[Zewb]

Has anyone here read 1984 by George Orwell? Basically, it was written in 1949, so it's set in a dank, Dystopian world where virtually all personal thought is a serious threat to one's existence. Everyone lives in poverty, and although it seems there are no social classes, there actually are;

The Inner Party enjoys better food and quarters, and make all the important decisions.
The Outer Party subsist on stale bread, industrial-grade gin, and synthetic food, and do the more mundane and repetitive political work.
The Proletariats are not given any food, but have the freedom to go to stores and such.

Everyone is required to have a special "Telescreen" in their homes, and places of work, which serves as both a television, and a spy camera. The only authority is an idol simply known as "Big Brother." His face is displayed everywhere, right above the statement, "Big Brother is watching you."

Also, there is a force known as the Thought Police. When someone appears to be a potential threat, they are captured by the Thought Police and are never heard from again. All records of their existence are erased, and they are literally "uncreated."

Information is filtered and changed constantly for the public eye, so truth and lies become inexistent. The English language is constantly being distorted into a bland, non-descriptive language called Newspeak. For examply, a word like "splendid," according to the Newspeak dictionary, is useless, when "plusgood" will suffice.

The world is composed of 3 countries, "Eurasia, Oceania, and Eastasia." constantly at a war of attrition. This war keeps everyone in a state of poverty, and keeps their ignorant minds focuses on the enemy's cruelty, and not their own government's.

Anyway, it's a great book. Read it.

[Gobbler]

Dude, 1984's a classic, so why don't you try and tell us something we don't already know? And besides, don't you think that this is the wrong forum to post this topic in?

[Otal Nimrodi]

*Points way to book club*

[Tek]

It IS a good book, but THIS is in the wrong section.

[Cobnat]

Read it back in 7th grade, thought it was crap, then again I always liked non-fiction politics better...

Which points me to my next point, who has read the book "The Cold War, A Cold World" its a book about the horrors of no-nuke warfare, and how so much money that could be put into schools, hospitals, police, to better mankind are invested into weapons that no one will ever use.

It was a while back since I read it so I cant remember the author.

[Otal Nimrodi]

There isn't anything in that quote.

[Dr Lecter]

I didn't want to say anything...

[Cobnat]

There isn't anything in that quote.

I didn't want to say anything...

Fine, I was quoting...

Has anyone here read 1984 by George Orwell? Basically, it was written in 1949, so it's set in a dank, Dystopian world where virtually all personal thought is a serious threat to one's existence. Everyone lives in poverty, and although it seems there are no social classes, there actually are;

The Inner Party enjoys better food and quarters, and make all the important decisions.
The Outer Party subsist on stale bread, industrial-grade gin, and synthetic food, and do the more mundane and repetitive political work.
The Proletariats are not given any food, but have the freedom to go to stores and such.

Everyone is required to have a special "Telescreen" in their homes, and places of work, which serves as both a television, and a spy camera. The only authority is an idol simply known as "Big Brother." His face is displayed everywhere, right above the statement, "Big Brother is watching you."

Also, there is a force known as the Thought Police. When someone appears to be a potential threat, they are captured by the Thought Police and are never heard from again. All records of their existence are erased, and they are literally "uncreated."

Information is filtered and changed constantly for the public eye, so truth and lies become inexistent. The English language is constantly being distorted into a bland, non-descriptive language called Newspeak. For examply, a word like "splendid," according to the Newspeak dictionary, is useless, when "plusgood" will suffice.

The world is composed of 3 countries, "Eurasia, Oceania, and Eastasia." constantly at a war of attrition. This war keeps everyone in a state of poverty, and keeps their ignorant minds focuses on the enemy's cruelty, and not their own government's.

Anyway, it's a great book. Read it.

I just thought no one would like it if I put all that in.

[Gobbler]

True. I hate you for doing that.

[Cobnat]

True. I hate you for doing that.

[J m HofMarN]

You guys shouldn't be terribly pissed that someone is suggesting a book that seems obvious to us. I'd venture that most American high school graduates have never read any Orwell, perhaps they just saw the movie of Animal farm as the apes in my class did. I've read both, and I disagree about nonfiction being more relevant though.

If you read 1984 you'll see how similiar the tactics in it are to modern political dogma. Doublespeak, the two minutes hate, the idea that Eurasia has always been at war with east asia, and the demonization of Goldstein, it's all very similiar to things going on today.

[Zewb]

My mistake, guys. Can someone move this to the correct forum?

[Walexei]

Hoffmarn, id also venture that most American high school students couldnt point out London on an atlas if 3 other people were already pointing at it.

1984 Is an amazing book, I personally am a huge fan of Dystopian fiction, particularily when it is set in the UK. Who else is looking forward to seeing V for vendetta? It comes out in Australia today so ill be there.