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They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

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Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I find funny (only not really) is the wildly different interpretations of this film people have, for many they seem to be primed by other things to see in it what they want. Basically skeptical of common forms in modernity, that is very clearly the intention. However, I have also seen that in extreme far-right communities this film represents how Jewish people control the world... somehow I don't think that is w…

Meanwhile I've personally found myself completely unable to take it seriously due to the subliminal messages being "marry and reproduce" and "consume". Like people need sinister brainwashing to fall in love, have sex, or engage in hedonistic consumption. These are base biological urges that have existed regardless of societal economy for millennia! By casting it as something from a sinister conspiracy it makes the cr…

I thought the billboard was more ironic: lots of people thought we were facing a population bomb at the time and now we're on the other side of the spectrum seeing a population collapse. For me just seeing something that I don't agree with doesn't automatically ruin my enjoyment.

Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#113
post #5

My personal tagline, "I came here to kick ass, build web applications, and chew bubble gum. And I'm all out of gum." came from this movie.

I want to see the outtake lines they didnt use. Roddy Piper had tons of one liners he would use for wrestling.

Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#115

For any one not familiar with this cult classic film from the 1980s, you can view the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeB3vdxF_jM In short, aliens have invaded earth, but wear a special skin to appear human. To average people, they appear and sound identical to real humans. The lead character discovers that special sunglasses can show the aliens without their human-like skin. (They look a bit like the a…

I'd say it's got more than a bit of documentary, considering current progress in terraforming.

This is a great reply. Not exactly a documentary, but I will grant you "mockumentary" similar to Spinal Tap.

Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#116

I wish I could upvote this 10 times! I love the film - blew my mind when I saw it on cable just after it came out.

One of the messages has changed of course. Nowadays it tends to be "stay fearful and do not reproduce".

No it doesn't.

Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#117
post #24
post #15

Oh the irony: "They Live", a movie famously about alienation and dehumanization, and you let AI do all the coding.

What if it wouldn't get done otherwise? (Genuine question as we're all trying to figure this shit out)

Why should anybody be interested in using software nobody was interested in making?

Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I find funny (only not really) is the wildly different interpretations of this film people have, for many they seem to be primed by other things to see in it what they want. Basically skeptical of common forms in modernity, that is very clearly the intention. However, I have also seen that in extreme far-right communities this film represents how Jewish people control the world... somehow I don't think that is w…

> somehow I don't think that is what Carpenter was going for. Same deal with the Starship Troopers movie. When Helldivers first came out, it was really incredible to see how many people truly didn't get the irony.

> Starship Troopers movie

This movie is so misunderstood. It's basically disliked by Heinlein fans who took offense, and by people unfamiliar with both Heinlein and Verhoeven who thought it was actually Beverly Hills + Space Fascism without irony.

I like it for what it does, but I'm more of a fan of Robocop.

Re: They Live (1988) inspired Adblocker

#119
post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They absolutely conform; by what mechanism do you think they all happened to pick the same bundle of labels and beliefs?

> They absolutely conform; by what mechanism do you think they all happened to pick the same bundle of labels and beliefs? Are you conforming/obeying when you believe the Earth is round? That the sky is blue? Perhaps a bunch of people picking "the same bundle of labels and beliefs" is… simply them recognizing/accepting reality?

I don't think it's the same.

I like to think of these supremacist/racist conspiracy theories as another form of control: in many cases these people are right to be upset, since they see things in the world that are truly unfair, but their anger gets redirected to bizarre beliefs and racism. So it's a way of controlling and channeling their anger to a place where real change becomes impossible, just anger and venting and weird beliefs in secret Jewish/Muslim/Woke/Illuminati cabals running the world.

Real change is hard, and involves compromise and dealing with people with different ideas and goals. Anger against immigrants, or some ethnic or religious group, is easier.

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