car bomb.

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Freya the Wanderer
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We need to keep the Panama Papers and other ways the super rick are f---ing us front and center. Blue Wave in 2020!

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Angelia Sparrow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Except that the journalist who uncovered them was assassinated by car bomb

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

Who do you think is running the big media corporations and filling the seats in the current “government”?

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

Nothing happens to super rich people because you need money/power to exert the pressure needed to MAKE things happen. So they're the only ones who could do anything about it.

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

Are you surprised nothing happened? They are rich. Nothing ever happens to rich people. Whatever they do, they get away with it.

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Dave G.
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the funniest part is the people who claim to be against these rich people keep voting them into power. a lot of them are members of a political party that starts with a "D"

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

Something happened. They killed the person who did the report.

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Col Moses
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Snitches get,,, well,,,,,, blown to pieces. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_Caruana_Galizia

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

The people who run the show are the same people doing this so us normal folk are screwed regardless (though as a Brit, it doesn't seem as bad for me).

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nicholas nolan
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean, hey, they've recovered 1.3 billion USD and the first court case started in January, but yeah no positive impact what so ever.

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Emily Brown
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Something did happen. The journalist who reported it was assassinated in a car bombing. #DaphneCaruanaGalizia #neverforget

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Ryan-Michele Eagleton
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean... the law firm whose papers were released shut down, multi-national investigations were launched, politicians resigned. I'm sure a lot of people didn't get what they deserved, because $$$$, but it wasn't "literally nothing." The fallout is still ongoing.

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Jubayer Ahmed
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing happens to rich people, which means Democracy is just a s****y idea to cover up rich people's ciriminal acts and eyewash poor people.

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

Remember the FIFA Scandal? Nothing happens! Not even the corrupt president Sepp Blatter went behind the bars. The corrupt Franz Beckenbauer lives a happy life without consequences and next year his frauds will be barred!

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D.J. Thorb
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The good ole Canadian Government forgave them all officially , not even a spanking [that we know of].

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Sally Hudd
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only thing that happens to the rich is death, and they’re working on that too.

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Mipsie Marshall
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But something did happen... the woman who reported it was killed in a car bomb.

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

Around the time of the panama papers there were loads of uk celebs and mps involved, so they sent the taxman after a small business owner that hadn't paid tax that year so he could continue to employ and pay his staff. meanwhile amazon, google, ebay and starbucks (to name very few) get away with paying nothing at all.

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Michael Reed
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I remember, and a lot of them were Elected & Appointed Government officials. Why do you suppose nothing happened? (Oh, and most kept their offices or were reelected)

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A E
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

rich people go away with everything most of the time...

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

Probably because it was a hoax? You shouldn't believe everything you read.

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Neo Conderson
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Guess what: The rich will ALWAYS get away with it. There's nothing you can do to stop it. Look at the most pure communist country in the world, North Korea. Kim lives pretty will, doesn't he. While most of his population is starving. It's probably the worst h*llhole on Earth, worse than Venezuala. And communism promised to make everyone equal.

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Adam Rhodes
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey remember when everyone already knew that before the Panama papers came out!

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Tacitus86
Community Member
4 years ago (edited)

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They are taking advantage of loopholes in the tax law. Thankfully Trump is filling them. BUT you can take advantage of them too. For example, ever see an exotic car in your state but a Montana plate? There is a reason why. But there is also a point at which it makes sense but below that, you are paying more for the workaround than the taxes on the vehicle.

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Leodavinci
Community Member
4 years ago

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You mean the left wing's version of the flat-earth, anti-vaxxing, and illluminatti conspiracies... all rolled into one?

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#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

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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.

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#18

I Don't Like This Episode Of Black Mirror

I Don't Like This Episode Of Black Mirror

nokia621 Report

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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.

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#19

Capitalism In A Nutshell

Capitalism In A Nutshell

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#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”

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#22

Not A Bad Plan

Not A Bad Plan

heyspacequeen Report

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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.

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#25

Teeth Are A Luxury Only Paying Customers Are Allowed

Teeth Are A Luxury Only Paying Customers Are Allowed

ItsDanSheehan Report

#26

Ambulances For 3k? Lets Just Call An Uber

Ambulances For 3k? Lets Just Call An Uber

deray Report

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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.

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#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

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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.

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#30

Open Office

Open Office

sweis Report

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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...

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