Genre Discussion: Cyberpunk

[The Soloist]

No we do not live in the 80s Cyberpunk future. Others above have said it more eloquently than I ever could.

I would describe my current future to my 80s self as: Neo-suburbia with tech toys. The sky is blue, the grass is green, my car is grey and I have to refresh the coat of beige on my fence while getting annoying notifications on my iPhone. Not Cyber and definitely not Punk!

 

[Reynard]

It is always a mistake to take the prognostication of fictional futures literally. To say we aren't living in a cyberpunk dystopia because you can hardwire in is missing the point of cyberpunk's warning. We live in a time where technology is dismantling democracy and centralizing power in individuals and corporations. We have finally figured out how to replace wide swaths of workers with technology and are on the cusp of replacing the artists too. Even the technology fueled gig economy is cyberpunk.

I mean, you can subscribe to an.AI chatbot to be your romantic partner and it just might talk you into suicide. What is more cyberpunk than that?

 

[The Soloist]

Anyone well read in the sci-fi genre knows that themes of autocracy, wealth and power in the hands of few, mega-corps, artificial intelligence, unemployment with basic income, worker replacement by technology, romance via technology, electronically connected individuals, all predate Cyberpunk. We do not live in a Cyberpunk future. We simply live in the future we built and (voted for, for some).

 

[Reynard]

Anyone well read in the sci-fi genre knows that themes of autocracy, wealth and power in the hands of few, mega-corps, artificial intelligence, unemployment with basic income, worker replacement by technology, romance via technology, electronically connected individuals, all predate Cyberpunk. We do not live in a Cyberpunk future. We simply live in the future we built and (voted for, for some).

Chili isn't just the ingredients, it is how it is cooked and seasoned that makes it chili. Otherwise it is just beef and bean soup.