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Comment by mankyd | Hacker News Reader

A comic that juxtaposes then nicely:

http://www.juxtapoz.com/current/huxley-vs-orwell-in-graphic-...

I strongly feel that BNW is more realistic. Neither will play out in entirety, but we are certainly addicts of our opioid receptors.

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The problem with this juxtaposition is that it leads one down the path of thinking each topic is a mutually exclusive all-or-nothing affair. From the perspective of an upper middle class software developer who is paid six figures to create cutely-named CRUD websites and reload Hacker News, it certainly feels like we're primarily victims of distraction. From the perspective of someone else who isn't an economic sure-bet and can't simply throw money at problems, the ever-invasive systems of control they run into are much more non-voluntary and absolute.

I'm certainly not arguing that the world should be viewed solely through the eyes of the lowest classes - I think this can result in focusing on zero-sum solutions that invariably invite more tentacles of control into our everyday lives. But looking at such perspectives is a good way to get over the initial "soft controls" and see that there definitely is a system of "hard controls" backing them up.

I think BNW is tier 1, first line of defense against control resistance, and 1984 is tier 2, for those that are able to resist the controls of the first tier. The Internet in its original form prevented tier 2 from existing, but it is gradually moving toward becoming controlled.

I came here to make sure someone had posted a link to that comic. Thanks.

I always find it ironic that this comic gets posted on blogspammy content farms, but this one seems to be not so bad.

It is beautiful that that link was blocked by the corporate firewall.

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