1984 and reality TV

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Just read George Orwell's 1984 for the first time as research for a new book. There were some unsettling parallels with the novel and our present times.

1) The dictatorship in 1984 relied on a state of perpetual war to galvanise and motivate the population. Bush's declaration that the vague shadowy 'War on Terror' may last hundreds of years seems to prepare us for a state of continual (though sometimes non-existent) war.

2) The constant surveillance society of 1984 is coming to us. Since 911 more than a million cctv cameras have been placed in London alone. Our mobile phones, our credit card transactions, our internet access all give away our locations and activities.

3) The destruction of the English language in 1984 (called NewSpeak) can be seen in the falling standards of education. The dictatorship's reasoning was that if you limit the number and type of words available for thought, you can control the thoughts or at least limit the thoughts of the population, because they have no words to express unauthorised thoughts.

4) The papers for the plebs in 1984 were filled with sex and sport. Hmm.

5) In 1984, even a person's mind was not allowed to be private. The dictatorship employed methods to work out the hidden thoughts of the person. They were already watching Winston Smith, before his rebellion moved from subconsciousness to consciousness. Our own governments are working on mind-reading methods and equipment.

6) The regime in 1984 did not rely on individuals, what mattered was that the policies and the grip on power were maintained. People die but doctrines are eternal. In much the same way, in our democracy the various oppossing parties appear to resemble each other more with time. What choice when all parties espouse the same views and occupy the middle ground?

Our world won't mirror closely 1984, because those interested in power will seek to avoid blatant similarities. However, I do think that the present world is equally as invasive, equally as powerful. But the powers that are (and have been) have learned subtlety. They have actually changed the mindset of the public through systems like reality TV.

The greatest fear of most people in society is not that Big Brother is watching us but that Big Brother is NOT watching us.

Slagg Brothers win Comic Relief Competition. Thanks.

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The Slagg Brothers have apparently won Comic Relief's Red Nose Day competition, run in conjunction with Lycos. I say apparently as the sketch is yet to appear on the websites.

The Slaggies have asked me to pass on their thanks to everyone who voted.

The prize is a presentation in London, but knowing their luck, it'll be downgraded to a free bottle of stout at the local Spar.

Please vote Slagg!

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The Slagg Brothers are vying for one of their sketches to be uploaded to the Comic Relief website but they need your votes and they've asked me for help in publicising their cause.

Please visit:
http://comicrelief.lycos.co.uk/gallery.php?pageNumber=1&id=30
http://comicrelief.lycos.co.uk/gallery.php?pageNumber=1&id=26

and give us 5 stars ... pretty please.