So I read A Brave New World a couple days ago, and it was a really excellent book, and made me rethink things a little bit (which is basically what made it excellent, because honestly it isn't that well written). If you haven't read it, you need to. It really opens your eyes.

One thing I noticed since I read it is what I like to call "A Brave New World Syndrome", where people believe the purpose in life is to be happy/content, or whenever something bad happens, they drink the pain away (Soma tablets.... ). I've been noticing people saying this more and more around the forums, and it's scaring me... They've probably always said it, but as I said, reading that book really opened my eyes.

Discuss;
Have you ever read A Brave New World? Have you noticed its Syndrome in the people around you? Do you believe the world could end up like that (without the baby manufacturing...)? Does it scare you? Do you have it's syndrome? Would living in a Brave New World really be so bad? etc. etc.



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Nice thread. I haven't really thought about it before, but now that you mention it.....I do notice alot of people thinking that happiness is their life purpose, and getting their is as easy as a drink/smoke away. Now I'm not going to judge anyone or say it's not the "correct" way to live, but I can't see it as a healthy way. I'm a believer that happiness is found when were at our lowest. Life is suffering, but by living through it we can find our own inner happiness.

A Brave New World is amazing, but Orwell's 1984 is a true representation of dystopia and possibly our future, if we continue down the path of globalization and international free trade agreements. The government is more likely to batter us around and force us into coercion then drug us.

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It may be a bit off topic, but I've just borrowed this book from library And I came back home and saw a new topic about it What a coincidence. I'll read it and write what I think about it.

Indeed a nice thread. I just read BNW this summer myself. I see the symptoms around me daily: kids on WoW 24/7, adults ODing on their presecription meds, and people complaining about the government but just complying with it anyways. Even just the way things are now scare me. I don't have the syndrome myself, more like I avoid it at all costs. I don't take any meds (if I was stabbed and on the brink of death that's a whole other story). Don't smoke, nor drink. Don't even eat the foods that have been packed full of drugs (whatever comes packaged at a commercial grocery store). Why would anyone want to harm themselves in such a stupid way for temporary relief? Just watch a funny movie or something to lighten yourself up or something, drugs and mindless sex aren't the only ways to relieve stress. Then make sure to deal with your personal responsibilities before things go out of hand. Most importantly, think for yourself. There's a reason people are paid to tell you what stocks to buy. People gotta learn to use those brains of theirs. Make your own educated decisions, don't go off of what the standard is or what someone tells you 'cause they're paid to.

Be happy while thinking for yourself.

Ohh yeah, I was laughing as I read it because I could relate so much to real life around me.

And I laughed because there were ideas that I had argued in favour of on numerous occasion with real people, that were displayed in a grotesque manner and made me wonder, made me question the book and question myself. But I quickly reminded myself that this was a work of fiction, not a factual book of authority and that it was ok to question things. Question everything.

It's a fun read!

Regarding Brave New World vs. 1984: click for picture

I've never read the book, so I'm not really sure what you're talking about. I think every person wants to be happy/content and will do what they can to try and make it happen, even if it's something ridiculous. It's human nature. It's not something strange or new, people have always done it, even though more things are open to us now. Nothing will change it either, not unless we stop being humans altogether.

And I haven't seen anyone say it yet, so I'll just say it now: leave things like anti-depressants and deciding what happiness or life is for other people out of it. There's a difference between simply being unhappy about something, and having serious issues. There are also some things people cannot overcome because of their own personal disposition, and no one has any right to decide for all of humanity what life or happiness is.

Whoa I'm supposed to read this book for my English class...well I was supposed to have read it by now but still too lazy to read it. From reading the posts about this book, I might as well go read it now

No offense, but if you didn't read the book, you wouldn't understand, which is why I thought most of of what you just said as very elementary. What Huxley was trying to imply was the possibility that the happiness, the "human nature" you just explained, would ruin us. The idea that we strive so much for that happiness, something that supposedly makes us "human", that everything else will become blind to us and our lives will end up being trivial, losing that very part that makes us "human".

