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When you think about a dystopia, there are a few things that come to mind. A desolate landscape, an oppressive government with cruel laws, and a society with sanity splitting at the seams. It’s what you imagine when you think about “The Handmaid’s Tale” or “The Hunger Games.”

However, dystopia might be closer to reality than one can imagine. Nowadays, environmental disasters and political unrest are our everyday dinner table topics. Add to that constant surveillance, biased media, and the lifestyles of the ultra-rich and you’ll find yourself living in an Orwellian nightmare.

Facebook group “Dystopian late-stage capitalism horrors repackaged as heartwarming stories” is dedicated to those moments when you really notice the absurdity of the world around you. The list below is the collection of their most recent sobering hits. Scroll down to join us in wallowing in misery.

There are many countries out there that can be used as examples of real-life dystopias. Russia with its totalitarianism and the stronghold on the media, China and its personality cult, North Korea and its human rights violations—all of those are correct.

But thinking that the western world is somehow very far removed from those realities is hypocritical. We’re all slowly inching ourselves towards a reality that Cormac McCarthy would have a blast writing about.

#2

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Sarah Eudy , x.com Report

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Hamad§
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this bad? Title says 'supposed to be wholesome but shows how messed up society is '

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#3

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Naomi Johnson , x.com Report

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JoNo
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing wrong with this one - what a caring, considerate and neighbourly person!

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Take, for example, mass surveillance. Don’t tell me you’ve never had that moment where you talked about wanting to get something and then, completely unexpectantly, got an ad for it on your browser. It was creepy at first, but not it’s just a thing that happens.

Everyone that has a phone and internet is monitored both by the government that makes sure you’re in line and corporations that want to sell you a better deal. They track your location, note how long you stay for in which places, keep tabs on your communications and, often, have access to your camera and microphone. If that doesn’t sound dystopian, I’m not sure what does.

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#4

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Tony Goodwin , www.boredpanda.com Report

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Black Garbage
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The hell!? Who the hell shoots an animal 17 times?

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neytjie
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just read about Maggie. Some f*****g a******s used her for target practice. She was pregnant too. I have no words too express how much I hate these people

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the redqueen
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When I watch movies, if a human gets hurt, I'm like " ehh, that's sad"; but if there is an animal about to get hurt-I am on the edge of my seat, yelling at the TV, swearing and grabbing tissues. A funny, but not funny, funny story: Hubby wanted to watch " Marley & me", and I still have never seen the end of that damn movie, because I jumped up off the couch and ran down the hall crying, and shut the bedroom door and stayed there til it it was over. And I am a grown woman.I have no shame. IRL, anybody that hurts any animals should be strung up by their genitals and left there til they rot. Period.

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Amy T
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't watch any "survival-esque" movie that has animals prominently featured.

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Gustav Gallifrey
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I've never before wanted to shoot anyone 18 times (i.e. 17, plus one for luck), but i may have to re-think my position on that.

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Al Joy
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What serial killers did this to a beautiful animal?

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Paul C.
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm genuinely quite frightened to think what I would do to the piece of garbage that did this. I think unless stopped, I could quite easily K##l them, without too much thought.

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Roger9er
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What living piece of repulsive stinking human waste does that to an animal? I have a very small poisonous piece of pure bitter hate for animal abusers.

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Losstar
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WAHT THE EUCK IS WRONG WITH THE EUCKING OWNERS I WANNA SHOOT THEM 17 TIMES

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Zodiac
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I admit Im scared of dogs, but i have never had the urge or want to shoot one. Or hurt one in any way. I love dogs/think theyre cute, and awesome animals, i just had some trauma with one, thats probably why im scared. But this dogs looks (and probably is) really sweet, and id prob actually pet her 💖💖

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SuperChicken
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maggie, you beautiful dog. May you live long happy life with full of hugs and treats.

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Rod
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maggie the Wonder Dog!!! Google her so you can learn about her history. She was in Lebanon and rescured to be transfered to England. She's a star, a real one.

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Pillowarmidiloroku
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

who the heck did this literally kys if u hurt animals they didn't do anything to u

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don'tcensorstupidstuff
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

who the flip did this? such a sweet dog. what on earth is wrong with the previos owner

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Roan The Demon Kitty
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

WHO THE HELL DOES THIS LET ME MURDER THEM. And also give this absolute sweetheart some cuddles <3

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Louise Stange-Wahl
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would love to get ahold of the MONSTER who tried to murder this sweet soul. The murderer needs to have THE SAME treatment! Evil incarnate!

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Mahiera Etsuhae
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It would give me great pleasure to return the favor to the person who did this to her.

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Grace and Lucy
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Horrendous. What kind of trash puts this on a list of ....things I need to do today

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Gary
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some people deserve to die in the most excruciating way.

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Ritchat
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who hurt animals or children should have the exact same thing done to them as punishment.

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Mojavedog
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How could a dog of that size get shot 17 times and live. Something is not right about this story. 7 times maybe, but 17. Come on! I’m an RN and have taken care of patients who have been shot upward of 9 times and been pretty messed up and some not so much. Hell one shot can kill outright! Can’t imagine a dog living thru even 9 gsw. This poor dog was definitely shot up, but 17 times…let’s be real about our stories and not dramatize for points or likes or whatever fame the op is after.

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Gina Babe
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A I'm not sure if I'd want to be alive after that. I would love if the punishment was the crime.

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B.Nelson
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this is horrible but I bet kids (and adults) who have been traumatically injured with burns or missing limbs will love this dog forever.

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Bob Brooce
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not always sure I'll make it through the rest of my life without killing somebody.

