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2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: How to spot a threat to Democracy: Bernie Sanders and Philip K. Dick on radicalism and revolt [View all]Babel_17
(5,400 posts)32. Ask me again after Mercerism/Dudeism becomes a thing. :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_Androids_Dream_of_Electric_Sheep%3F#Overview
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism
Instead of climbing a hill with Mercer, and getting hit with rocks, I think people will plug in to hang out with The Dude, and throw bowling balls. Though maybe if you like, you can climb the hill with The Dude, while he shares your suffering.
I can see people paying to have that kind of experience. Lol, it would make a good SF story. The actor Jeff Bridges having his personality digitally hijacked while he's in a coma, and his brother Beau starting up a new religion capitalizing on it.
The main Earth religion is Mercerism, in which Empathy Boxes link simultaneous users into a collective consciousness based on the suffering of Wilbur Mercer. In the shared experience of the Empathy Box, Wilbur Mercer takes an endless walk up a mountain while stones are thrown at him, the pain of which all users share. The television appearances of Buster Friendly and his Friendly Friends, broadcast twenty-three hours a day, represent a second religion, designed to undermine Mercerism. Mercerism is ambiguously portrayed in the novel.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudeism
Dudeism is a philosophy and lifestyle inspired by "The Dude", the protagonist of the Coen Brothers' 1998 film The Big Lebowski. Dudeism's stated primary objective is to promote a modern form of Chinese Taoism, outlined in Tao Te Ching by Laozi (6th century BC), blended with concepts by the Ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus (341-270 BC), and presented in a style as personified by the character of Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, a fictional character portrayed by Jeff Bridges in the film.[1] Dudeism has sometimes been regarded as a mock religion,[2][3] though its founder and many adherents regard it seriously.[4][5][6][7] March 6 is the annual sacred high holy day of Dudeism: The Day of the Dude.
Instead of climbing a hill with Mercer, and getting hit with rocks, I think people will plug in to hang out with The Dude, and throw bowling balls. Though maybe if you like, you can climb the hill with The Dude, while he shares your suffering.
I can see people paying to have that kind of experience. Lol, it would make a good SF story. The actor Jeff Bridges having his personality digitally hijacked while he's in a coma, and his brother Beau starting up a new religion capitalizing on it.
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How to spot a threat to Democracy: Bernie Sanders and Philip K. Dick on radicalism and revolt [View all]
nashville_brook
Nov 2015
OP
heh heh -- you're being too kind -- i told that James Madison Institute jackass that
nashville_brook
Nov 2015
#15
I can tell by the vitriol from people not supporting Sanders how scared they really
Fawke Em
Nov 2015
#2
yep, it's beyond just him being a primary threat - he threatens the status quo
nashville_brook
Nov 2015
#4
Add to that the hyper-partisanship used to distract us and get us pointing the finger at
Dustlawyer
Nov 2015
#5
we must stop replacing the interests of people with the interests of money
nashville_brook
Nov 2015
#27
"He’s signaling that the social contract has been broken, and it’s our responsibility to fix it."
Luminous Animal
Nov 2015
#6
people might not know if you have Prime Amazon, Man in the High Castle is Free streaming
nashville_brook
Nov 2015
#22
i'm simply fascinating by him. i love scifi, and especially love his take on it...
nashville_brook
Nov 2015
#52
Me too. P K Dick showed incredible foresight as he unraveled his deep neurotic tales.
sorechasm
Nov 2015
#53