[nozzlegear]

Just pointing out that while you apparently feel you're living in a dystopia, I don't feel the same. Things aren't perfect but they're definitely not dystopian from my point of view. And come on, who doesn't enjoy being snarky now and then?

[talldayo]

It could be that you actually do live in dystopia, and lack the willpower or observational acumen to acknowledge it.

[nozzlegear]

And it could be that you don’t live in dystopia, but lack the willpower or observational acumen to acknowledge it. Perhaps instead of slinging weak insults and complaining about dystopian life, you should go do something about it?

[talldayo]

Neither of us know anything about how the other lives. It's entirely plausible that either of us could be in total denial of our surroundings (which is a recurring personality in the VC/entrepreneurial sphere).

[nozzlegear]

Then I have to question why you wrote the message you did in the first place, because it’s hard not to take it as an insult from a random passerby.

[beretguy]

I mean, global warming, war in Europe, russia/NK/China/Iran attacking democracies, financial equality, unaffordable housing across the globe and everything keeps getting worse and not better but we just keep on buying new iPhones every year - not realizing that we live in dystopian world is delusional. I have plenty of hobbies, volunteering for 2 nonprofits in 2 different cities and enjoying life, but I do realize that I’m very much privileged even though I live from paycheck to paycheck.

[nozzlegear]

I just don’t agree.

Global warming sucks, but I’ve become personally invested in doing my little part to fight it and to push for green alternatives in my town, among my friends and family, etc. I could choose to despair about how humans as a whole may never take enough action, or should’ve taken more action 40 years ago, but dooming doesn’t help anyone. Instead I’m excited about all of the new ideas, ingenuity and technology developed to fight global warming and climate change every day.

War has always been a constant throughout human history, today is no different. I don’t think it’s very dystopian. I’m glad I’m on the side that stands for liberty and democracy, and I wish we could do more for Ukraine right now. That said, I rate the risk of WWIII pretty low, and the same for nuclear war — especially after Iran’s attack on Israel led to nothing.

I don’t have much to say about financial inequality, but unaffordable housing is probably the most dystopian thing you’ve listed. I’m from a small town where it isn’t too bad of a problem (houses are around 300k [1] for reference) so I don’t have much experience with this. I can see how this could make a lot of young people despair.

So all that to say: I’m not delusional — and I’d appreciate it if you don’t call me so. I’m aware of the problems that we all face, I just don’t think they’re so insurmountable as to say we’re living in a dystopia. I have a lot of hope for the human race.

[1] Around 300k usd for 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2k sq ft and 0.4 acres of property, after a quick search for a nice house on a realtor’s website here in town.