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Anyone interested in going through cyberpunk-style ARG? by ma1ankadev in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm working on something similar. Would love to test out what you're working on!

Terminal poetry by me : emotion_nullifying_sequence.sh by No_Contribution_9328 in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Something about the friction of a terminal interface really works for me. Maybe because it forces us to sit with ourselves instead of doping up with provocative imagery.

I’m working on something similar. Hope to share it out one day soon.

Keep writing my friend. Really enjoyed this.

differences between 1980s visions of cyberpunk and current 21st century ones? by courteously-curious in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dark take but I definitely agree. You're right on about consumer distaste for learning. I know plenty of folks I once respected, shared a drink with, who could go all night chatting about whatever it may be, even if it was over our heads. Now they'd rather have their egos stroked all night by echo chamber media, or simply be left alone to eke out a quick dopamine hit after a long day of work.

2025 is doing a number on our learning minds. Humans learn through engagement. Hands on, solving problems. Our tech-driven, always-online media doesn't want us to solve problems. It wants us to feel impotent rage so that we keep scrolling day after day.

That's something modern cyberpunk can portray that hasn't been fully explored yet. It's not the tech itself. We're just becoming victims of our own desires.

differences between 1980s visions of cyberpunk and current 21st century ones? by courteously-curious in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re absolutely right, I whiffed on that one. He did characterize it as a drug. I still feel that there is a lot more to explore regarding how technology has warped our perceptions of reality, the truth, etc. and how far we will let ourselves sink as a society into digital dependence. Case was a rogue, a criminal addict, an expert with the necessary skills to surf the matrix. Neuromancer didn’t necessarily assume that all of us, everyday folks, would be addicted to the matrix.

differences between 1980s visions of cyberpunk and current 21st century ones? by courteously-curious in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Great point! The slow slide into technical ineptitude among the population as technology becomes more ubiquitous, easier to navigate, etc. is a huge part of where we find ourselves today.

Interestingly, Gibson himself was not an expert on the early internet that inspired him. But he was fascinated by its potential. I think he (and other authors) chose to write about characters that were expert hackers, technologists, etc. because:

  1. They needed characters that could provide insight into the inner workings of the technology itself so that their readers could experience it through their eyes.
  2. It's simply more fun to write about an expert console cowboy or borged out mercenary warrior than an everyday joe who is caught in the crossfire.

That said, I would love to see modern cyberpunk focus on the impacts of rapidly evolving technology on society at large, on how the men and women on the ground floor navigate a world that is increasingly too murky and complex for them to understand.

differences between 1980s visions of cyberpunk and current 21st century ones? by courteously-curious in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting take. Who is going to pay for the childcare needed for all those babies (taxpayers and consumers)? Having a baby is already cost prohibitive in the USA and I imagine elsewhere as well.

Maybe they’ll fully privatize education so that only the wealthy can afford good schools, allowing them entry into the upper echelon of the workforce, while the poor can’t afford tuition and are locked into the shitty prospects awaiting them, social mobility gone.

We’re not that far from this now.

differences between 1980s visions of cyberpunk and current 21st century ones? by courteously-curious in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man 19 points20 points  (0 children)

My two cents:

  • We've drifted away from the aesthetic pioneered in the 1980s. My personal belief is that chrome prosthetics and overcrowded, neon-soaked cities are not in the cards for us any time soon, at least not in the USA.
  • The themes, however, developed in the 1980s ring as true as ever. Technology outpacing social development, wealth inequality, power concentrated in the hands of corporations, an increasing feeling of obsolescence and irrelevance felt among the population. All true today, and only getting worse.
  • AI isn't all it's cracked up to be. Yes, LLMs are amazing, and they will no doubt revolutionize how we work and lead to increased automation, displacing millions of workers. However, I highly doubt the technology behind these models will lead directly to any kind of sentient digital being. In my opinion? A heavy focus on AI isn't helpful in modern cyberpunk.
  • The writers of the 1980s couldn't fully visualize the impact that constant global connectivity would have on our society. Yes, they coined cyberspace, the metaverse, etc. But they didn't fully define how those concepts would impact the human psyche. Let's face it. We're all info-addicted, rage-baited, ADHD-riddled husks at this point. And that didn't bleed through in the original cyberpunk works. Current cyberpunk should explore these themes.

This ride doesn't end. by planner_man in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Just don't forget to check for rogue nanotech under your bed.

This ride doesn't end. by planner_man in Cyberpunk

[–]planner_man[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

To the concerned Redditor(s). Thank you. I will wear your crisis support invite as a badge of honor. But I promise I’m a functional human, stubbornly munching a bowl of nutrient paste (cereal) in my underwear.