One man's utopia is another man's dystopia

Catherine Wheel · 12-31-2005, 12:03 PM

There is no clear way to define or explain what a utopian or dystopian society really is. In movies and books Dystopia is always portrayed as a futuristic, mechanized society. and Utopia is always portrayed as the opposite.

but they are really just a state of mind. It all depends on how comfortable you are in an environment. how acceptable an environment is to you. One person's dementia could be another person's heaven.

In "The Time Machine" the time traveler doesnt understand how the people in the far future could live without books or could turn their backs when one of their own is snatched away by the people that dwell underground. That was a dystopian society to him.

but they dont share his sympathy or concern. They have no problem living a life without books or where their own kind dissapear before they even get a chance to grow old. To them its a utopian society. its all about your point of view.

Black Somalian · 12-31-2005, 12:20 PM

Fuck off

Mariner · 12-31-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Catherine Wheel

relativism is so pass&#233

heart of palm · 12-31-2005, 02:37 PM

so what you're saying is that a utopian is one where the people don't have to be coerced into living cooperatively.

Catherine Wheel · 12-31-2005, 02:50 PM

Im saying that living a world of delusions could qualify to some people as living in a Utopian society. "The Time Machine" tried to demonstrate that.

The surface dwellers were completely delusional. but to them their existence was a paradise. They had everything they could ever want. They might not have everything that they need to thrive and progress. They didnt see things in the long run. but they did have all of their immediate desires fulfilled.

heart of palm · 12-31-2005, 03:01 PM

oh so what your saying is that our reality is define by our perception of it

tcm · 12-31-2005, 03:05 PM

one man's Catherine Wheel is another man's catherine wheel. get it?

Catherine Wheel · 12-31-2005, 03:15 PM

yeah. and also Im saying that sometimes you get so familiar with a lifestyle that you are unable to see outside of that world. you get so wrapped up in your routine that you become a slave to your routine. you need an outsider to put things in perspective. or at least to shine a different light on the situation.

The Time Traveller in the story can be seen in several ways. He can be seen as a hero. someone who saves the surface people from a life of servitude.

or he can be seen as someone who interupted those people from their Utopian society. They were perfectly content and happy the way they were. So was his role a necessary one in the grand scheme of things?

tcm · 12-31-2005, 04:18 PM

well that's why we have things like the Prime Directive.

tcm · 12-31-2005, 04:22 PM

i would have said Temporal Prime Directive, but that really applies more to traveling into the past.

12-31-2005, 12:03 PM	#1
Catherine Wheel Banned Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 6,321	One man's utopia is another man's dystopia There is no clear way to define or explain what a utopian or dystopian society really is. In movies and books Dystopia is always portrayed as a futuristic, mechanized society. and Utopia is always portrayed as the opposite. but they are really just a state of mind. It all depends on how comfortable you are in an environment. how acceptable an environment is to you. One person's dementia could be another person's heaven. In "The Time Machine" the time traveler doesnt understand how the people in the far future could live without books or could turn their backs when one of their own is snatched away by the people that dwell underground. That was a dystopian society to him. but they dont share his sympathy or concern. They have no problem living a life without books or where their own kind dissapear before they even get a chance to grow old. To them its a utopian society. its all about your point of view.

12-31-2005, 12:20 PM	#2
Black Somalian Ownz Location: Mordor Posts: 593	Fuck off

12-31-2005, 02:37 PM	#4
heart of palm Pledge Posts: 88	so what you're saying is that a utopian is one where the people don't have to be coerced into living cooperatively.

12-31-2005, 02:50 PM	#5
Catherine Wheel Banned Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 6,321	Im saying that living a world of delusions could qualify to some people as living in a Utopian society. "The Time Machine" tried to demonstrate that. The surface dwellers were completely delusional. but to them their existence was a paradise. They had everything they could ever want. They might not have everything that they need to thrive and progress. They didnt see things in the long run. but they did have all of their immediate desires fulfilled.

12-31-2005, 03:01 PM	#6
heart of palm Pledge Posts: 88	oh so what your saying is that our reality is define by our perception of it

12-31-2005, 03:05 PM	#7
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,922	one man's Catherine Wheel is another man's catherine wheel. get it?

12-31-2005, 03:15 PM	#8
Catherine Wheel Banned Location: Washington, D.C. Posts: 6,321	yeah. and also Im saying that sometimes you get so familiar with a lifestyle that you are unable to see outside of that world. you get so wrapped up in your routine that you become a slave to your routine. you need an outsider to put things in perspective. or at least to shine a different light on the situation. The Time Traveller in the story can be seen in several ways. He can be seen as a hero. someone who saves the surface people from a life of servitude. or he can be seen as someone who interupted those people from their Utopian society. They were perfectly content and happy the way they were. So was his role a necessary one in the grand scheme of things?

12-31-2005, 04:18 PM	#9
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,922	well that's why we have things like the Prime Directive.

12-31-2005, 04:22 PM	#10
tcm Braindead Location: Le look de Corgan Posts: 17,922	i would have said Temporal Prime Directive, but that really applies more to traveling into the past.