Black Mirror (Season 3; 2017)
Nietzsche foresaw a future for mankind so bleak that we would immerse in joy in mediocrity rather than attempting feats that are of substance. We would spend time in trivialities and would neglect endeavours that would the human race to scale greater heights. This, he predicted would happen by the end of the 20th century. We have, however, persevered but we can still see indulgences in meaningless activities like chasing 'Pokemon Go' and 'Keeping up with the Kardashians'.
Generally, the future shrieks of dystopia. Human behaviours, fellow interaction and perception of what is considered is the cause of this fall from grace. In the future, human interaction is kept to a minimum. Communication is via cyber connectivity. Walking means moving forward with the neck flexed gazing at a smartphone screening and grinning to the activity therein.
In one episode, life revolves around getting good rating online. Everybody is rated instantaneously from facial recognition by the general public on their behaviours in shared space. Any politically incorrect gestures, like cursing, profanity or even not holding a door would lead one to get demerit points. Kind gesticulations award points. Social standings and eligibility to enjoy high-end public amenities, as well as services, would be determined by these points. Citizens with higher ratings even enjoy more significant discounts on loans.
People get so involved in cyber games that they fail to differentiate reality from virtual reality in another episode. Computer malware can easily be implanted in the cyber world that we are tuned continuously to and through it ill-intending parties can manipulate us to commit crimes. Sometimes a troll just does it as a sick April Fool's joke or only for the heck of it.
As we research more into the intricacies of our mind and the deep secrets hidden beneath the sulci and gyri of our 3 lbs. brain, we may indeed discover the concept of death. Perhaps we can immortalise our pleasant experiences in our mind to suspend our soul in eternal bliss when it leaves our mortal bodies.
Denigrating, dehumanising and vilifying fellow human beings seem norm these days. In time to come, mercenaries may be trained as mechanical killing machines using brainwashing techniques and creating illusions in our minds to spew hate towards the state enemy.
All human endeavours which started out noble somehow have unseen adverse effects. In the last episode of this season, drone insects were used as autonomous agents to help in pollination of flowers. Unfortunately, disgruntled scientists started using these artificial drone insect to kill people perceived as the public enemy. It is so easy to gauge people's sentiments through the public polls, and the intended target can be identified via facial recognition and global positioning systems.
The whole season indeed paints a very depressing picture of lays ahead of us.
Nietzsche foresaw a future for mankind so bleak that we would immerse in joy in mediocrity rather than attempting feats that are of substance. We would spend time in trivialities and would neglect endeavours that would the human race to scale greater heights. This, he predicted would happen by the end of the 20th century. We have, however, persevered but we can still see indulgences in meaningless activities like chasing 'Pokemon Go' and 'Keeping up with the Kardashians'.
Generally, the future shrieks of dystopia. Human behaviours, fellow interaction and perception of what is considered is the cause of this fall from grace. In the future, human interaction is kept to a minimum. Communication is via cyber connectivity. Walking means moving forward with the neck flexed gazing at a smartphone screening and grinning to the activity therein.
In one episode, life revolves around getting good rating online. Everybody is rated instantaneously from facial recognition by the general public on their behaviours in shared space. Any politically incorrect gestures, like cursing, profanity or even not holding a door would lead one to get demerit points. Kind gesticulations award points. Social standings and eligibility to enjoy high-end public amenities, as well as services, would be determined by these points. Citizens with higher ratings even enjoy more significant discounts on loans.
People get so involved in cyber games that they fail to differentiate reality from virtual reality in another episode. Computer malware can easily be implanted in the cyber world that we are tuned continuously to and through it ill-intending parties can manipulate us to commit crimes. Sometimes a troll just does it as a sick April Fool's joke or only for the heck of it.
As we research more into the intricacies of our mind and the deep secrets hidden beneath the sulci and gyri of our 3 lbs. brain, we may indeed discover the concept of death. Perhaps we can immortalise our pleasant experiences in our mind to suspend our soul in eternal bliss when it leaves our mortal bodies.
Denigrating, dehumanising and vilifying fellow human beings seem norm these days. In time to come, mercenaries may be trained as mechanical killing machines using brainwashing techniques and creating illusions in our minds to spew hate towards the state enemy.
All human endeavours which started out noble somehow have unseen adverse effects. In the last episode of this season, drone insects were used as autonomous agents to help in pollination of flowers. Unfortunately, disgruntled scientists started using these artificial drone insect to kill people perceived as the public enemy. It is so easy to gauge people's sentiments through the public polls, and the intended target can be identified via facial recognition and global positioning systems.
The whole season indeed paints a very depressing picture of lays ahead of us.
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