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> It’s as if nobody has ever read George Orwell’s 1984 no, they read it and think "how can we do even better"
by jcelerier 6y 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 6y 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 6y 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 6y agoUnless, of course, such documentation will be surpressed. Which is pretty Orwellian, in fact, such operations are the protagonist's job.
- bayindirh 6y agoThe irony is, 1984 is used as a manual of sorts by some.
- robertlagrant 6y agoNot if it gets Fahrenheit 451'd :-)
- maxk42 6y 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 6y 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 6y 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