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It’s as if nobody has ever read George Orwell’s 1984: “It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range o
by northrup 5y ago
It’s as if nobody has ever read George Orwell’s 1984:
“It was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within range of a telescreen. The smallest thing could give you away. A nervous tic, an unconscious look of anxiety, a habit of muttering to yourself – anything that carried with it the suggestion of abnormality, of having something to hide. In any case, to wear an improper expression on your face (to look incredulous when a victory was announced, for example) was itself a punishable offense.”
- jcelerier 5y ago> It’s as if nobody has ever read George Orwell’s 1984 no, they read it and think "how can we do even better"
- toyg 5y agoOrwell is the modern Machiavelli. In about 100 years, people will be wondering if 1984 was satire/criticism or an actual blueprint for effective government in the digital age, in the same way the real aim of Il Principe has been endlessly debated for centuries.
- Rochus 5y agoIn contrast, Orwell's fundamental rejection of the totalitarian surveillance society is well known and documented. Even in 100 years, those who are interested can read it all.
- DocTomoe 5y agoUnless, of course, such documentation will be surpressed. Which is pretty Orwellian, in fact, such operations are the protagonist's job.
- bayindirh 5y agoThe irony is, 1984 is used as a manual of sorts by some.
- robertlagrant 5y agoNot if it gets Fahrenheit 451'd :-)
- maxk42 5y agoMachiavelli gets a bad rap. I read Il Principe and the primary message is moderation. I dunno how people contorted that into evil scheming.
- bostik 5y agoI came up with one of EFF Finland's t-shirt slogans: Orwell was an optimist. Of course, I was soon outdone. It didn't take long for the adapted version to surface: Orwell was an amateur. Which, I have to admit, is an apt description of our times.
- dang 5y agoPlease don't post this sort of cheap flamebait crack here. It makes discussions poorer. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
- csomar 5y agoThey just now found the tools to enforce it.