Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
These 45 Pics Were Supposed To Be Wholesome, But Actually Show How Messed Up Our Society Is (New Pics)
When you think about a dystopia, there are a few things that come to mind. A desolate landscape, an oppressive government with cruel laws, and a society with sanity splitting at the seams. It’s what you imagine when you think about “The Handmaid’s Tale” or “The Hunger Games.”
However, dystopia might be closer to reality than one can imagine. Nowadays, environmental disasters and political unrest are our everyday dinner table topics. Add to that constant surveillance, biased media, and the lifestyles of the ultra-rich and you’ll find yourself living in an Orwellian nightmare.
Facebook group “Dystopian late-stage capitalism horrors repackaged as heartwarming stories” is dedicated to those moments when you really notice the absurdity of the world around you. The list below is the collection of their most recent sobering hits. Scroll down to join us in wallowing in misery.
This post may include affiliate links.
There are many countries out there that can be used as examples of real-life dystopias. Russia with its totalitarianism and the stronghold on the media, China and its personality cult, North Korea and its human rights violations—all of those are correct.
But thinking that the western world is somehow very far removed from those realities is hypocritical. We’re all slowly inching ourselves towards a reality that Cormac McCarthy would have a blast writing about.
RELATED:
Take, for example, mass surveillance. Don’t tell me you’ve never had that moment where you talked about wanting to get something and then, completely unexpectantly, got an ad for it on your browser. It was creepy at first, but not it’s just a thing that happens.
Everyone that has a phone and internet is monitored both by the government that makes sure you’re in line and corporations that want to sell you a better deal. They track your location, note how long you stay for in which places, keep tabs on your communications and, often, have access to your camera and microphone. If that doesn’t sound dystopian, I’m not sure what does.
#4
#6
Then, let’s not forget about how partisan and politicized the media is. These days it is so tough to find a news outlet that’s neutral when reporting on what’s happening around the globe. To the point that media bias is not at all a surprise, and we even have independent studies and charts about which way which news outlet is leaning.
#8
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
American "healthcare". Unless you live here, you have no idea how bad it is. This man is literally a slave to the US government to keep his kid alive. Why do we allow the insurance industry to do this?
Do we even need to mention the environmental disasters? Floods in California, droughts in the Midwest, islands on fire—and that’s just the US. There were heatwaves all over with record-breaking temperatures and floods in Sudan, Libya, Ghana, and way more. One just has to remember how New York looked during Canada’s wildfires earlier this year and you’ll know you we are living example of dystopia.
#10
#11
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
I have a hookup for eggs. It's laying season and her hens are laying about four dozen a week. Yeah 1650s feeling.
There’s hope though. We don’t check all the dystopian boxes just yet, at least not everywhere. One of the criteria seems to be uniformity and conforming to same expectations. And so far, we are doing alright there.
#13
#15
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Had to be the USA. The only western nation where if you want health care, you pay for it yourself.
Many of us have rights to protest and do exercise it. Sometimes there are hiccups here and there, but people seem to be aware enough to notice the issues. On top of that, people can doubt things and voice their opinions about it. Sometimes, they even garner following for it.
#16
David A Paterson 1 year ago (edited)
The people who abuse staff are known as "bosses", sometimes "colleagues" but mostly "bosses".
#18
Alex Davis 1 year ago
All these stories of disabled people going without basic equipment are making me so angry and sad. I'm deaf and even though the top of the range Bluetooth hearing aid I got given at no cost (yes it's paid through my taxes but I mean out of pocket) to me hardly does anything for my level of deafness, I was given it regardless. Same for my wheelchair (though that does a lot as I can't even stand so without that, I'd be stuck in bed for life) it's the type that I require and made to my needs. I like visiting the USA but as a disabled person, I often thank my lucky stars I was never born there!
All in all, we’re not quite full-on dystopian just yet. We can get there very fast if we want to, though, so it’s important to note the sate we’re in even if it’s through internet lists like this one. As a wise man once said, check yourself, before you wreck yourself. And we all know that the last thing we need in this world is more wreckage.
