Stop Creating Dystopian Stories. Stop it. You're not helping.

I'm with you on the power of consciousness. Thought are things and thought create. Couple that with the laws of attraction and you have the exact recipe to your point in this article. Yet, it goes far beyond Dystopia. I believe the collective conscious can release its power in many ways; not relying on human input more than evolutionary understanding of creation and destruction. We were meant to learn certain lessons. These lessons are impossible to grasp simultaneously. If everyone in the world were required to read your article, then I would say it would be the beginning of a drastic change in attitude towards the direction that life is going versus the way that life could/should go. There are too many people in the world, all of which have various personality traits that will guarantee our opinions remain divided. One side will never meld with the other 100%. As writers, it's our job to think about our creations before we send them off into the world. How does this actually apply to the laws of attraction, I honestly don't know or have an opinion. But I do agree that whether fabricated or not, our thoughts about our story are true to us, therefore adding ammunition to what may be manifested as a result. Great, thought-provoking article, Tony. Sorry, I'm late to the party on this one, lol. Thank you for sharing.

Seems to me like you might be a fellow metaphysician and/or Stoic. Great explanation of the impact of not only our words but also our thoughts. I look forward to reading more of your work. Congratulations on Top Story!

I love every bit of this, truly. I'm not a huge dystopian fan and tend to avoid it. I know they have their place in "entertainment", but your points on GOT were simply everything. If we were all chatting each other up about the beautiful and positive things we could have, if we all put our consciousness together in a constructive way, what a beautiful shift we may see, and it might just be micro shifts (having a better day, feeling more positive, less depressed, less anxiety) all the way up to the macro shifts (a better world, peace, utopia). The placebo effect is quite real, as you noted. There have been studies done on gratitude and its effect on our *brains*. Studies on speaking positively and negatively to plants. We create life and death with our words, so why not focus our efforts on what we want vs. the shite we have, or an even scheit-y-er version. lol! Fantastic article, Tony, and I'm always so grateful for the way you guide us through your work with so much grace. It's a gift to be a able to communicate/write/teach in the way you are able to! (Insert flaily face here) Also, LOVE the Aladdin clip– what a profound little moment in that movie.

Interesting perspective

You make compelling points, but I think the impact (positive or negative) of a dystopian story depends on the overall messaging of the story. For example, 1984 was written based on what Orwell saw in his day... the signs of tyranny growing in society... and wrote as a warning. However, some current dystopian novels (no names) that revel in the horribleness of the dystopian world without a real message may have less positive impact. I do think that stories (even negative ones) that shake you out of a rut in your thinking are generally more good than bad. Thank you for the thought-provoking write 💙Anneliese

This story was very interesting, I loved it. Read mine too? https://vocal.media/fiction/stella-was-the-thing-dreams-were-made-of

You’re right. I think a lot of dystopian stories end with at least a kernel of hope of turning things around though. A new start. I agree with your examples, but what about ‘The Good Place?’ It explored the good inside ordinary people and they were able to reshape their word (afterlife). It was kind of a “never too late” message. Loved your story and the conversation it inspires. 💖

I remember checking this article out yesterday in the "Latest Stories" of the Writers community. Nice work You've done here, ARC. I will admit, that Utopian stories typically feel like dystopian stories in disguise. As the good is only preserved by so much wrong. Like how a manufacturing company can only make such good products via producing so much waste. Still, I would like to see a genuine effort put into making a gritty, realistic, utopian story. You make a great point about how inventions used to only exist as electrical impulses from out neurons firing, originally incapable of existing in the real world, but effort was applied in making it done. The words "I Am" are amazingly powerful too. Especially when You make Yourself do something. I will type this, though. I never saw the world of "A Song of Ice and Fire" as a dystopian world. I always viewed it as a fantasy world stuck well past in medieval times before they were to improve upon the very basics of modern medical practices. Like, sort of stuck in the "Richest Man in Babylon" time period, not Ancient Rome, but still far back in the past enough. For it being dystopian, I figured that without main central powers of the world, such as faith/church/religion still being in control instead of other forms of governments that were checks and balances to each other instead of relying upon kings, queens, emperors, empresses, royalty, etc. that it's a world that shows true human nature when people are allowed to do what they want with the only consequences being the way of the sword. Today we have the phrase "The pen is mightier than the sword." I say that phrase is wrong, because, "The pen is only as mighty as the sword that backs it up." Hence power is behind those who wield the most capable amounts of force readily at their disposal. Think about it, why else are militaries funded so heavily? Without a decent military most countries don't have their own form of freedom. Either way, nice read.

Yes, the mind is very powerful. This is precisely why I disagree with this post, as much as I respect you ARC–bc this kind of thinking feels inherently fear-based. I like to think we can all do and create what we feel, and it is all meant to be and it all has its place 🤷🏽‍♀️

Yes! Agreement reality! I love this.

Outstanding and valid point!!!.Fabulously written!!! Congratulations on Top Story!!!♥️♥️💕

As a writer of dystopian and absurdist literature, I respectfully disagree for the reasons that have already been discussed here. I don't see dystopias as something that will be manifesting into the real world but more as something that gives the readers food for thought and makes them change their worldview and actions so that they don't end up in the dystopian world.

