Maybe the dictionary guys are in cahoots with the government to replace definitions of words on the sly to meta-program our minds. ;)
> My believing something is something doesn't make it so.
Your definition is exactly about beliefs. It can never be precisely interpreted, each interpretation depends entirely on what you consider good or bad and why.
Re:Four Kinds of Dystopia
by ivraatiems on Saturday February 11, 2017 @12:53PM
(#13623746)
"My" definition is the generally accepted definition, and that kind of relativism is convenient for you in that makes it impossible to have a discussion about it, but ignores the context in which the term has been used since its inception.
You're not responding to my questions or points, so I think this conversation's not productive anymore.
> but ignores the context in which the term has been used since its inception
Interestingly, I wanted to say the same to you. The term has been used to describe states that have the exact same goals as any modern state, but not a "bad" place.
Re:Four Kinds of Dystopia
by smallnamespace on Saturday February 11, 2017 @12:55PM
(#13623755)
> what you consider good or bad and why
The prefix 'dys-' literally comes from the PIE for 'bad, ill, evil'.
If you wanted to avoid subjective moral judgments in discussion, then I'd recommend you don't start it off by using the term 'dystopia', which implies subjective negative judgement [1].
[1] https://www.google.com/search?q=dystopia%20etymology&rct=j
> If you believe that you live in a good place and that others are bad, totalitarian states, you wouldn't consider yours to be dystopian, somewhat ignoring that people living in other states might think the exact same thing about your state.
My believing something is something doesn't make it so. Other people not believing something doesn't make so. That any society might look like a dystopia to someone doesn't make said society a dystopia, because "making parallels" isn't the same as proving something to be true. There are many parallels between humans and chimpanzees, but they're not the same species.
And you haven't answered my major question: If all modern states are dystopias under your definition, what exactly does a non-dystopian society look like, and how do we know? How is the term useful if you just define it as covering everything?