Modern day oppression

Originally posted by stocken
People has survived for thousands of years without much knowledge at
all. Just the basics to survive, and we're usually more than willing to learn
that. I have a hard time imagining someone who doesn't want to learn
the basics. Not being able to read should be no problem if no one is in a
position of control, such that they can take advantage of you. ...[text shortened]... man being. So, we all have food and can sleep
wherever. Now, all is well, educated or not.

Hmmm, you just gave me an interesting premise for a story. What would happen if the masses were literate but the elite were illiterate, with illiteracy being prized? (Although that does sound uncomfortably close to current events ...)

Originally posted by stocken
Ok? So, we have a... what?.. illiteracy problem here? I'll shorten it down for
you then. We can call it: "Modern day oppression for dummies".

This society? The one we in the west call the free, democratic society? It's
not really free. It's what I like to call the biggest hoax since
Muhammed. It's like that whole Morpheus-"the world that has been pulled
over your eyes" kind of thing.

At least in the West you're free enough to move to Cuba, North Korea, Iran, or the African veldt and eat bugs and wipe your arse with banana leaves if you choose.

Originally posted by pawnhandler
What would happen if the masses were literate but the elite were illiterate, with illiteracy being prized? (Although that does sound uncomfortably close to current events ...)

LOL! 😵

Originally posted by der schwarze Ritter
At least in the West you're free enough to move to Cuba, North Korea, Iran, or the African veldt and eat bugs and wipe your arse with banana leaves if you choose.

If I can't do it (lacking the money say), but am allowed to do so by law, is it
still freedom?

Originally posted by stocken
People has survived for thousands of years without much knowledge at
all. Just the basics to survive, and we're usually more than willing to learn
that. I have a hard time imagining someone who doesn't want to learn
the basics. Not being able to read should be no problem if no one is in a
position of control, such that they can take advantage of you. ...[text shortened]... man being. So, we all have food and can sleep
wherever. Now, all is well, educated or not.

What if you can't read the instructions?

Originally posted by stocken
If I can't do it (lacking the money say), but am allowed to do so by law, is it
still freedom?

Yep. No one will stop you from say borrowing the money or offering to teach English in North Korea in return for a ticket...

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Yep. No one will stop you from say borrowing the money or offering to teach English in North Korea in return for a ticket...

No, I mean if I can't get the resources needed to travel anywhere
really. Say, I'm homeless and nobody's going to give me a loan to do
anything. Am I still free the same way ritter is (assuming he has the
resources to travel wherever he wants at will)?

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
What if you can't read the instructions?

Learning to use the shield and replicator (can't believe I'm seriously using
these words, LOL) would be part of learning the basics of survival. Don't have
to read. You're parents would have shown you how to utilise the technology
before you can even communicate abstract ideas.

Originally posted by stocken
No, I mean if I can't get the resources needed to travel anywhere
really. Say, I'm homeless and nobody's going to give me a loan to do
anything. Am I still free the same way richte is (assuming he has the
resources to travel wherever he wants at will)?

Yes. No one is stopping you. Freedom is not about being freed from one's monetary limits, it's about not being stopped from doing certain things like eating or going to the park - assuming you'd be able to do so if no one interfered.

Originally posted by stocken
Learning to use the shield and replicator (can't believe I'm seriously using
these words, LOL) would be part of learning the basics of survival. Don't have
to read. You're parents would have shown you how to utilise the technology
before you can even communicate abstract ideas.

What if your parents didn't?

Originally posted by stocken
If I can't do it (lacking the money say), but am allowed to do so by law, is it
still freedom?

Millions of people from the Third World, with far less wealth than I gather you have, arrive in the West every year. You should buck up and grow a backbone.

Originally posted by AThousandYoung
What if your parents didn't?

...because they're free not to. You're a sassy whelp and they're not interested in giving you these keys to survival, especially since they're enjoying too much their freedom to snort coke.

Originally posted by stocken
No, it is you who are missing the point. I'm not arguing that we're
not more comfortable than in many other socities. The issue is not
whether or not the democracy we live in is better than any other version
of control society. The issue is freedom. You claim that we're free, but I
say we've merely replaced one form of control with another (gr ...[text shortened]... we'll become hermit zealots. We'll just be a little bit happier and
free.

Ok, this is a thread for the 'science fiction' forum. Your feet are not firmly planted on the ground and I dont get involved in fictional issues. Good Luck.

Originally posted by Rajk999
Ok, this is a thread for the 'science fiction' forum. Your feet are not firmly planted on the ground and I dont get involved in fictional issues. Good Luck.

Yes...the more he babbles, the weirder he sounds. Like a small child trying to wax philosophic and sound all grown up. It's kind of sad, really. Or is pathetic a better word?

How about pathetisad?

Originally posted by stocken
Seriously, assume that you're working for some big company. You're
under oath of silence because what you're doing is a big hush, hush,
right?.. Now, why is it that a reasonable fella like yourself is working
under such stupid conditions?

Money. You could become a cleaning lady instead. That also brings
money, just a lot less. And see, that's th ...[text shortened]... at would prevent
us from exercising any kind of control over anyone else.

Simple.

If you're working for "some big company", you're doing it by your own choice .. right?
My next question comes straight from your own words ... "Now, why is it that a reasonable fella like yourself is working under such stupid conditions?"
So your problem, IMO, is self-inflicted.
If you don't like the way society is, you have choices to make.
1. Sell out your soul and work for "some big company."
2. Find a way to make it while being true to yourself.
3. Drop out, head for the bush and live like a 100% freeman.
4. Create a 4th choice.

Money? If you build your survival skills, you can live without money.
Desire is what makes you a slave to money. It's a choice.

Life isn't fair and nobody owes you anything.