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These 30 Pics Show How Dystopic Our Society Already Is, And It’s Pretty Terrifying
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!
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Immigrants
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…"
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!
Real Problem
"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."
"Our resources for caring are depleted, and that has aesthetic consequences."
Charity
Saddest part is that a lot of celebs even get paid to promote a charity.
Put The Blame Where It Belongs
Let's not forget the politicians and celebrities who fly all over who have huge SUVs .
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."
A Child Can’t Stay On The Transplant List, Solely Because He’s Homeless
Calling An Ambulance In USA
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.
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!
Stealing An Education
Need Books? Donate Plasma!
I Had To Pay $39.35 To Hold My Baby After He Was Born
Anything Different Would Simply Be Un-American
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.
Health Care
Don't have to wait for it. Come to Ukraine, we are constantly crowdfunding some sick child's care.
Watch This Advert Or Choke To Death
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.
Only In America Would A Restaurant Display On The Wall That They Don’t Pay Their Staff Enough To Live On
Public Relations
And people working in the media industry earn way more than any manual laborer or most of the engineers, scientists, medical doctors...
Remember The Panama Papers?
"Today My Client Was Excited To Push The Elevator Buttons On The Way To Her First Deportation Hearing"
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.
I Don't Like This Episode Of Black Mirror
Capitalism In A Nutshell
Good Article. No Surprises. “It’s Not About Wanting A Pay Raise Or Extra Income, It’s Just About Wanting A Livable Wage”
And yet Trump has the audacity to say how amazing the country is doing and how everyone is wealthier than ever. Prick.
Both Are In The Wrong But Look At How The Pictures Are Depicted
The blindfold of Lady Justice is eaten by the moths and she turns out to be a racist, conservative b!tch.
Not A Bad Plan
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.
It's All About Priorities
Bathroom Sticker
Teeth Are A Luxury Only Paying Customers Are Allowed
I still have all of my teeth- one of them just stays in my drawer now.
Ambulances For 3k? Lets Just Call An Uber
in the US, the cost for an ambulance to take you to the ER is as expensive as buying a new car.
Positive News
This Feels Straight Out Of 1984...
This Is How Expensive It Is To Attempt Suicide In The US
Open Office
The 90s when people were angry about their well paid, stable jobs and about their peaceful life...
His Gofundme Goal Was Only $750
China Be Like
This Is Just Sad
Well Ok Then
Perpetuity? Wow, that's nice of them. /s Seriously, how do they still win millions of dollars by selling overpriced stuff and treating their customers like this? How?
Quite The Town Character
Oh..
And this is the generation we are raising. Kids being nannied by computers, video games and digital assistance. I can't imagine what personal interaction is going to be like for these kids when they become adults.
Actors Dressed As Homeless
They also move the general public from public film locations and replace them with actors who play the "general public". It's about having control over what is being filmed. The demographic of those being moved to accommodate a public film location, is not the issue at hand.
Really Makes You Think...
Prisons are nothing more than a corporation. Someone is getting paid and it’s absolutely disgusting. You clearly don’t see them as people at this point
Equality Award
Breaking: Billion Dollar Company Does Bare Minimum
A 6 Year Old Having To Even Think About This Is Tragic
When You Raise Money To Keep Those Without Money Out
And They Wonder Why Pirating Is On The Rise Again
This is why I have a hard time buying things digitally. You don't own any of the music or movies, you own a license to watch/ listen to that media. Sure there are still license agreements with physical copies of media- but as long as I have something that can read the disc I don't have to worry about it.
This Is (Not) How You Increase Employee Morale
This employer should be sent to a work camp in North Korea, or to a factory I'm China. Forever.
This
"Hey Siri, I'm Getting Pulled Over"
In America a broken taillight could kill you, if you're black. At least the jury would have another piece of evidence to dismiss.
Kids Can Pick Themselves Up At School. Work Won't Do Itself
"commitment" may not be the issue here at all. 2 key points: 1. employer must be clear on the expectations of their staff, and hire accordingly. 2. employees must be clear on the expectations of their job, and behave accordingly. (if the boss agreed to let them go home 30mins early, 3 times a week, the boss needs to honour that agreement, or renegotiate with the appropriate notice). Besides, there are MANY solutions to this, that has nothing to do with how "committed" a person is to a job. eg shorter lunch breaks on the days she needs to leave early / longer days on the other days when she doesn't need to collect her kids / other staff can pick up overtime to cover the extra 30mins / ensure she completes her required tasks within her day, regardless of the length of the day. Often, it's about *productivity* while working, vs the hours working. (from a manager who fought to keep my VERY productive staff, who needed some compromises due to outside commitments)
Mass Shootings Are Becoming So Common There Now An Event On Snapchat
Global Warming Is Exciting!
British Army Recruitment Ads...
