1984

[vrodriguez0715]

Hello, :yawnb: Im doing a report and i need help on some questions that its asking one is: How are Orwell's fears about the ability of the state to control people stilll a danger in our modern society? and also exapmlews of today's society of instituions andleaders that have used language to distort reality? I any one could help me in anyway i would truly truly appreciate it. Thank you

[The Atheist]

Hello, :yawnb: Im doing a report and i need help on some questions that its asking one is: How are Orwell's fears about the ability of the state to control people stilll a danger in our modern society? and also exapmlews of today's society of instituions andleaders that have used language to distort reality? I any one could help me in anyway i would truly truly appreciate it. Thank you

Crikey, if you haven't seen examples around you, have a look at media reports of the "War on Terror". Even the name itself; what is a war on "terror"? Will it be won when no more terror exists in the world? How do we win a war on "terror"? I won't get too specific as current politics is kinda banned, but if you start from my suggestion and think critically about the statements, then compare it to the other side - blogs, Al-Jazeera, etc., you should get it right.

[BobFlag]

I am no expert but I am happy to share my opinion if it would help. First in order to answer you initial question you need to define the term "State".By State do you mean Government or society and the country as a whole? (If this hasn't been defined by whoever set the question then take your pick, explain your definition and run with it) You have to remember that any State
(govt or country) is not a single entity, it is a collection of individuals that may not even know each other They may at times make contact and co-ordinate their plans but even if they don't, broadly speaking they will appear to work as one because have the same goals and wants ie for politicians power (wether for good or ill) and wealth (the oldest two in the book). This is of course how society as a whole works. I know a miniscule fraction of the people in this country but, as we have broadly similar goals, make your way in the world, enjoy life have and provide for a family etc we appear to work as one. The fear the George Orwell articulated is of course of the Govt wanting control of the individual and it is the people who have an insatiable desire for wealth and power over their fellow citizens who are precisly the people who will gravitate to positions that enable them to become part of the "State". Re-read the question (you done?) Ok. it does not ask are the fears still relevant. rather it asks HOW are they relevant. The fear will always be there in some form or other it is the method that changes over time.Our society has changed in ways that George could not of possibly predicted. Technology being one of them. Okay he was partly right, there is a telescreen in most homes...the TV but this has been one way for decades. It can only pump information / propoganda one way. Georges contraptions also spied, but how do you get something like that into everyones home? Easy make everyone want one and get them to pay for it! Remember the Stasi of East Germany? They expended vast amounts of time and energy on information gathering whereas all they had to do was give people the tools to give it up of their own free will. Its here, you and I are using it right now. Don't get me wrong I am not an Anti internet Luddite, Tim Berners Lee was not hell bend on world domination like some demented Bond villain but once someone comes up with something it does take long for others to see how it can be used to their advantage. Think about it, the people who want to know all about the populous are bit by bit getting them hooked on one way of doing things, talking (ip phone) writing (email / messenger), meeting (weg cam) shopping, having sexual relations, getting their news ,music, media. Remember it is not one coherent plan but a collection of individuals with roughly the same goals so then will generally move in the same direction. Ahh I here you say but it is not the Govt driving this, your right. Time to redefine "State", in Georges time the Govt was where the most powerful individuals resided, this has changed. The Govt is not irrelevent but it has become in many ways subordinant to global business and it is this that is after your heart and mind. They do this by giving you what you want, cars, consumer durables, lifestyle, sex and a whole lot of easy credit to buy it.......you want it, you love it and you are utterly subservient to it.......sound familiar? Big Brother has been many things religion, communism and now he's gone commercial, his most successful incarnation to date. Human beings are the most difficult creature to control. Give a dog all he wants and he will eventually be disobediant give a man what he wants he will lap it up and beg for more being utterly in your spell without realising that you have him he loves you and it has been almost effortless. With the above in mind go out there and look around see the examples you are looking for? you will! I hope this has provided food for thought. Goood luck with the report.

[The Atheist]

Bob, just a polite suggestion to make life easier for readers: try to use paragraphs to break up the writing - it becomes enormously difficult to retain one's place when reading large blocks of text.

[aarrgg]

I am no expert but I am happy to share my opinion if it would help. First in order to answer you initial question you need to define the term "State".By State do you mean Government or society and the country as a whole? (If this hasn't been defined by whoever set the question then take your pick, explain your definition and run with it) You have to remember that any State (govt or country) is not a single entity, it is a collection of individuals that may not even know each other. They may at times make contact and co-ordinate their plans but even if they don't, broadly speaking they will appear to work as one because have the same goals and wants ie for politicians power (wether for good or ill) and wealth (the oldest two in the book). This is of course how society as a whole works.

I know a miniscule fraction of the people in this country but, as we have broadly similar goals, make your way in the world, enjoy life have and provide for a family etc we appear to work as one. The fear the George Orwell articulated is of course of the Govt wanting control of the individual and it is the people who have an insatiable desire for wealth and power over their fellow citizens who are precisly the people who will gravitate to positions that enable them to become part of the "State".

Re-read the question (you done?) Ok. it does not ask are the fears still relevant. rather it asks HOW are they relevant. The fear will always be there in some form or other it is the method that changes over time.Our society has changed in ways that George could not of possibly predicted. Technology being one of them. Okay he was partly right, there is a telescreen in most homes...the TV but this has been one way for decades. It can only pump information / propoganda one way. Georges contraptions also spied, but how do you get something like that into everyones home? Easy make everyone want one and get them to pay for it!

Remember the Stasi of East Germany? They expended vast amounts of time and energy on information gathering whereas all they had to do was give people the tools to give it up of their own free will. Its here, you and I are using it right now. Don't get me wrong I am not an Anti internet Luddite, Tim Berners Lee was not hell bend on world domination like some demented Bond villain but once someone comes up with something it does take long for others to see how it can be used to their advantage.

Think about it, the people who want to know all about the populous are bit by bit getting them hooked on one way of doing things, talking (ip phone) writing (email / messenger), meeting (weg cam) shopping, having sexual relations, getting their news ,music, media. Remember it is not one coherent plan but a collection of individuals with roughly the same goals so then will generally move in the same direction. Ahh I here you say but it is not the Govt driving this, your right. Time to redefine "State", in Georges time the Govt was where the most powerful individuals resided, this has changed. The Govt is not irrelevent but it has become in many ways subordinant to global business and it is this that is after your heart and mind.

They do this by giving you what you want, cars, consumer durables, lifestyle, sex and a whole lot of easy credit to buy it.......you want it, you love it and you are utterly subservient to it.......sound familiar? Big Brother has been many things religion, communism and now he's gone commercial, his most successful incarnation to date. Human beings are the most difficult creature to control. Give a dog all he wants and he will eventually be disobediant give a man what he wants he will lap it up and beg for more being utterly in your spell without realising that you have him he loves you and it has been almost effortless.

With the above in mind go out there and look around see the examples you are looking for? you will! I hope this has provided food for thought. Goood luck with the report.
I agree on most parts. You're the first one that has at least almost the same opinion as me. I think there's no such thing as a state, at least not in Big Brother terms. It's the individuals who're causing the Big Brother society.
I paragraphed (word?) your text in my quote in case someone else want to read it ;)