What Color Is Your Pill?

In 1999, the Wachowski Brothers released a groundbreaking dystopian sci-fi film called The Matrix. In one iconic scene, Morpheus offered Neo a choice in the form of pills: blue for remaining content in ignorance, or red for accepting the opportunity to learn the truth. Both Wachowskis have since chosen to identify as women, so in hindsight, the choice could certainly be interpreted as one of accepting gender norms or transitioning.

I knew people who were obsessed with that movie. Since it was released in 1999, the blue pill and red pill have been embraced by a wide variety of fringe groups, and The Matrix has been similarly embraced as an allegory for any number of social structures and political systems. Many people believe they knew some deeper Truth. Some have better arguments than others.

More recently, two more colors have been added to the analogy: black and white. The "black pill" seems to have emerged in echo chambers where the "red pill" of incel ideology was compounded with a hopeless and bleak outlook for progress and success. This has also been extended to political analysis where the harsh reality of systemic political corruption is framed without hope for improvement and reform. In contrast, the "white pill" indicates both an awareness of present problems and an optimistic outlook toward possible outcomes.

Unlike the film which spawned this analogy, in which Neo got one opportunity to choose for everything he thought he knew, we live in a complex world requiring introspection, analysis and examination. Do you really know what you think you know? Plato quotes Socrates as saying, "The unexamined life is not worth living." I don't claim to offer you a red, black, or white pill. I do invite you to examine your assumptions, prejudices, and beliefs. How do you know the difference between what you know and what you merely believe? What have you just accepted like the blue pill, what are you willing to examine, and what leads you to conclusions of despair or optimism?

Unfortunately, this involves a lot more thought and civil discourse, and a lot fewer slow-motion machine gun battles while sporting shades and leather attire. Sorry.

So, how do I see things? It's hard to be aware of topics where I remain "blue-pilled." That's the insidious nature of growing up in a world where certain norms and assumptions are inculcated almost from birth. It's also perhaps where the analogy works best. "Taking the red pill" only requires being willing to question those norms and assumptions, and untangle any cognitive dissonance you encounter along the way. It's a challenge I try to embrace, but it remains an ongoing process. There is no sudden awakening into the real world.

As for the black pill, I see no opportunity for progress through politics. I see only wasted effort and lost opportunity. But this does not frame my entire outlook. I also see almost unimaginable opportunity the moment we step outside the political system. Sure, technology can serve the surveillance state, but it can also be a tool for gray markets, activist cooperation, and global communication. Here on HIVE, I can converse with people around the world. AI is enhancing text translation, voice-to-text, and text-to-speech to eliminate language barriers. We can undermine illegitimate authority, uncover the truth behind government lies, and engage in real free trade. It's not perfect, but the white pill doesn't promise perfection, just progress.

While I am pessimistic about many things, and face many struggles in my day-to-day life, I am far from giving up hope. I'm no naïve Pollyanna, but neither do I aspire to being an Eeyore. I don't think we can build a Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, but we can choose actions based on mutual consent and respect for others every day. We can find joy without ignoring pain. We must build a better tomorrow for ourselves and other in spite of the threats we face. And it is worth the trouble.

I intend to post daily through May for the Hive Power Up Month Challenge. I could chase the very welcome support I have received for my recent food posts, but I also want to tackle serious topics alongside more frivolous ones. I could review a few beers, make some more jewelry with odds and ends, return to tabletop game content, try out some more camping gear in preparation for summer, explore some musical memories from my youth, and so forth. I can also try to tackle some deeper subjects with my own off-kilter and iconoclastic perspective, too. What do you want to read?