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Do you ever stop to think that we live in a world filled with paradoxes?
We go through our everyday lives without questioning the status quo and, for the most part, accept it as normal.
But what if this “normalcy” isn’t actually reality?
What if there are elements of our daily lives that appear harmless when taken at face value but can be interpreted in a darker light when examined more closely?
In this article, we will look at some seemingly mundane activities and consider their dystopian implications.
When viewed this way, it’s enough to make you wonder whether or not life as we know it is genuinely ideal.
#1. Stories About People Working Extremely Hard to Scrape By
You don’t have to look too hard to find stories about people having to do the most to be able to afford basic things, whether it’s rent or medical care.
These stories are often tagged as inspirational, motivational, or even heartwarming, telling tales of people who have had to go the extra mile for whatever reason.
The reality?
Sadly, people must work hard to survive in a system that does not provide them with the most basic needs.
#2. The Concept of Ownership Disappearing
If you’re someone who feels as though they’re a little behind in life, you’ve likely heard your parents or your grandparents talk about how they were able to buy a house, a car, and a host of other essentials at your age while supporting themselves and others.
Of course, this isn’t their America.
Corporate greed, inflation, stagnant wages, and beyond define modern life.
However, there’s another disturbingly growing trend that’s becoming commonplace today: a lack of ownership.
Everything is a subscription, from housing (which is highly unaffordable, causing prospective homeowners to give up and stick to renting or those already renting remain trapped) to TV (Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, etc.).
You have to have a subscription to use things in your car.
You have to have a subscription to use your fitness tracker.
You can’t go anywhere without needing a subscription.
It’s normalized, but plenty of people aren’t happy with it.
#3. Having to See Ads Everywhere
Advertisements are inserted in every possible place our eyes might wander.
At first, we might have seen them only in magazines or on television.
But now they’ve made their way onto TV loading screens (for those with a smart TV), onto our phones, everywhere in the sky, buildings, and even in the sea.
Quite frankly, we shouldn’t be bombarded with ads everywhere we go.
However, it’s become so ingrained in our culture and commonplace that many of us throw our hands up and deal with it.
#4. People Using Platform or Advertiser-Friendly Language
Have you ever heard people use quirky language to say another word, such as “unalive” for “dead”?
If so, it’s not just a new type of generational speak.
Many people engage with a wide range of social media and entertainment platforms, many of which will outright ban certain words and shadowban users and creators who use those words in any capacity.
As a result, this censorship has introduced new words (or new ways of saying specific words) into our vocabulary.
Online censorship of specific words doesn’t stop the use of those words.
It just makes those saying them more crafty about getting their message across.
#5. The Amount of Trash We Produce Regularly
America is not a country known for being a low-waste country.
But how often do you think about the waste that we collectively produce?
Probably not much.
Consumerism is what our country revolves around, and it’s something that we’ve been programmed to do to such a degree that we don’t know or don’t care about the enormous amount of trash we create through all the products we consume.
We also might not think or care about where that trash goes once it’s picked up.
#6. Healthcare Being Connected to Employment
It’s not uncommon to hear Americans talking about healthcare being a right.
Some might prefer the benefits of privatized healthcare, but even those individuals will likely agree that healthcare these days is too darn expensive.
Of course, this is a feature, not a bug.
Healthcare is often tied to employment, meaning people need to find and stick to those jobs to have coverage to support their healthcare needs.
It’s become so widespread that it’s something people understand about our system and something very unlikely to change if powerful employers have anything to say about it.
#7. Running Out of Sick Days
Being sick and being able to stay home is a luxury many can’t afford.
For those who can, they generally have a limited number of sick days that they can use before they need to essentially work, regardless of how they’re feeling.
This puts their health at risk as well as the health of their coworkers and customers.
It’s a harsh reality, but it’s one that you’re not going to find too many people fighting against, as they need to work to make money.
#8. Always Being Monitored
It’s important to preface this by saying that people have constantly been monitored, and the bulk of everyone being monitored likely isn’t a major concern or someone who has much to hide.
With that in mind, you might feel a sense of uneasiness and insecurity to know that you’re always being monitored.
From smartphones and smart home products that are always listening to data collection from every website you visit to doorbell cameras and other CCTV equipment, all eyes are on you 24/7.
It’s a reality that has just become more invasive over the years.
#9. Anti-Intellectualism or Pseudo-Intellectualism
Is it wise to be smart?
Not always, according to some people.
The rise of anti-intellectualism has resulted in massive groups of people who don’t want to be educated, as well as pseudo-intellectualists who have been indoctrinated into a particular way of thinking and believe that they’re smarter than others despite lacking key critical thinking skills.
These types of thinkers or non-thinkers, alongside normalizing poor education, don’t bode well for the future.
#10. The Normalization of Debt and Credit Scores
Debt is the norm these days, and it’s often tied to our need for credit cards to improve our credit scores.
People get credit cards to boost their credit scores, end up overspending because they don’t have enough money, plunge into debt, and then stay there.
It’s a vicious cycle that has continued since the advent of credit cards that remains due to economic issues.
It’s become routine, but it’s still quite sad.
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This thread inspired this article.
Jon Dulin is the passionate leader of Unfinished Success, a personal development website that inspires people to take control of their own lives and reach their full potential. His commitment to helping others achieve greatness shines through in everything he does. He’s an unstoppable force with lots of wisdom, creativity, and enthusiasm – all focused on helping others build a better future. Jon enjoys writing articles about productivity, goal setting, self-development, and mindset. He also uses quotes and affirmations to help motivate and inspire himself. You can learn more about him on his About page.