... (0 comments)Gherald highlighted a great graphic illustration comparison of the different kinds of dystopias* envisioned by Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. 
I’ve always found Huxley’s formulation more compelling.
Orwell’s vision is scary, to be sure, but I’ve always felt that civilization will be ultimately undone not by a nefarious top-down neo-communist 1984 construct but rather an insidious, astroturfed, pleasant-seeming, corporate-backed evisceration of passion, engagement and civic participation.
Click on the image or here to read the whole thing.
* – dystopiae?
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(DOWN THE VINE
Syndication
Orwell's remains the most sinister threat. Entirely state-planned economies have unambiguosly failed, but China is proof that totalitarian states can adapt to modernity. And have you looked at the UK's surveillance society lately?
Huxley's BNW was amazing for its time, but I'd count on things playing out more like Gattaca.
And I hope that we can heed the warnings and avoid both extremes.