I just started watching Black Mirror (British Sci-Fi Anthology) and I don’t know why. And I don’t know why my imaginary friends didn't tell me about this dark and twisted series before. So maybe I’m a bit late here. To be honest, I’ve been avoiding watching Netflix series because I’d get hooked on the screen again instead of coloring books or playing with Diablo. But these are my demon dayz and I just can’t help it.
This article A sulky Russian model became China's slacker shared on “Hacker News” triggered me to watch Black Mirror. One of the comments made me dig deeper into how the big corps and shows capitalize on people’s emotions (good and bad) and expression of individuality. This Russian guy named Lelush participated in a boy band competition in China and did everything he could to get out of the show (slacking off, not performing, and just looking tired and depressed). He became popular by trying hard not to be popular.
If life is not hellish enough, the Black Mirror episodes are just too depressing. It’s like reading 1984 all over again and it still lingers in my mind. Anyway, it is still one of my favorite books. And still, I’m going to watch Black Mirror or anything dystopian. I’m just drawn to anything diabolic.
Even though the episode is a bit old, it is still oh very timely especially during this pandemic when we have nothing to depend but technology. Basically, 15 Million Merits is about a world where people’s lives consist of riding exercise bikes to gain points. They can use these points to buy basic necessities, novelty items, or even a ticket to join a competition show. I am not going to write spoilers here just in case you haven’t watched this episode yet. The bottom line, there’s no happy or sad ending. Just like the book 1984 and the film “Requiem for a Dream” it is downright hopeless.
Sounds familiar? The world is chaotic right now, unemployment and deaths everywhere and there’s the “weird flu” still going on Gawd knows what. Yet we still ride our exercise bikes to gain some points in hopes of getting better or making it to another level. Or just so we can continuously afford to pay the rent and bills (If you don’t good for you tho). We’re stuck on our own hamster wheels it feels like there’s no end, or where do we all go? And even if we make it to “ the show”, will things get any better or will that existential monster still bug us? We choose our own poison or our no-cage cage somewhere along the way. I just don’t see any contentment.
15 Million credits also remind me of this disturbing article about China. I think they are already doing this credit thing. If you’re caught by Big Brother buying diapers, that’s ++ points for you. If you’re being a bad boy or you say something bad, that’s a big minus. So if you want your children to be accepted to a good university, then you better have 15 Million Merits++, or you must be shitty parents. Is this what our future's gonna look like? Or is this our reality now through “cancel culture”, a number of likes, and social media mob? It makes me want to leave the world right now.
Authenticity has become rare these days. If you’re anxious and isolated, much better. Self-help can capitalize on your depression. If you had a traumatic past then just write a book, sell it and become popular. Share a video of you crying on Tiktok - one way to gain sympathy and 15 million views. If you’re not feeling “good enough” for Instagram, just have botox and plastic surgeries - 15 million likes for validation. If you’re finally getting ahead big time, that’s great. The circumstances might have forced you to lose some morals somewhere along the path (because behind great wealth is a great crime right). If you are just somewhere in between, then you probably have no contentment and still want to replace those at the top. And finally, if you are at the lowest of the low, you just succumb to the hopelessness of it all because what can you do in your power? Nothing. So what do you think I should propose to ease our lives a bit here? Nothing. Just... carry on riding that bike.