Rules and Guidelines
Want to participate in the discussions? Please read our Community Rules and Guidelines. Need some help? Visit Support and Answers.

  • State Not Answered
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 28 replies
  • Subscribers 9 subscribers
  • Views 2142 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
You may also be interested in
This discussion is locked.
You cannot post a reply to this discussion. If you have a question start a new discussion

1984

Roger B
I have recently finished rereading George Orwell’s 1984 (actually the compendium of all his novels) and was struck by the similarity to the AGW movement(s). 


The basis of 1984  is that the Elite (Inner Party) want absolute and permanent power. If the life of the masses (Prols) is too easy they are hard to control so they are kept in a state of semi poverty by a continuous war which uses up the free resources.


The importance of the war is supported by the Propaganda Machine (Ministry of Truth) that continuously changes history to match the requirements of the Inner Party and to suppress free thought. Those who have any free thought or who challenge the system are taken away by the Thought Police. The need for and support of the war are driven by daily two minute hate sessions and by longer hate weeks. The organisation is run by the Outer Party who get certain limited privileges but are constantly monitored and brainwashed by their ‘Telescreens’.


Looking at today people are already mostly voluntarily locked to their ‘Telescreens’ (Smartphones, Tablets, TVs, etc.) and get most of their information from the Media, especially social media like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc. Very few people ever look at what is behind this information and are ripe for being told that Climate Change, AGW, etc. is our war. Rather than just two minute hate sessions we are bombarded with calls to war, most stuff on the BBC science section, David Attenborough’s Climate Change: the Facts, Hottest Day Evaahh, reported Increases in natural disasters, Corbyn’s Climate Emergency, etc. Extinction Rebellion bought the Hate Week around the world. 


The Elite will keep doing just what they want to, buying beach villas, flying round in private jets, living in mansions whilst trying to create energy poverty for the masses to keep them under control. The dash for renewables has significantly increased energy costs wherever it has been implemented, UK, Germany, Australia, etc. The money all goes those who already have money and can afford to pay up front for solar panels, wind turbines, EVs, etc. and get the various government subsidies. The ‘Prols’ just get higher bills.


How many people just believe the Ministry of Truth? How many actually look and see the number of papers and articles that have to be withdrawn or corrected? Dissent is suppressed as far as possible with cries of ‘Denier’ and personal abuse. Scientists are threatened with loss of funding or sacking (the Peter Ridd case in Australia is a ray of hope).


Does anyone else see it like this? Before I am completely flamed I fully support the reduction in the use of our finite resources, reduction of pollution and reduction of our impact on the planet. I don’t think that targeting CO2 is the correct way to achieve these goals.


Best regards


Roger

Parents
  • 0
    Ohhhhh Roger..... ?


    You're talking about one of my favourite subjects... How media has overtaken religion as being a way to control the masses and the beliefs of the masses.


    I don't read newspapers and haven't for many years and I rarely watch the news unless there's something very important happening (such as the whole Brexit fiasco). I was taught at a very early age to 'think for myself' and not to believe anything someone says or what I've read unless I've fact-checked it first or gathered enough hard evidence (and opposing views) to form my own opinion. Irritates the hell out of some of my friends and colleagues though... ?


    In my research I do for my role at the IET I remember reading an article a few years ago on how Facebook's newsfeed algorithm could reinforce strong (and sometimes dangerous) opinions by only showing users news stories and content etc that matches their currently held opinions. Therefore a user was not being subjected to a differing point of view and in turn reinforcing their opinion that their view is the right one i.e. surrounding yourself with people and content from people of the same views.  This was a number of years ago now though and thankfully I believe that Facebook took steps to combat that.


    There's also an interesting piece about 'Sock puppetry' in online conversations used as a way of making people believe that a view or opinion has more support than it really does. Again I've seen this quite a lot online, especially on Facebook and Twitter... 


    It's a fascinating subject... ?


Reply
  • 0
    Ohhhhh Roger..... ?


    You're talking about one of my favourite subjects... How media has overtaken religion as being a way to control the masses and the beliefs of the masses.


    I don't read newspapers and haven't for many years and I rarely watch the news unless there's something very important happening (such as the whole Brexit fiasco). I was taught at a very early age to 'think for myself' and not to believe anything someone says or what I've read unless I've fact-checked it first or gathered enough hard evidence (and opposing views) to form my own opinion. Irritates the hell out of some of my friends and colleagues though... ?


    In my research I do for my role at the IET I remember reading an article a few years ago on how Facebook's newsfeed algorithm could reinforce strong (and sometimes dangerous) opinions by only showing users news stories and content etc that matches their currently held opinions. Therefore a user was not being subjected to a differing point of view and in turn reinforcing their opinion that their view is the right one i.e. surrounding yourself with people and content from people of the same views.  This was a number of years ago now though and thankfully I believe that Facebook took steps to combat that.


    There's also an interesting piece about 'Sock puppetry' in online conversations used as a way of making people believe that a view or opinion has more support than it really does. Again I've seen this quite a lot online, especially on Facebook and Twitter... 


    It's a fascinating subject... ?


Children
No Data

Join us to get the best from IET EngX.

Joining EngX lets you personalise your experience so you stay up to date on the topics that interest you, plus you’ll be able to make connections who are looking to collaborate, exchange ideas and more.

Join us Not now

Community Rules & Guidelines