1 Topic by Mark Elliott

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Topic: Black Mirror

There's a series on Netflix called Black Mirror that is a 21st century take on old shows like Twilight Zone and Outer Limits (both of which I loved as a kid.) They've produced 19 episodes over 4 seasons and all are excellent. My favorite episode so far was last season's San Junipero about uploading yourself into a matrix when you die. I know, that sounds sort of cliche but it was really well done and very thought provoking. The entire series has been quite thought provoking, actually. It's a cutting and astute commentary on modern technology and how it has shaped our world, for better or worse. I highly recommend this series. Topics cover politics, gaming, reality TV,  social media, how our society treats the old and the dying and the young and disposable, criminal justice, rampant capitalism, and rampant socialism. It has been one of my favorite series over the last few years.

Hey! Let's be careful out there."

2 Reply by Ron May

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Re: Black Mirror

Sounds interesting.

Ron

I listen to music because punching people in the face is frowned upon.

3 Reply by Robert Gage

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Re: Black Mirror

Mark, I heard something on the BBC this morning about how 2017 was the turning point: technology (especially the technology of communication) is no longer seen as an unmixed blessing.... Just because something is possible doesn't mean it should be embraced with uncritical enthusiasm!

'Less is often more!'

4 Reply by Ben Varsek

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Re: Black Mirror

Mark, thank you very much for sharing!
I don't have a Netflix account, but if I get the chance to watch it, I certainly will do so.

All the best
Ben

5 Reply by Mark Elliott

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Re: Black Mirror

Robert, I agree, and that's pretty much the point of the series. I really enjoy technology and gadgets and toys and such, but it does seem to be controlling a lot of us rather than us controlling it.

Hey! Let's be careful out there."

6 Reply by Jessie Edwards

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Re: Black Mirror

I'm in.  I'll check it out tonight.  I am sick of my husband stealing the TV to watch every episode of Star Trek since the first original.  It's been MONTHS of star trek.  I may die.  I'm taking the remote tonight.

Due to rising costs, dirty deeds are no longer done dirt cheap. 
                                                                                    ~Management

7 Reply by Robert Gage

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Re: Black Mirror

Mark Elliott wrote:

I really enjoy technology and gadgets and toys and such, but it does seem to be controlling a lot of us rather than us controlling it.

Mark, I think the real trouble is that we live in a world where people actually learn not to exercise judgement and discrimination. They are constantly bombarded with oceans of information, but have little or no basis for processing it for themselves. A lot of people seem to accept uncritically whatever first pops up in their faces. Learning to make judgements, and sometimes (indeed, often!) to say 'no' - and to know why one has said no - is surely the basis of being an intelligent, responsible, genuinely well-informed individual....

Jessie, best wishes for seizing control of that remote control!  smile

'Less is often more!'

8 Reply by Ron May

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Re: Black Mirror

Mr. Robert, it also falls in not having to take ownership on what one posts on social media.

A lot of it is anonymous, especially on twitter, and so you don't have to take responsibility in anything you post, so it's like shouting out in the dark and no matter who you hurt or insult, no one can intelligently respond back to you directly.

It's like a sniper's bullet which no one can tell from where it came, but the damage is already done.

So, lack of responsibility is a lot to blame.

Ron

I listen to music because punching people in the face is frowned upon.

9 Reply by Robert Gage

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Re: Black Mirror

Absolutely right, Ron! (Not ever having used Twitter, I didn't realise it could be anonymous.)

'Less is often more!'

10 Reply by Mark Elliott

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Re: Black Mirror

Robert, to be honest with you my income depends on people with no decision making skills!  You are right about folks not taking the time to find the facts before making decisions, as well. Thing is, with the same technology they used to get misinformed the can quite easily do a few minutes research and become well informed.  Trouble is they go about it backwards. They decide what they want to believe and then hunt out things to reinforce that belief and anything that is contrary to that belief is just labeled a lie, and like Ron said, no one wants to take responsibility for for their words or actions.

Jessie, start with either San Junipero, or The Entire History of You. They aren't really tied together so you can watch any of the episodes from any season in any order you want.

Hey! Let's be careful out there."

11 Reply by Tyler Blake

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Re: Black Mirror

That sounds interesting, but we don't have a netflix account and I can't really spend the time getting into new shows.  My wife and I love the old shows like that, we just rewatched the Outer Limits episode "The Man  Who Was Never Born" last night smile   Mark, did you ever watch Boris Karloff's Thriller when you were a kid?

Yaprimascharif, Yahasanna Hadisany, elafinas tabachu, Dari chalemy elasin!

12 Reply by Ron May

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Re: Black Mirror

Tyler, the SYFY channel had a "Twilight Zone" marathon this weekend.
I have seen most , if not all, of them and enjoy then still.

Ron

I listen to music because punching people in the face is frowned upon.

13 Reply by Tyler Blake

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They're great Ron!   There's so much science fiction that either is based on, rips off, or was inspired by the Twilight Zone.

Yaprimascharif, Yahasanna Hadisany, elafinas tabachu, Dari chalemy elasin!

14 Reply by Mark Elliott

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Re: Black Mirror

Tyler, I remember the show, but I can't remember what any of the stories were about. I just remember seeing Karloff hosting the show. Seems like he was in a few of the stories as well. I was only 5 or so when they came out and my parents probably thought it was a little too scary for a kid.

Hey! Let's be careful out there."

15 Reply by Ron May

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Re: Black Mirror

I have an idea for a horror film title.
It's a title that's been used in a zombie type movie.
But no zombies in this one.
It's about a hospital and one Doctor going through residency ...... "Resident Evil".
The hospital's name is North Mercy Hospital. Or otherwise known as No. Mercy Hospital.
He's actually the Grim Reaper.

Ron

I listen to music because punching people in the face is frowned upon.

16 Reply by Mark Elliott

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Re: Black Mirror

Ron, I like it. smile

Hey! Let's be careful out there."

17 Reply by Jesse Bessette

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Re: Black Mirror

Ron, if that weren't the title of a movie already, I would say go for it.

Now and then we had a hope that if we lived and were good, God would permit us to be pirates.
          -Mark Twain

18 Reply by Tyler Blake

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Perhaps it could be switched to "Residence Evil" ?  It could always be a good comic/graphic novel big_smile

Mark, Thriller started out as mostly crime dramas and psychological thriller stories, and as the show progressed they started getting more into the horror realm.  My father in law bought them on DVD, my wife and I recently borrowed them and are enjoying them.  Boris Karloff appeared in quite a few of the later episodes.  One of my absolute favorites is called The Incredible Doktor Markesan (sic) and I liked it so much, I used a still shot of it to do a portrait of Boris about 3 years ago.  I need to find that, we're having another art show soon at work....

Yaprimascharif, Yahasanna Hadisany, elafinas tabachu, Dari chalemy elasin!