It Would Actually Be Cheaper To Give Home To The Homeless
You could fight the cause or you could fight the symptoms. Oregon officials are obviously unaware of the fact that fighting the symptoms will never solve the problem.
More Depressed Workaholics
"You have a heart attack, a cancer or a stroke before the age of 40. Then we discard you like a used tissue. But we don't care, because there are hundreds of doers queueing to replace you" this should be the second part of the ad.
Imagine Covering The Stars With Advertisements
Fair And Balanced
Monopoly, A Game Originally Made As A Commentary Of Landlords And Property Costs, Now Openly Mocks Millennials For Their Collective Poverty. Nice
Buy A "Video Game System" Instead Of Unionizing Please
Can't Afford Housing? Be Homeless!
I did that as a mom when I was 28 years old. It was awesome. No. No it wasn’t. It f*****g sucked. It took 5 months to save up enough money to get a place. It wouldn’t have taken so long, but day care is expensive when you don’t have any family to help you. Or to be more specific, your family doesn’t really give a s**t about you or your child. (I’m not being an a*s here. I was actually told this.)
"Using Alcohol To Cope With Crushing Poverty-Now With Friends!"
Comcast Truth
Seen At An Elementary School...
It's A "Moral Responsibility"
"Why Is A Donut Shop In Charge Of Opening A Train Station?"
Because they are there earlier than everybody else to prepare. Makes total sense to let them do this instead of sending somebody just to unlock the door.
It's still a threat, because the leaders of many countries look up to the USA and want to follow their political and economic example.
Load More Replies...When I was a teenager my dad was given the chance to move to the USA and the entire family got green cards and social security numbers. I’ve never been so happy that he turned down the job and we stayed where we are. While some of my family did go back in later years for a few months, no one wanted to live there full time and moved to Australia instead. :-)
Welcome to Australia! Thankyou for bringing your culture, cuisine, language(s) & contribution to our beautiful, multicultural, multilingual community. <3
Load More Replies...I feel like most of these are American issues. I live in the USA, and I'm so sick of everything wrong with our country. My 11 year old sister is already worrying about affording college, and I actually felt guilty for calling an ambulance for my mom when I found out how much it had cost. When I go to school, I automatically make a plan for how I would get out of an school shooting. It cost $300 for me to go to Urgent Care and find out I've had Tendonitis in my wrist for 6 months. And, compared to the kids being held in cages, my family is lucky. I'm hoping I'll be able to save enough money to go to college in Canada, and hopefully live there when I'm old enough. For now I just get to sit and watch while my country falls to pieces :(
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but unless you immigrate to Canada you won't be able to avail yourself of most of the Candian public services. Also, the tuition rates for international students are usually 3 or 4 times the cost for a domestic student. And they still have to get extra health insurance or pay out of pocket in many provinces. Personally, I'd welcome you here - but it's harder than most folks think, so I guess start planning early? One of my American friends even married a Canadian after going to school here for years and she didn't qualify for permanent residence until she was in her 40s. She had to keep going to school (as an international student) for ages because she could only get a student visa - and no school means visa is over and she'd have to leave. We need a swap program where a pro-oil/gun/etc Canadian can just trade citizenship with a socialist American. :p
Load More Replies...It's still a threat, because the leaders of many countries look up to the USA and want to follow their political and economic example.
Load More Replies...When I was a teenager my dad was given the chance to move to the USA and the entire family got green cards and social security numbers. I’ve never been so happy that he turned down the job and we stayed where we are. While some of my family did go back in later years for a few months, no one wanted to live there full time and moved to Australia instead. :-)
Welcome to Australia! Thankyou for bringing your culture, cuisine, language(s) & contribution to our beautiful, multicultural, multilingual community. <3
Load More Replies...I feel like most of these are American issues. I live in the USA, and I'm so sick of everything wrong with our country. My 11 year old sister is already worrying about affording college, and I actually felt guilty for calling an ambulance for my mom when I found out how much it had cost. When I go to school, I automatically make a plan for how I would get out of an school shooting. It cost $300 for me to go to Urgent Care and find out I've had Tendonitis in my wrist for 6 months. And, compared to the kids being held in cages, my family is lucky. I'm hoping I'll be able to save enough money to go to college in Canada, and hopefully live there when I'm old enough. For now I just get to sit and watch while my country falls to pieces :(
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but unless you immigrate to Canada you won't be able to avail yourself of most of the Candian public services. Also, the tuition rates for international students are usually 3 or 4 times the cost for a domestic student. And they still have to get extra health insurance or pay out of pocket in many provinces. Personally, I'd welcome you here - but it's harder than most folks think, so I guess start planning early? One of my American friends even married a Canadian after going to school here for years and she didn't qualify for permanent residence until she was in her 40s. She had to keep going to school (as an international student) for ages because she could only get a student visa - and no school means visa is over and she'd have to leave. We need a swap program where a pro-oil/gun/etc Canadian can just trade citizenship with a socialist American. :p
Load More Replies...