Brandon’s Comments (group member since Dec 16, 2013)

Brandon’s comments from the On Tyrants & Tributes : Real World Lessons From The Hunger Games group.

Matty wrote: "The town I live in isn't actually that big (less than 75,000 people within 50km radius) so we don't have CCTV cameras up on every street corner. We still have them in banks, mcdonalds, some other b..."

Good thought. Yeah really! That is what happened in the Hunger Games. Liberty was definitely outlawed and any signs of it would be taken as a threat such as by Katniss's father which is probably why the mining scenario was set up

Ruth wrote: "I honestly don't think that the possible presence of CCTV characters much influences the way I act, personally. I'm usually not aware of them. I never feel I modify my behaviour for them. However, ..."
I agree with that!

Dannielle wrote: "Sometimes I think this is changing who we are, just because it seems everyone wants everybody to know what they are doing... and if its changing who we are isn't that the same thing as changing how..."

Dannielle you are so right on! I agree a lot with this answer.

Tyler wrote: "I think the choice vs. oppression dichotomy is pretty blurry--people definitely post an unwise amount of personal information online about themselves and then are angry when it comes back to bite t..."

Wow that is interesting Tyler what those in the Fortune 500 companies do. I didn't know, but I become aware of the government being able to spy on you even when you think your devices are turned off.

Man there is so many other movies that address this. One I can think of is A Scanner Darkly. It also stars Woody Harrelson in it too along with Keanu Reeves of the Matrix. So many movies have so many meanings and messages. Just thought you should know. There is one special person who tried to wake people up in the film, but they are too drugged by the system.

Wow! This is a GREAT QUESTION! It really gets you thinking. As when we choose to upload something or put ourselves out there to the world being true to ourselves I don't see nothing wrong with it. I want people to know who I am and who I stand for just like a truly passionate leader. The government and police powers have the tendency to get out of hand with it from what I learned in which it also crosses with business. I am aware that bankers run prisons and profit off of the drug war, as to making money off of all this. There is people uprising everywhere though. Liberty is in our blood. It must just be unlocked. But to answer this question I would say its more of a bad thing than a good thing. It kind of makes me feel paranoid all these cameras every where. There is a documentary called Look about camera's that came out some time ago. I mean the government and police forces should have no right to do what they do. It is a way to study peoples behaviors and habits to try to better control the masses I will not argue. I don't know how many petitions I signed against all this increased surveillance and acts to take over the internet. That worries me. Its not only government, but corporations too. It all coincides. We our both I will say and it does impede our personal liberty I believe. Bottom line is our privacy needs to be respected!

Alison wrote: "She had no other choice. In order to survive, she had to kill and, in the first book, if I remember correctly, she began by just trying to protect herself or hide and 'lay low'. Her intent was not ..."

I agree with Alison. She did what she had to survive in the twisted game and then move on when she was able to. It isn't like she wanted to or was brain washed to take honor in doing such a thing.

I really can't answer this one because I don't know the relationship in it that well, but it sounds good.

To me there is already so many reasons to stand up for liberty as with the NSA and government powers impending on privacy and the militarization of police. But when they come knocking on the door and start to enforce something on you is when I would really start to.

I am not sure about this new president. I really don't know enough about him.

Yes 1984 is definitely one that is similar to the world of the Hunger games. I only know some aspects of it being of a totalitarian government led by the elites. These others must of had some inspiration between what she combined between the roman myths and times. Good post.

For one that is very inspiring words of liberty from the book and very inspiring for Katniss. She continued what her father couldn't and carried on his legacy for liberty through what she was taught these principles that also help her survive the hunger games I will say.

For the first question I agree completely. As many Americans will tell you politicians are not like normal people and can't relate as we think some are or made out to be, as they are all in it for business or a higher power. Some may tell you a homeless person on the street could be a better leader than the leaders if today.

I will say it definitely makes you think about it. Its like the elitist finally got god like power through technology (As is trying be sought out today)and wanted to play like a god like rule to rule over people and believe they are higher up and keep them in there place so they can keep control. It gave me far more insight here between Spartans sacrifice and elites believing they are just like gods. It looks like this is exactly the type of inspiration she had for the ideas in the book incorporating this type of mythology.

I would say propaganda was one of the biggest weapons in turning the society to what it become, but may be not fully the reason either. If anyone don't know anything about Edward Bernays they should learn about him. He was the big man behind, Propaganda!

I have no job. I use to have a job this past year working at a Sears. I had quit and about 5 years before that worked at a Walmart. As far as my career I have been interested in, culinary arts, music or photography the most.

Michelle wrote: "Brandon wrote: "There is so many aspects from the first movie I can see on how it reflects our society today. Most of the comments here I can agree on. There is some really great ones. The increase..."

Yes indeed and when I learned how the elites of today actually pushed this thing and I seen the movie. I was like, "WOW" It's another way of control. Take Bill Gates for example who has pushed genetic engineering of the worlds food supply, as well as vaccines that can do far more harm than good, on to geoengineering. Also the man who is behind Microsoft in which Xbox is product of and recently through the system in virtual game, World of War Craft government spies have spied on people playing this. Kind like how they had a gauge in the first movie from what I remember in a controlled environment, expect it is fantasy, but almost the same deal to me in away when it comes to the spying.

In the movie they really gloat about the genetically engineered insects too. In a way it is almost as if the elites want to own the world and try to control it.

It's like when does control cross with supposedly good intentions? Questions are key.

Ok I have only seen the first movie so far. So I am trying to avoid any spoilers. Thank you all for addressing that! Mine is from the first movie when the young heroine discovers the little girl who was hiding and tries to help her from the others. Very emotional. This is when humanity is realized in this twisted system. Good exist.

There is so many aspects from the first movie I can see on how it reflects our society today. Most of the comments here I can agree on. There is some really great ones. The increase of security in the guise of terrorism and how the media can betray it. The author has said I learned she got the idea to write the book from seeing the talk of the wars on the news to flipping the channel to a reality TV show. It is really interesting if you think of it that way and the military industrial complex. People who have joined and went off to the war are young people that can join at 18 and it use to be in the 20's back in the Vietnam days, but that changed. In a way it can be kind of looked at as a sacrifice for the elites of the world of today. Also something I question is genetic engineering of species such as the creatures from the first movie such as the insects, as it has been tried to be done with mosquitoes in the keys by a British company.