Comment Re:No crime? (Score 1) 652
I don't entirely disagree with that, but it's sad to see yet another complete misinterpretation of Orwell's message. A lot of people have a notion in their head that the society in 1984 was one where the government controlled all its citizens completely.
I can only assume that these people have either not read it properly or not read it all and just retain the supposed headline of the book in their head.
The evil beauty of Ingsoc's regime was that they did not need to bother with 90% of the population. 'The Proles' could be left alone to do whatever they wanted, completely unmonitored. As long as they were plied with beer and porn then they might bitch about the government down the pub, but they will never do anything more about it.
This leaves Ingsoc a far more manageable dangerous 10% of the country who are the thinkers. 1984 wasn't pure domination or pure distraction. It was a cleverly targeted mix of both. But I will agree that of the two, the distraction is the more dangerous weapon. I would argue that Orwell held that same view.
In the book, Winston clearly says that the key to defeating Ingsoc is getting the Proles to rise up. But at the same time they are having to battle the disinformation and bar on free thinking (For them only). Fighting on two fronts under those conditions is almost impossible.
But we can keep it simple if it's easier: We are at war with distraction. We have always been at war with distraction.
I can only assume that these people have either not read it properly or not read it all and just retain the supposed headline of the book in their head.
The evil beauty of Ingsoc's regime was that they did not need to bother with 90% of the population. 'The Proles' could be left alone to do whatever they wanted, completely unmonitored. As long as they were plied with beer and porn then they might bitch about the government down the pub, but they will never do anything more about it.
This leaves Ingsoc a far more manageable dangerous 10% of the country who are the thinkers. 1984 wasn't pure domination or pure distraction. It was a cleverly targeted mix of both. But I will agree that of the two, the distraction is the more dangerous weapon. I would argue that Orwell held that same view.
In the book, Winston clearly says that the key to defeating Ingsoc is getting the Proles to rise up. But at the same time they are having to battle the disinformation and bar on free thinking (For them only). Fighting on two fronts under those conditions is almost impossible.
But we can keep it simple if it's easier: We are at war with distraction. We have always been at war with distraction.
