NationStates Jolt Archive

You know, scanning through the myriad threads, I often detect a note of scorn whenever the term Utopia is brought up. Yes, I know, considering man's basic nature, that Utopia is an unreachable goal.

But that does not mean that we cannot strive for it.

My belief is that the only way this is achievacle is is to turn man's greed in upon itself. To make the masses aware that their self-interest lies with being basically decent.

One way, of course, is Religion. It's the classic carrot-and-stick. Behave, and you'll go to paradise. Misbehave, and be prepared for an eternity of gut-wrenching, burning, degrading, never-ending pain and torment. It has the disadvantage breeding a bit too much conformity though. It also, in these times, seems to be ignoring the sin of greed a little too much for my taste. I'm sure other's perspective differs, and I respect that. I plead that you ponder it for a moment though.

Today's religion in America, more than religion itself, seems to be the media. Our heroes are made out of the images we see. Our fashions follow too. Needless to say, our economy is runs through the media, and the media molds our goals and passions more than most of us like to admit.

So, all this rambling buildup is merely for a stupid T.V. show idea I have. I call it "The Philanthropist."

Maybe someone has had this idea before.

You take 12 C.E.O. types. You give them each a chunk of money provided by the budget of the show/advertisers/sponsors. They can invest that money in any way they like that's legal. The lowest earner is eliminated. All money is donated to charity.

CEO's get face time. Money, handled by the nation's experts, gets distributed to those in need. Greed turned to good use is glamorized. Everyone wins.

1st step toward Utopia.

(rubs hands together evilly.)

copywrite, 9/22/2005.

me.

Well, to answer the question posed by the subject line, I would have to say the letter N. :)

Well, to answer the question posed by the subject line, I would have to say the letter N. :)
Aww man... I was just going to write that. :)

Aww man... I was just going to write that. :)

I RULE J0000000!!!

Well, to answer the question posed by the subject line, I would have to say the letter N. :)

Curses!

Once again, perfection is unobtainable.

It might be that an "untopia" doesn't exist. A "utopia", on the other hand...

It might be that an "untopia" doesn't exist. A "utopia", on the other hand...

:D anyone else?

It might be that an "untopia" doesn't exist. A "utopia", on the other hand...
You do raise an interesting point.

But unfortunately it's completely off-topic :p

You do raise an interesting point.

But unfortunately it's completely off-topic :p

Apparently, the topic is the letter "n". I seriously did not intend this to be an episode of Sesame Street. :D

At the risk of being accused of a thread hijack, can I just say that I like the idea of the TV programme?

I'd say that an untopia would be a wonderful idea. We just blow up all the land and all the people and then, I don't know, our ghosts live happily or something. I haven't really thought this through to past the part where we destroy everything, but somehow I think that there wouldn't be so many problems with indesicion at that point.

Utopia, on the other hand, is a pretty stupid plan for a variety of reasons. The first one is that my Utopia is very different from yours. In my Utopia there is no government because everyone is an Objectivist, and we all have free trade and I am allowed to go to morgues and . . .
I think I'll leave the story of my Utopia at this point, in the interests of maintaining a family environment.
Now compare that to Walden 2 (Damn, that book creeped me out) or the last Space Odessey book (Damn, that book annoyed me) or the Star Trek Human government. Little to no similarities, and yet each fantasy that I mentioned was viewed by its creator as the perfect world. One man's utopia is another man's hell.
Alternately, the simpler problem with Utopias is the pessimistic aspect that it will be impossible to implement and even if you pull it off it will still smell funny.

Obviously it was a typo...sheesh. I woulda thought the humor was all used up by the 2nd or 3rd post...and it pretty much was. :D

Heh. Well folks, does anyone else have any ideas on how to turn man's greed and self-interest against itself for the greater good?

Heh. Well folks, does anyone else have any ideas on how to turn man's greed and self-interest against itself for the greater good?Better education.
Teach people that TANSTAAFL applies to everybody and everything.

Better education.
Teach people that TANSTAAFL applies to everybody and everything.

I think people do think TANSTAAFL applies universally...that's why they have a hard time sharing.

But back to education...how can we make it more evident to children and adults that education is in their self-interest.

This is an idea. Animals and early man learn many of their skills by playing. American culture especially frowns on the idea that play can be productive (uber-highly paid sports figures aside.) The mantra is constant. Work isn't supposed to be fun. School isn't supposed to be fun. Life isn't fair.

B.S.! Making something more fun, I think, increases it's educational possibilities. A more interesting job increases productivity.

The military often uses the equivalent of computer games (really, how much difference is there between a computerized military simulation and a military-based computer game?) We, as a culture, have barely scratched the surface of interactive computerized educational tools. I think this is a failing of our puritanically based culture. We know how to enjoy ourselves, but we have no clue how to enjoy ourselves productively. We fell guilt for having fun way too often.

I'd rather not live in a utopia. Seriously. The commune can buzz off.

I'd rather not live in a utopia. Seriously. The commune can buzz off.

Does a Utopia automatically assume a commune?

Does a Utopia automatically assume a commune?

Pretty much since most utopians end up being lefties. I guess you could argue that there are some conservative and libertarian utopias, but I'd be content (as a libertarian) with things the way they are, but a little less paranoid about sex and drugs and more free speech!

Dude , we're already LIVING in an Untopia. Its kind of like an Anti-Utopia, but real.

Dude , we're already LIVING in an Untopia. Its kind of like an Anti-Utopia, but real.

A dystopia? Wait, no that's a utopia for people who want dysentary, right?

A dystopia? Wait, no that's a utopia for people who want dysentary, right?

Yeah. And a Distopia is Utopia for people who love Disco music!

What's wrong with an Untopia?
Don't - drink - the - water.

See the two posts above!