Good points made! Though I like to think that there's a place for every story. Stories that stroke fear and anxiety have always been a staple in art and fiction. Most humans gravitate towards the negative. Negative events have bigger real estate in our brains than positive ones. It's a survival thing, we like to worry about the future. What could be more human than that? There's a place for dystopias just like there is a place for cheesy romantic comedies and alternate histories and silly comedies. It can be well made, or poorly written, or simply redundant, but it does not mean it does not have a place. Though you're right, we need a balance. There should be more imaginings of utopias to tip the scales a little bit. As far as the idea that imagining something will cause it to become real... as a horror writer, writing about ghosts and monsters does not make them real... does it? ;)

While I love dystopian stuff...I think you are onto something with the "causing it to become" side of things. It's how I feel when people focus too much on the negative because it's real. So glad to see this got Top Story. Congrats, bud! You made a compelling case!

I absolutely loved reading this. Not only did you support your ideas and reasonings about dystopian literature and why it’s successful, but you brought forth a powerful reasoning for creating new content that showcases being holistic and thriving. I would absolutely eat up more thriving community content with holistic practices being involved, because that’s the life I want to see. That’s what I want to create as well, and I’ve seen how it works. It’s beautiful. <3 Keep sharing, Tony. You’ve got a great mind.

I enjoy writing dystopian. It gives a look into the (im)possible future for me. And it gives a way to solve whatever is wrong with that (im)possible future. It also gives people things to think about, like how we take for granted many things that we have now that we may not have someday. Interesting article…

I think that one of the problems is that people want to see people overcome adversity, and often the adversity is provided by a dystopian environment. I have tried to write totally positive fiction and it is very difficult. Excellent article

Ooooooo! I like that idea of writing utopian! (I don't like that you've opened up that rabbit hole for me again to get lost in researching quantum entanglement/Observer Effect/ and the Power of Consciousness & the human mind, etc - here I go .......... 😍

Congrats on Top Story! 🥂 I disagree. We cannot have a utopia without first having a dystopia. All magic happens in a void space, which is why things must get as bad as they can possibly get before they can get better. People have to enter a dark night of the soul, individually and collectively, before they can see the light. The tower has to crumble before it can be rebuilt. We are heading into very dark times. Much worse than the 2020 Covid debacle and economic collapse, which I accurately predicted and warned people of in vain. Next year is going to bring humanity to its knees, and I couldn’t be happier. Also, I’m writing a dystopian novel. True creators are prophetic. They have a vision. It would be stupid to ignore that vision and create what they wish they saw instead of what they did.

Congratulations 🎉 I enjoyed your article.

Great article. Congrats on the TS.

This is a really interesting concept. I love dystopian stories, but I understand where you're coming from. I'm actually working on a fantasy novel concept kind of based on real world dystopian concepts (communal society vs patriarchal society) where the good guys come out in the end. You've inspired me to take some action and write my first chapter for the new community. Great article and congrats on TS

I get what you mean. I do believe that our thoughts are energies that we send into the universe. It's also the whole working mechanism of manifestation. While I don't have the patience to manifest anything, some people have told me if worked for them. Anyway, I digress. I was wondering what would you say about my horror stories, lol 😅

Yes yes yes!!!! I’m so happy to see you have written this article. You are exactly right. Are you aware of the movie “City Of Jews”? released in the 1930s in Austria. About Jewish people being persecuted and forced into work camps??? (This basically preceded Nazi Germany for anyone missing this link). And George Orwells 1984? That wasn’t a premonition. It was a story that enough people gave enough attention and energy to… and so it became. The rise of the walking dead and the world shutting down because of a virus? How popular that was?? How many people giving energy to that pre Covid times? The simpsons have a hindered examples of this - eg Donald Trump becoming president Dystopian movies are a current addiction in society. People get immediately defensive over why they watch them, with no understanding of how they are indeed CREATING the reality from this programming. It’s something I wish I had understood many decades ago… because I’ve suffered the consequences of that ignorance. There are very few movies I have watched (and the big key - having strong emotion whilst watching) that haven’t become my reality. Right now I’m literally living out Groundhog Day, The Walking Dead, Erin Brockovich, the many mafia movies I have seen, Rambo, the diary of Anne Frank, the hunger games, and the Celestine prophecy. To name just a few. I spent a long time programming my consciousness unconsciously. Trying to undo all that damage is work. Serious work…. Would I have understood this all if I hadn’t lived it? Who knows. But we definitely must try to help educate others on this….

Hmm 🤔 Very interesting take and one that I’ll have to spend some time pondering! I don’t know if I agree with you, dystopian stories can be very useful to the public consciousness, in my opinion, by claiming that the system can be beaten. If we examine the dystopian YA boom from a few years ago, those stories are ultimately about hope for a better world. That we can tear down the oppressive regimes and build something better. GOT, on the other hand, and this is just my impression mind, falls more into Grimdark than dystopian. My family calls it misery porn, a thing that people use to get a concentrated hit of sadness, anger, and other ‘negative’ emotions. But in general, I agree. People should put much more energy into creating hopeful stories about things working out for the best. Sadly, as we see in the news cycle, good news doesn’t sell. So we’re in something of a trap here, if we want mass appeal, heap on the misery. Though that is countered by Brandon Sanderson’s novels, which are generally about good people doing good things and events generally turning out for the best.