These 50 Pics Show How Dystopic Our Society Already Is, And Maybe They’ll Inspire You To Change Something
What comes to mind when you think of a dystopian universe? is it Dali-esque surrealist landscapes or is it a more realistic world like 'The Handmaidens Tale' or '1984.' Well, according to the late Brtish academic and cultural theorist Mark Fisher, we are already living in a present-day dystopian society and folks - it is very boring.
The term 'boring dystopia' was coined by Fisher in 2015 and refers to the subliminal coercion that abounds in a capitalist society. So subtle that unless you're looking, you might not realize these problems with society are actually already happening. Charlie Booker's Black Mirror is the closest fantasy depiction of this theory, with his episodes questioning how far is too far when it comes to our evolving technology and how close we are to the dystopian future.
However, for real-life examples of this theory, and social issues coming together with, it look no further than the sub-Reddit titled 'A Boring Dystopia,' which is dedicated to sharing images that are disturbingly unassuming. From the poster that reads "Sleep deprivation is your drug of choice. You might be a doer," or a bus passing by with bold black letters stating, "You don't need therapy you just need a new car," the following photos may make you question every society problem in a different light.
Scroll down below to see the Orwellian thread of signs on problems with the world!
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Peak Bureaucracy (Happened In Toronto)
Boring Dystopia
I Guess We Just Have To Get Used To This
Well, this is sad. But it's a description of "Better safe than sorry"
Drink Soda To Help Fight Diabetes
You Must Be Noteworthy To Take A Selfie At This Spot
Look At All That Freedom
Reminds me Henry Ford "A customer can have a car painted any color he wants as long as it’s black”
The Only Way To Live
Healthcare Described In One Picture
Based on the ATM symbol ("bankomat" on yellow background with Raiffeisen logo) and the uniform of the paramedics it is from Croatia. The photo dates back to September 2016, and the Photographer's name is Sandra Krunic. The original title of this photo said something about American healthcare, which doesn't fit.
You Get 3 Minutes
Boring Dystopia
"How Can We Decorate Our Lobby To Look Refined While Still Being Utterly Devoid Of Character?"
And people who decided this didn't think that this would make a perfect joke?
"Anti-Homeless" Bench
Quick Reminder That We've Been At War For 17 Years. Sure, People Are Sent To Fight And Die Every Day, But It's Just Old News, Right?
Kurt Cobain Was Not Diagnosed With A Mental Illness And Leave A Suicide Note For It To Be Turned Into A Fashion Trend
American Airlines Announces Pay Raises For Pilots And Flight Attendants, And Investors Balk
Investors want to get all the money, while putting in none of the work. It's the workers' labor that creates value, which brings in the money. It makes sense they should be paid appropriately.
Mass Shootings Are Now So Frequent That President Trump Just Copies-And-Pastes His Condolences
Education For Your Kids? Not Important. Buy Our Expensive Car Instead
Meh, unskilled labor (at least factory kind) will soon be automated away.
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To be fair, it's not up to parents to spend any money on their kids after they turn 18. My parents never paid for education, a car, a deposit on a house etc for me. I've done well and it's all down to me (and emotional support from my parents)
You may have done fine, but plenty of people's lives are completely crippled by student debt. If parents care about their children have any ability to help out they should.
Load More Replies... You want to spend all your money for yourself? Be childfree. You have kids? Well sorry, but they come before the new expensive car.
Well, i do and HAVE! Being child free really save up some good money. No kids. No pets. Money to spend!
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I'm so glad we don't have to pay for college in my country. We have four years to finish our bachelors' degree (which normally takes 3 years) - if we aren't able to finish it in those four years, than we have to pay.
Don't live in America. Then your children will get an education for free and you can buy yourself a car.
Parents have ZERO obligation to pay for their grow child's college education. I absolutely hate that American culture implies that kids are owed a college degree to the financial detriment of their parents. Parents owe themselves retirement at a decent age and financial security for later in life, let your grown children pay for their own education like the adults that they are.