#19
Donna Peluda 1 year ago
Jesus Christ, what is wrong with our world. People working and not being able to afford to rent a place, something is going to break, sorry HAS TO BREAK!!!
#22
Adam Chang 1 year ago
Home: $200/month, Retirmenthome: $2000 / month. Dinner: $20/ person. Wedding-dinner: $40
#26
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Well, Whiteclaw looks like a soda. It calls itself a soda. Legitimate lawsuit territory here. The Alcopops need to make their packaging look like booze. Sorry, but accidents like this are bound to happen eventually.
#27
#28
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
HOW? That makes no sense. I'm old so 4.00 was the highest and 1600 was highest in my time. I scored pretty close to both and had a ticket to any college I wanted. Have things really changed that much?
#30
Nils Skirnir 1 year ago
Some US school districts prohibit outside help in paying of lunch debt. Preferring to punish the poor
#31
Ray Ceeya (RayCeeYa) 1 year ago
Ummmm, go to hell. Ran into this type before. Found out the best solution is to stop drinking coffee, and stop caring. You get what you get out of me. Sure I could do more, but if you have that attitude, you are not getting it.
#33
#35
Zedrapazia 1 year ago
If you don't have a real window, this placebo effect might actually be good for the mental health
#36
Breadcrumb. 1 year ago
Materials are a dime a dozen now. It's the houseing and food that costs so darn much.
#37
To make a heartwarming sandwich... For twice the price and 10 times more plastic waste
#41
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
Good news: Some team is helping the homeless. Bad news: They have to do this.
#43
Stardust she/her 1 year ago
I am writing a report on global warming and all its effects. F**k this article
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Ryan 1 year ago
"Every heartwarming human interest story in America is like, "he raised $20k to keep 200 orphans from being crushed in the orphan-crushing machine" and then never asks why an orphan-crushing machine exists or why you'd need to pay to prevent it from being used." - pookleblinky
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
Close to the comment I intended to make. Far too many "feel-good" stories have a rotten core.
Load More Replies...
hyperfixationACTIVATED 1 year ago
I love how people dread the apocolaypse or a global disaster. I'm like, we're experiencing it rn
Scarlett 1 year ago
I think I’m moving out of this god-forsaken country as soon as I can. Canadian pandas, is it better up there?
Tiny Dancer 1 year ago
Yes, I believe it is, come on up! Bring your boots, it can be a little chilly in the winter, but otherwise we got all the free healthcare and cannabis shops ya need to get ya through.
Load More Replies... Ryan 1 year ago
"Every heartwarming human interest story in America is like, "he raised $20k to keep 200 orphans from being crushed in the orphan-crushing machine" and then never asks why an orphan-crushing machine exists or why you'd need to pay to prevent it from being used." - pookleblinky
Freya the Wanderer 1 year ago
Close to the comment I intended to make. Far too many "feel-good" stories have a rotten core.
Load More Replies... hyperfixationACTIVATED 1 year ago
I love how people dread the apocolaypse or a global disaster. I'm like, we're experiencing it rn
Scarlett 1 year ago
I think I’m moving out of this god-forsaken country as soon as I can. Canadian pandas, is it better up there?
Tiny Dancer 1 year ago
Yes, I believe it is, come on up! Bring your boots, it can be a little chilly in the winter, but otherwise we got all the free healthcare and cannabis shops ya need to get ya through.
Load More Replies... You May Like “Capitalism Final Stage”: Guy Goes Viral Exposing Dystopic Retail Games Happening In Real Time Boss Doesn’t Appreciate Man’s Input And Asks Him Not To Give It Again, It Backfires And Costs $10K Ironic And Sad Posts From People Who Are Done With Consumerism (New Pics)
Mantas Kačerauskas
Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Greta Jaruševičiūtė
Related on Bored Panda
