'Splain to me 1984?

[The Minsky Moment]

What is it you teach, Grumbler?

English grammar, Experimental ethics (postwar), and DIY computer assembly.

[Fate]

Singapore seems like a better 1984 candidate than Cuba.

[Darth Wagtaros]

In a class I student taught on, the teacher had a "time machine" cabinet full of nostalgic shit from the 70s-90s. Not a single one of them kids understood the "88 MPH" reference on the cabinet door. 

Yes. Some of my student workers didn't understand the "nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure." reference.  Stupid kids.

[derspiess]

What is it you teach, Grumbler?

English grammar, Experimental ethics (postwar), and DIY computer assembly.

[DGuller]

What strikes me about "1984" references is that they're pretty much limited to "1984" and "Big Brother".  It's like no one ever read the book, and just parrots what everyone else says.  It's sort of similar to all the free market advocates being able to reference Adam Smith himself and the butcher with his lack of benevolence, but nothing else.

[Eddie Teach]

Yes. Some of my student workers didn't understand the "nuke it from orbit, it's the only way to be sure." reference.  Stupid kids.

I always thought that was just a Languish meme. 

[garbon]

Newt!

[Slargos]

What strikes me about "1984" references is that they're pretty much limited to "1984" and "Big Brother".  It's like no one ever read the book, and just parrots what everyone else says.  It's sort of similar to all the free market advocates being able to reference Adam Smith himself and the butcher with his lack of benevolence, but nothing else.

Welcome to: Real world.

How many people form opinions and values based on their own research do you figure?

I would wager: Not many.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

The movie is out of print on NA dvd maybe never on DVD. so yeah hard to find. Can you stream netflix in the class?

[crazy canuck]

This wont come as a surprise to anyone but the Movie doesnt really capture the complete feeling of helplessness in an authoritarian state that the book provides.  The last scene in the Movie where they see eachother and act with complete indifference is not well explained in the Movie and I think you really have to read the book to fully appreciate what has happened.

[Josephus]

What strikes me about "1984" references is that they're pretty much limited to "1984" and "Big Brother".  It's like no one ever read the book, and just parrots what everyone else says.  It's sort of similar to all the free market advocates being able to reference Adam Smith himself and the butcher with his lack of benevolence, but nothing else.

That's not true at all. I've been known to also say "Doublespeak."

[Josquius]

Weird that this thread arrises now, I was just thinking of 1984 last night- in particular the theory that its not a world constantly at war but just a N.Korean nutty Britain (or perhaps even London and its surroundings) which pretends to be part of something bigger.

More relevant to the thread- 1984 is definatly one of the main books that is always referenced but never read. Everyone knows the basics without actually reading it its so part of our culture

[Savonarola]

What strikes me about "1984" references is that they're pretty much limited to "1984" and "Big Brother".  It's like no one ever read the book, and just parrots what everyone else says.  It's sort of similar to all the free market advocates being able to reference Adam Smith himself and the butcher with his lack of benevolence, but nothing else.

That's not true at all. I've been known to also say "Doublespeak."

I've used the phrase "Hot for teacher" before.   

[Lucidor]

RTFB!

[Sheilbh]

I disagree with the thread consensus.  I think 1984 is probably one of the most read books around.  Certainly one of the  'important' novels that are widely read by the mainstream anyway.