Yeah! The average teenager rarely if ever has a bank account with enough money to pay for college or university fees. Most patents take out a mortgage on their homes to pay for the schooling. Also most kids will be workig on the side to help fork out the tuition fees. Make America great for once by stopping playing cowboys and making wars throughout the world. Make America great by having a decent healthcare system and free higher education. This will be a good start to making the USA come up to European standards. Make peace not wars please.
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Clearly, many people are missing any sense of humor. No one in their right mind takes these sort of things seriously.
In order for something to be a joke, it needs to be funny. In a society where people remain in debt for years and years on end to pay for student loans this is anything BUT funny. We're not missing sense of humour, you're the one who lacks the empathy to take serious things seriously.
Load More Replies... How come dark humour is a sign of dystopia? Not to mention that in most countries education is free (for the good students at least), so it is more likely a localised problem. And I would really love to live on a world where any young adult would be able to pay for college with their own money.
And if you fall for it, your progeny might be too stupid for college anyway...
a lot of stupid people go to college
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The advertising worked SO GOOD, it is reposted repeatedly on websites like Bored Panda! Free marketing!
I think "kids" "young adults" need to grow up! I've been self sufficient since 15 (yes, I figured it out in the late 90's). Bought my own vehicles, paid for 3 college tuitions and bought my own house!
"Our thoughts and prayers are with [INSERT NAME OF SCHOOL/MALL/CHURCH HERE]."
As overpriced and ineffective at getting a job, a degree is nowadays, screw college. Really. I'll talk my kids into getting a technical certificate as a certified ( insert particular technical skill) . That way they can work for themselves.
Just make sure to ship them back from Mexico so we can have them, right?
Kids should pay for their own college... assuming we can’t get Bernie’s free college through taxes plan through some day. But buying a car like this instead of helping your kid is douchey... take that same cash and invest it!
If my Dad want's to go buy another Formula 400, good for him! Its non of my business and I expect NOTHING from them because I'm not a wimpy twat!
Anyone who thinks it's a parent's responsibility to pay for their adult child's education is a prime example of why this world is so screwed up. You owe me..., I deserve... , I'm entitled to..., I literally can't even..., I'm triggered..., I need a safe space..., I'm offended by..., These people need to grow up, drink a real coffee, and spend a few days working on a factory floor or sloppin' hogs.
wtf does coffee have to do with anything else you said? do you sell it?
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If you spend that money on our car you wont have as much in the bank and your kid might qualify for more aid
Nope. It's the parents' responsibility to fully pay for their kids' education. To raise them from the cradle to their graves. If you can't do it, don't have them.
Education should be paid for by the government. That's why the parents pay taxes. It's possible. Just look at CIVILIZED countries...
Trump's Official Survey Doesn't Include Any Negative Response Options
Teaching Kids To Read Via Logos
Boring Dystopia
Totally Normal And Fine
S**t Like This Just Happens Constantly Now
Liquidation Sale
not as bad as 'things to do before you die' why not 'things to do while you're still alive' much more positive.
Plastic, As God Made It
Didn't George Carlin say that the only reason Earth hasn't killed us is that it can't make plastic and needs us to do it?
Gun Show This Weekend
It's been documented that after a mass/school shooting, gun sales actually go up. How sick is that?
Teachers Gifted Supplies For Their Classrooms ...on A Talk Show
Late Stage Capitalism
Shouldn't the simple fact that you're out of blood, solve ALL your problems ? Including housing ? Just a tought
Be Happy
Yeah, if you don't smile, an exec will immediately bolt from his office and grin at the door for you :D
Life Is Beautiful
Jaywalkers Under Surveillance In Shenzhen Soon To Be Punished Via Text Messages
how is this surprising? did you really think they were developing this kind of technology just for your social photo tagging to be easier? come on.
Google Helps Its Sponsors Before Its Users
They Love It!
I Withdrew Some Cash And The Receipt Has The Most Dystopian Bloody Thing On It
I'm Sure The Sermen Drew Some Comparison With Following "False Prophets"
I don't think this challenge honor the Christ... Poor Him, it must be tiredsome to be loved by idiots.
