I don’t hate people, I just hate what the Corporate Totalitarian Technocratic Fascist Dystopia has turned them into.

One of the strangest things about life amidst the C.T.T.F.D. is how the vast majority of Pupples enslaved within this endless hellscape are utterly convinced they’re living in a free and open, democratic society. They’re not oblivious to the notion that malignant forces abound in the culture, they’re just completely convinced that the problem lies within the half of the political duopoly that just so happens to be the one they don’t align with. The faction that harmonizes with their own political identity represents all the virtues of a free and open, democratic society. Of course it does. Why else would they have aligned with it in the first place!? Give the Pupples some credit!

But when I describe this society as a ‘Corporate Totalitarian Technocratic Fascist Dystopia’ you can imagine how a number of folks would assume I’m either being hyperbolic or overly dramatic or if they really thought I was being serious, they might declare me to be utterly insane.

But am I bonkers or am I describing our present reality accurately? To answer this and many other questions of paramount importance, I popped onto the new and improved ChatGPT to get some clarity on the situation (the latest model allegedly utilizes more advanced reasoning capabilities than previous versions).

Trigger Warning! What you’re about to read is an actual conversation between yours truly and a so-called A.I. chatbot. The responses are presented here in their completely unedited, original form. It gets a bit wild and wacky at times so buckle in folks. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

FDBK
Hello. Is this the new ChatGPT reasoning model?

ChatGPT
Hello! Yes, I’m here to help with reasoning and answering questions. What’s on your mind?

FDBK
What is a corporate duopoly?

ChatGPT
A corporate duopoly refers to a market structure dominated by two major companies that control the majority of the market share for a particular product or service. This can lead to reduced competition, as the two firms often set prices and strategies that can affect consumers and smaller competitors. Examples can include industries like telecommunications or soft drinks, where two companies might dominate the market.

FDBK
Would it be reasonable to compare the U.S. political system to a corporate duopoly?

ChatGPT
Yes, it’s a reasonable comparison. In the U.S. political system, the dominance of two major parties—the Democrats and Republicans—can resemble a corporate duopoly. This two-party system often leads to limited choices for voters, as the major parties tend to set the agenda and dominate political discourse, much like how two companies might control a market. This can result in a lack of competition and alternatives, affecting policy decisions and voter representation.

FDBK
What you’re describing sounds more like a corporatocracy than a democracy.

ChatGPT
That’s an interesting observation! In many ways, the influence of corporate interests in politics can overshadow the democratic process, leading to a situation where policies favor business over the public. This can create a perception that the government operates more as a corporatocracy, where corporations hold significant power in shaping laws and regulations, rather than reflecting the will of the people.

FDBK
What is a totalitarian society?

ChatGPT
A totalitarian society is a political system where the state seeks to exert total control over all aspects of public and private life. Key characteristics include:

Centralized Authority: Power is concentrated in a single party or leader, with little to no political pluralism.

Repression of Dissent: Freedom of speech, assembly, and press are severely restricted. Opposition is often met with harsh punishment.

Propaganda and Surveillance: The government uses propaganda to promote its ideology and maintains extensive surveillance to monitor citizens.

Control over Economy and Society: The state typically controls the economy and may dictate social norms, education, and even personal beliefs.

Historical examples include Nazi Germany and Stalinist Soviet Union.

FDBK
Let me describe to you a fictitious society and you tell me if it qualifies as a totalitarian state.

ChatGPT
Sounds great! Go ahead and describe your fictitious society, and I’ll help analyze whether it qualifies as totalitarian.

FDBK
Imagine a future world where powerful corporations have completely hijacked the political institutions. They control the media messaging. If anyone voices an opinion that runs counter to the media consensus they are instantly censored. Corporations pump endless propaganda through the very same media networks they own and operate. When people dissent, their bank accounts are frozen and they’re thrown in jail. In order to move freely through this society, citizens have to present a state-issued QR code on their phones at critical checkpoints to access public spaces. These QR codes are only issued to citizens who comply with state-issued mandates. A small segment of the population, those who refuse to submit to the measures, are demonized as the cause of all the nation’s social ills and are deemed to be a threat to the rest of the population.

Does this sound like a totalitarian society?

ChatGPT
Yes, that description closely aligns with characteristics of a totalitarian society. Here’s how it fits:

Centralized Control: The powerful corporations effectively replace political institutions, consolidating power and limiting any political pluralism.

Repression of Dissent: Censorship of opposing opinions, punishment for dissent, and the freezing of bank accounts all indicate a system that actively suppresses opposition.

Propaganda: The constant flow of state-controlled media messaging reinforces the ruling narrative, a hallmark of totalitarian regimes.

Surveillance and Control: The requirement for QR codes to access public spaces reflects a high level of surveillance and control over citizens’ movements and actions.

Demonization of Opponents: Labeling non-compliant individuals as threats mirrors tactics used in totalitarian societies to justify repression and maintain control.

Overall, this society exhibits many features typical of totalitarianism.

FDBK
I’d like you to imagine another feature of this society and then tell me what you would call this phenomenon.