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Aesthetic club
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People are just so messed up, i mean who would do that to a poor sweet dog, honestly a miracle that she survived, I've never heard of a living being getting shot that many times and surviving. I'm glad she is okay

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Dark Pearl
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

MAGGIE THE WUNDER DOG! You should definitely follow her Instagram, her owner has adopted lots of other dogs in (sadly) similar situations, and they're all so happy now, it's such a lovely thing to see (but horrible that people do this to animals)

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Just Another Girl
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People who do this to animals should be drawn and quartered in the public square after being stoned and having a few body parts removed with rusty knives.

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Then, let’s not forget about how partisan and politicized the media is. These days it is so tough to find a news outlet that’s neutral when reporting on what’s happening around the globe. To the point that media bias is not at all a surprise, and we even have independent studies and charts about which way which news outlet is leaning.

#8

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Dáve Ch , x.com Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

American "healthcare". Unless you live here, you have no idea how bad it is. This man is literally a slave to the US government to keep his kid alive. Why do we allow the insurance industry to do this?

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Do we even need to mention the environmental disasters? Floods in California, droughts in the Midwest, islands on fire—and that’s just the US. There were heatwaves all over with record-breaking temperatures and floods in Sudan, Libya, Ghana, and way more. One just has to remember how New York looked during Canada’s wildfires earlier this year and you’ll know you we are living example of dystopia.

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There’s hope though. We don’t check all the dystopian boxes just yet, at least not everywhere. One of the criteria seems to be uniformity and conforming to same expectations. And so far, we are doing alright there. 

#15

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Abdul Raheem , nypost.com Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Had to be the USA. The only western nation where if you want health care, you pay for it yourself.

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Many of us have rights to protest and do exercise it. Sometimes there are hiccups here and there, but people seem to be aware enough to notice the issues. On top of that, people can doubt things and voice their opinions about it. Sometimes, they even garner following for it.

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#16

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Jennifer Parker Report

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David A Paterson
Community Member
6 months ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The people who abuse staff are known as "bosses", sometimes "colleagues" but mostly "bosses".

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#18

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Christian Stiebahl Report

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Alex Davis
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All these stories of disabled people going without basic equipment are making me so angry and sad. I'm deaf and even though the top of the range Bluetooth hearing aid I got given at no cost (yes it's paid through my taxes but I mean out of pocket) to me hardly does anything for my level of deafness, I was given it regardless. Same for my wheelchair (though that does a lot as I can't even stand so without that, I'd be stuck in bed for life) it's the type that I require and made to my needs. I like visiting the USA but as a disabled person, I often thank my lucky stars I was never born there!

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All in all, we’re not quite full-on dystopian just yet. We can get there very fast if we want to, though, so it’s important to note the sate we’re in even if it’s through internet lists like this one. As a wise man once said, check yourself, before you wreck yourself. And we all know that the last thing we need in this world is more wreckage.

#19

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Robert Connelly , x.com Report

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Donna Peluda
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Jesus Christ, what is wrong with our world. People working and not being able to afford to rent a place, something is going to break, sorry HAS TO BREAK!!!

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#22

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Lucca King Report

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Adam Chang
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Home: $200/month, Retirmenthome: $2000 / month. Dinner: $20/ person. Wedding-dinner: $40

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#23

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Jennifer Parker Report

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Karl
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like they’ve stuck the note to the window with a poppadom

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#26

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Brandon Jones , x.com Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, Whiteclaw looks like a soda. It calls itself a soda. Legitimate lawsuit territory here. The Alcopops need to make their packaging look like booze. Sorry, but accidents like this are bound to happen eventually.

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#28

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Jared Zeiders Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

HOW? That makes no sense. I'm old so 4.00 was the highest and 1600 was highest in my time. I scored pretty close to both and had a ticket to any college I wanted. Have things really changed that much?

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#30

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Ella Egan Report

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Nils Skirnir
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some US school districts prohibit outside help in paying of lunch debt. Preferring to punish the poor

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#31

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Grant Burgess Report

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Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa)
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ummmm, go to hell. Ran into this type before. Found out the best solution is to stop drinking coffee, and stop caring. You get what you get out of me. Sure I could do more, but if you have that attitude, you are not getting it.

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#35

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Matt McKibbin , x.com Report

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Zedrapazia
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you don't have a real window, this placebo effect might actually be good for the mental health

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#36

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Steven Yarbrough Report

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Breadcrumb.
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Materials are a dime a dozen now. It's the houseing and food that costs so darn much.

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#37

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To make a heartwarming sandwich... For twice the price and 10 times more plastic waste

Max Pnj Report

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Joe Russo
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or maybe sell the cookie cutter that creates these? We have a big heart-shaped one for making sandwiches look cool for kids' parties that cuts very little of the crust off, and still looks like a heart.

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#38

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Anonymous participant Report

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Bols
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

04am shifts at 38 weeks pregnant???! This is so unhealthy! My country has many flaws but luckily it protects mothers and pregnant women, it is illegal to work for them in night hours from 10pm to 6am even if they worked different shifts before pregnancy

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#40

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Marc Laver , x.com Report

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Iampenny
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmmm, I mean plenty of places have donation boxes (or entrance fees) to help with the upkeep of said place, how is this any different? At least it's not mandatory

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#42

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Seth Derek Aronson , x.com Report

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James S
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just as effective as a human preacher but far less likely to beg for money or abuse children

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#43

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Phil Waisonovitz Report

#44

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Michael C Pratts Report

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Ace
Community Member
6 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't work out how 250k per year for life equates to just 4 million. Is he expecting to die in 16 years?

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#45

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Melissa Bates Report

Note: this post originally had 47 images. It’s been shortened to the top 45 images based on user votes.