Watch Live
Boring Dystopia
It’s Really Hard Watching Other People Live Out Your Dreams
You Don't Need Therapy
The Fortune In These Fortune Cookies
Bleeding You Dry
Giving your blood is a good thing, having no choice but selling your blood sucks
Aligned With The Holiday Spirit
And? This can be a police parking lot, military base, impound lot, a mint etc.
You've Heard Of Elf On The Shelf, Now Get Ready For
How America Ends
The Important News
It's an update. Bus probably fell from the cliff, crashed on a cemetery, and they are keeping the viewers up to date on how many victims they keep finding under the wreck. Chips look tasty though :D
Golden Fistbump
This Escorting Website Features A Live-Updated Student Debt Clock
Happiness Within Reach
Back To School Shopping
Facebook Served Me An Ad Inside Of A Private Chat
Their Main Concern Isn't Population Changes, It's Diaper Sales
Over 2 Million People Watched "Top 10 Teen Life Sentence Reactions" For Their Entertainment
Sadly enough, curiosity at the misfortune of others is part of life. In this case it’s some sort of guilt free entertainment because all the convicts were murderers and surely deserved that harsh punishment.
4 Ways Sexual Harassment Can Cost Us
This looks like it's aimed at management that ignores workers' bad conduct, because they happen to be good at their job or they just don't think it's a big deal. It makes sense the campaign would tackle the issue from this angle, as this is the only way to get through to these people. Still s****y, but I get it.
Protect The Dear Leader, Report Fake News
Hey Human, Wan't Cold And Clean Water? Subscribe For Just $1.99 A Month
Boring Dystopia
Correction: Cali: "Can you guys fight this fire? We can't pay you much and you won't be able to become a firefighter later. But it's completely voluntary." *People* in *Prison*: Yeah whatever we'll do it. Cali: We'll make sure you guys get credit on Twitter. PiP: Wouldn't it be dumb if people complained about that? Cali: Yeah that would be dumb, thanks guys.
Remember, Your Job Is W H O Y O U A R E
And it makes for s****y conversation when meeting people. "What do you do?" Zzzzzzzz. I'd much rather know what someone's hobby is or what they do to bring joy into their lives. Even if it's sports or religion, it's better than hearing about what one does to fund their fun.
Addiction Is The Most Powerful Tool For Workplace Productivity
A Breath Of Fresh Air At The Airport
This Student Loan Payment Site That Looks Like A Mobile Game...
This is a legitimate thing. This is Givling. By playing a trivia game and watching ads
Get Drunk, Go Shopping, Kill Yourself
Stories That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity. The First Two Are Ads
well one is called the hope detector, and the other is good odds??? it sounds nice?
Just Work Until You Die
H A P P I N E S S
Boring Dystopia
The British Army is one of the very few Armies in the World that still recruits child soldiers. The UK is one of only 19 countries worldwide to recruit 16-year-olds. Other countries that do so include North Korea, Iran and Syria. No other EU or Nato member state recruits 16-year-olds. Some 2,250 minors were recruited into the armed forces in the past 12 months. The army alone enlisted 1,000 16-year-olds. This makes 16-year-olds the single biggest age group entering the army. The army states that it uses the recruitment of minors as “an opportunity to mitigate standard entry shortfalls, particularly for the infantry”. This is worrying because the infantry has the highest fatality and injury rate of any branch of the armed forces. Child Soldiers International has found that soldiers who enlisted at 16 were twice as likely to die in Afghanistan as those who enlisted aged 18 or above
Found In The Chicago Tribune: "Brand Disputes Make Couples Unhappy"
Ridicolous. I don't care what brand whiskey my wife buys. As long as she's buying whiskey, I'm good.
The More You Consume The Happier You’ll Be
Boring Dystopia
This is not important all. In France, the nursery rythm and kid songs we teach to our kids are mostly creepy AF and it doesn't make them serial killers. There is nothing to get upset here. This isn't dystopian at all, it's just people trying to get attention with a story that is probably not even true.