ChatGPT
Sure! Let’s say that in this society, there’s a mandated “Unity Day” where all citizens are required to participate in a massive, state-organized event promoting loyalty to the corporations and the government. Participation is enforced through social pressure, and those who don’t attend face public shaming and further penalties.

This phenomenon could be called “Coercive Unity” or “Forced Collectivism.” It reflects the idea that individuals are compelled to conform to a collective identity and ideology, often through social and institutional pressure, reinforcing the state’s narrative and control while suppressing individual expression.

FDBK
Sorry, I wasn’t asking you to imagine another feature on your own accord. I was going to present you with another feature and then get your input. But I still appreciate what you generated here as it’s an intriguing facet.

ChatGPT
No problem at all! I’m glad you found it intriguing. Feel free to share the feature you had in mind, and I’ll provide my input on it.

FDBK
The feature I’m talking about is this: Imagine that the mass population living in the society I described are fully convinced that they’re participating in a free and open, democratic society, despite being enslaved in the corporate dystopia we’re talking about. What would you call that?

ChatGPT
That phenomenon could be called “Cognitive Dissonance” or perhaps “Illusion of Freedom.” It reflects a situation where individuals genuinely believe they are free and democratic, despite living under oppressive conditions. This disconnect can be maintained through propaganda, social conditioning, and a lack of access to alternative viewpoints, allowing the system to perpetuate itself without significant internal resistance.

FDBK
Would it be fair to describe such a society as fascist?

ChatGPT
Yes, it could be fair to describe such a society as fascist, particularly if it exhibits key characteristics of fascism, such as:

Authoritarianism: A strong centralized authority that suppresses dissent.

Nationalism: A focus on national unity, often demonizing out-groups or dissenters.

Control of Media and Propaganda: The state or corporations control messaging to maintain the narrative of strength and unity.

Suppression of Individual Rights: Citizens’ freedoms are curtailed to maintain order and compliance.

The combination of corporate control and oppressive tactics fits within a fascist framework, especially if it promotes a singular ideology that emphasizes loyalty to the state or corporate entities.

FDBK
I want to add another detail to this fictitious world that we’re talking about.

ChatGPT
Absolutely! What detail do you want to add? I’m ready to discuss it.

FDBK
In addition to the corporate hijacked fascist totalitarian control systems we’ve been discussing, in this pretend society there exists an invisible community of scientists and experts, a collective entity that advises the government on all matters of public health. Government officials have no capacity to disagree with the advice of this collective and the mass media issues their declarations without any interceding critical faculties. Often the media headlines will utilize such phrases as “According to Experts” or “99% of all Scientists Agree” or any one of a number of variations therein.

The general public has no idea who any of these so-called experts are and any who dare question the talking points are socially shamed and ostracized. Any legitimate scientists or experts who do not align with the official declarations, no matter how pre-eminent they may have been in their chosen fields previously, are smeared in the mass media and fraudulently declared to be kooks and cranks.

Would it be fair to call such a society a technocracy?

ChatGPT
Yes, that society could indeed be described as a technocracy, especially given the way it integrates expert authority into governance and media. In a technocracy, decision-making is often based on technical knowledge and scientific expertise, but in your scenario, it’s taken to an extreme where:

Unquestioned Authority: The collective of scientists and experts holds absolute power over public discourse, stifling dissent and debate.

Media Manipulation: The media amplifies their authority without scrutiny, using phrases like “Experts agree” to legitimize their claims.

Ostracization of Dissent: Those who challenge the collective view are marginalized, mirroring some aspects of totalitarian control.

While technocracy emphasizes governance by technical experts, the lack of transparency, accountability, and critical engagement in your scenario suggests a more dystopian version that combines elements of both technocracy and authoritarianism.

FDBK
Thank you. So given all the details we’re talking about here—the Corporatocracy, the Totalitarianism, the Fascism, and the Technocracy…

Would it be accurate to describe this world as a ‘Corporate Totalitarian Technocratic Fascist Dystopia?’

ChatGPT
Yes, that would be an accurate and comprehensive description! ‘Corporate Totalitarian Technocratic Fascist Dystopia’ effectively captures the multiple oppressive layers of the society you’ve outlined:

Corporate: Highlights the dominance of corporations over political and social structures.

Totalitarian: Emphasizes the extreme control over public and private life, suppressing dissent.

Fascist: Reflects the authoritarian nationalism and the demonization of dissenters.

Technocratic: Points to the reliance on a collective of experts who dictate policy without accountability.

Dystopia: Conveys the overall nightmarish reality of life under such a regime.

This phrase encapsulates the complexity and depth of oppression in your fictitious society. Would you like to discuss potential narratives or themes within this dystopia?

FDBK
I certainly would; however, I’m so busy living each moment of my life in the exact dystopia we’re talking about that there’s no need to conjure up any superfluous narratives. Every second brings with it some new adventure within this never-ending nightmare. But thank you for your input and reasoning and I look forward to catching up with you again soon.

ChatGPT
I understand—living through that kind of reality can feel like its own narrative! I’m glad I could provide some insights, and I’m here whenever you want to chat again or explore any other thoughts. Take care, and I hope your adventures in the dystopia have their moments of light amidst the challenges!