“1984 is not an instruction manual”
“1984 is not an instruction manual” has been printed on many gift items, such as T-shirts, posters and buttons. The saying became popular with the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 and the anti-NSA spying protests of 2013.
“George Orwell’s 1984—intended as a horrific dystopian novel, not, as the North Korean regime seems to think, an instruction manual for running a country” was cited in 2003. “When will politicians realise that George Orwell’s 1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual” was cited in 2007.
Wikipedia: Nineteen Eighty-four
eteen Eighty-Foura dystopian novel by George Orwell published in 1949. The Oceanian province of Airstrip One is a world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public mind control, dictated by a political system euphemistically named English Socialism (Ingsoc) under the control of a privileged Inner Party elite that persecutes all individualism and independent thinking as thoughtcrimes. Their tyranny is headed by Big Brother, the quasi-divine Party leader who enjoys an intense cult of personality, but who may not even exist. Big Brother and the Party justify their rule in the name of a supposed greater good. he protagonist of the novel, Winston Smith, is a member of the Outer Party who works for the Ministry of Truth (Minitrue), which is responsible for propaganda and historical revisionism. His job is to re-write past newspaper articles so that the historical record always supports the current party line. Smith is a diligent and skillful worker, but he secretly hates the Party and dreams of rebellion against Big Brother.
As literary political fiction and dystopian science-fiction, Nineteen Eighty-Four is a classic novel in content, plot, and style. Many of its terms and concepts, such as Big Brother, doublethink, thoughtcrime, Newspeak, Room 101, and memory hole, have entered everyday use since its publication in 1949. Moreover, Nineteen Eighty-Four popularised the adjective Orwellian, which describes official deception, secret surveillance, and manipulation of the past by a totalitarian or authoritarian state,
Straight Dope Message Board
Examples Of Popular Culture Irony That People Don’t Seem To ‘Get’
psychonaut
04-20-2003, 02:59 AM
1) George Orwell’s 1984—intended as a horrific dystopian novel, not, as the North Korean regime seems to think, an instruction manual for running a country.
Democratic Underground
Vincardog
Wed Oct-06-04 02:23 PM
2. Looters yes they read 1984 and took it as an instruction manual
CNET
1984
The Brits think 1984 is an instruction manual. One of the few things Americans can feel good about: no matter how bad things get here, they’re probably worse in Europe.
Posted by solrosenberg May 1, 2007 8:48 PM (PDT)
politics.co.uk
MEP attacks ‘deeply personal’ census
Wednesday, 21 November 2007 12:00 AM
(...)
He (UK Independence party MEP Derek Clark—ed.) added: “When will politicians realise that George Orwell’s 1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual.”
The Walrus
Orwell’s 1984 was a warning, not an instruction manual
by The_Walrus Pro @ 27 Feb. 2009 – 17:59:57
An email from the last sensible party left in England…
Lottery Post
Comment by Rick G - December 28, 2010, 2:38 pm
It used to be a joke about 1984 being used as an instruction manual but that’s exactly what they’re doing. Especially in the doublespeak arena.
Salon
Sunday, Jan 8, 2012 12:00 PM EST
What Occupy can learn from the Hunger Games
A leaderless political movement still trying to find its place might look to heroes of dystopian fiction for ideas
By Mike Doherty
(...)
Propped against a wall inside the Bank of Ideas is a placard that reads, “’1984′ was not supposed to be an instruction manual.”
Russia Today (RT)
‘1984 not instruction manual’: Thousands protest NSA spying across US
Published time: July 05, 2013 12:31
Edited time: July 05, 2013 14:07
Thousands of protesters in over 100 US cities opted out of traditional July 4th celebrations on Thursday, instead choosing to march in nationwide protests against the US government’s NSA spying program. Participants demanded an end to global surveillance.
Major US cities taking part in the protests included New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Seattle, Memphis and Miami. London and Munich also hosted demonstrations.
Infowars.com
’1984 Not an Instruction Manual’
John Keller
lewrockwell.com
July 5, 2013
It’s not clear where to begin with this story. Restore the Fourth rallies took place across the US yesterday. The rallies themselves are very heartening as those interviewed are young, progressive, self-described Obama voters, and probably not a few Ron Paul style libertarians based on the signs and T-shirts worn. Be sure to check out the top 40 signs via BuzzFeed – great stuff in here. Very thrilling for the cause of liberty as the NSA scandal knocks the scales from the eyes of these disillusioned young people.
Russia Today had great coverage, an interview with the Restore the Fourth founder, woman on the scene interviews at the New York march, and commentary on rallies in other locations. Again, those interviewed are young and more coherent than their “Occupy” counterparts – fantastic!