The Cash For Gold Business Is Getting Into The Dystopian Market
That`s normal? Every shop that buys gold advertises that it includes gold teeth. At least here in Germany.
Now Kids Can Play And Learn About Consumerism
Mcdonalds Targeting Kids
McD's has been targeting kids since they opened. Their spokesman is a creepy clown after all.
Our Excessive Working Hours Prevent Our Employees Proper Amounts Of Sleep! Aren't We Quirky?
Start 'Em Young
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Ok, I've seen a lot of comments on this post about how "America is the worst country". You think we LIKE having mass shootings every two minutes? You think we like having a president who puts immigrant kids in concentration camps? You think we like leading the charts in obesity? No. We don't especially like any of that. So please stop acting like the entirety of America is shooting each other in the head. Because we aren't. Only a few are.
If you don't like the state of things in the USA, get off your a*s and make sure that you are registered to vote. If not, go register! Do your homework on candidates, and cast an informed ballot in November. If you don't vote, you don't count.
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What I've learned in life, is that, the Earth is doomed. Whether humanity nukes itself or global warming kills us by 2100 with excess carbon dioxide, I've learned to just accept the time I have. Yes, I recycle and don't use plastic bags, I'm not a savage. But I've learned to appreciate and love life, before the world dies. And fight it anyway... you never know. Sorry for being negative.
This is the first post where I HAD to read through all the comments just to get the rest of the story.
These are just awful. I guess an up vote means they are awful-er than the others. But I wanted to down vote them. So sad.
I bookmarked this under Republicans. If you don't agree, please reconsider what Republican values, and their political platform really supports. Forgive me for stating the obvious, (to most readers I hope), but virtually everything they do is in support of big business, nothing more nothing less.
Bored Panda's showing their political bias a lot with this one......alienating half of your clientele should never be on the agenda, if you want to keep in business.
900 % of this post is nothing but political b******t- as i said repeatedly - eat s**t and die
I hear and read americans complains about their country, but I've been there once 10 years ago. It's a wonderful country. It have some problems but if i look at the big picture, USA is a huge amazing place where everything is possible. Americans that complain about this country, please come to live in my country for a while and then tell me what do you think about USA.
People complained when Obama was president, was that a fashion?
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Load More Replies... Ok, I've seen a lot of comments on this post about how "America is the worst country". You think we LIKE having mass shootings every two minutes? You think we like having a president who puts immigrant kids in concentration camps? You think we like leading the charts in obesity? No. We don't especially like any of that. So please stop acting like the entirety of America is shooting each other in the head. Because we aren't. Only a few are.
If you don't like the state of things in the USA, get off your a*s and make sure that you are registered to vote. If not, go register! Do your homework on candidates, and cast an informed ballot in November. If you don't vote, you don't count.
Load More Replies... What I've learned in life, is that, the Earth is doomed. Whether humanity nukes itself or global warming kills us by 2100 with excess carbon dioxide, I've learned to just accept the time I have. Yes, I recycle and don't use plastic bags, I'm not a savage. But I've learned to appreciate and love life, before the world dies. And fight it anyway... you never know. Sorry for being negative.
This is the first post where I HAD to read through all the comments just to get the rest of the story.
These are just awful. I guess an up vote means they are awful-er than the others. But I wanted to down vote them. So sad.
I bookmarked this under Republicans. If you don't agree, please reconsider what Republican values, and their political platform really supports. Forgive me for stating the obvious, (to most readers I hope), but virtually everything they do is in support of big business, nothing more nothing less.
Bored Panda's showing their political bias a lot with this one......alienating half of your clientele should never be on the agenda, if you want to keep in business.
900 % of this post is nothing but political b******t- as i said repeatedly - eat s**t and die
I hear and read americans complains about their country, but I've been there once 10 years ago. It's a wonderful country. It have some problems but if i look at the big picture, USA is a huge amazing place where everything is possible. Americans that complain about this country, please come to live in my country for a while and then tell me what do you think about USA.
People complained when Obama was president, was that a fashion?
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