Tell me, if you have the opportunity to be happy forever, would you do it? If you answered 'yes', Huxley would show you why the answer will be 'no'. The thread-starter pointed out anti-depressants,alcohol, and drugs because it is basically the same form of artificial happiness that is parallel to "soma" in "Brave New World". Again, you would understand better if you read the book, along with Orwell's '1984' as a pair, which I severely recommend. Based upon your simplicity on the matter, it would probably open many questions after you finish reading it.

Although I think most people past their high school year have read this, since a lot, if not most, high school curriculum require you to read this book("Brave New World") as well as "1984", usually in your senior year. As to anyone else who comments, I wouldn't bother unless you have actually read the books. Once again, no offense to you all, just pointing out the obvious.

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I haven't read the book, but I did discuss it in my senior year Language class. We read and discussed an Amusing Ourselves to Death excerpt that was made into a comic posted in havoccc's link.

As for my opinions....
Yes, society is turning into what Huxley predicted. It's very manifest with the current mindset that "life shouldn't be hard" or "the only thing I want is to be happy". Why else are we trying to create new inventions that would make normal activities less of a hassle for us? Or bigger and better entertainment venues? Because we don't want life to be as "hard" anymore; we should spend our time enjoying ourselves. While this is something positive, there's such a thing as "too much enjoyment". Too much of anything is death, even happiness.

We need struggle. It's like being a child. Without struggle and experience, we're always going to remain one. Life needs both ups and down to mature, and I'm sure people know that but still unconsciously try to prevent pain. Hell, I even do it and I'm spout out rants like these.

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Yeah, 1984 is pretty amazing so far; I'm right around half way through. Maybe after I'm done with it I'll made a thread comparing tyranny using contentment vs. using with fear/pain.

Ghaz - 1984 being the more likely future? I don't think so. Tyranny using force is chancy at best; there will always be discontent, and when there is discontent, there is revolution. No tyranny is perfect, and if the people want to overrule the tyrant, there will be a way, even if it takes hundreds and hundreds of years for people to build up the courage. Look at history. Tyranny using force never works, even if it lasts for awhile.

Daisukidesuyo - Yeah, we need to struggle. I went through a very dark time when I was 8-14, and it was horrible when I was going through it. But now, afterwords, looking back on it, I'm glad I did go through it. If I hadn't, I would no doubt would be a very different then I am today. I would most likely be just another stereotypical high school girl who relies on others for self-confidence. However, my struggles, and the knowledge that I survived them, has given me self-confidence, something I didn't have before them.



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Look at the US in the last 10 years, stuff like the Patriot Act, actually allowing the government to basically know and see all. War on Terrorism, a seemingly perpetual war with no real enemy (2 fucking countries have been invaded over it lol!). The only face we need know how to hate is Osama (Goldstien), a man that seemingly no longer exists...yet we'd all still be able to pick him out of a line-up. The parallels between our world and 1984's are immense.....but then again so are the similarities between BNW and our society.

So now that I really rationalize it, it's more of a combination of both worlds. They keep us fat, contented and constantly stimulated, and we forget about what's really important like human rights and personal freedom. Then they introduce fear into our lives in the form or disaster and war, and like children we hide behind our big brother and let them do what they think is in our best interests.

Last edited by Ghaz at 3:33 am, Aug 11 2010

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Hrmmm... that's true, Ghaz. Thinking about it, it is a combination of both; our society takes the best, most stable parts of both and uses them while discarding the parts that may stir up discontent.

You know, I didn't even think about the war on terrorism, but you're so right... it really is quite similar to 1984. The worst part is, you know, I don't even know anything about it (just like the characters in 1984). I have a vague feeling that they're bad, the "enemy", but beyond that, I don't know anything about it. *Shudders* That's really scary as well.

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Did you read Brave New World or Brave New World Revisited? They were once bound in a single text.

Only curious because I heard in Huxley`s essay he states he was unhappy with the ending and wished he had wrote an alternate ending where John lived and took a third choice...

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Discuss:
1. Yes, I've read it.
2. Lol, not really.
3. Not really. IF it happens, I'll be dead most likely.
4. Nope.
5. Haha, hope not.
6. Yes. I didnt like the book hahaha.

Eeyeah I didn't like it... it's just not my cup of tea.

Poor John the Savage's mother... lol.

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She was pathetic, wasn't she? She couldn't even have at least /tried/ to integrate with the savages. That darn baby hypnotism.