There is a lot of overlap between Dystopian and Apocalyptic stories. Do you think that an apocalyptic event would necessarily lead to a dypstopia or could it be an opportunity to build a better society?

[Peggy]

I would like to think that it would be an opportunity to builld a better society, but humanity does not have the best track record in that regard ...

[Taggerung]

I agree with Peggy. I myself would see it as an opportunity to better humanity and start over with a clean slate, but since when has the majority of people done that when faced with a major disaster? Granted, there are many relief organizations in place now an there are a lot of good people in this world, but I don't really see humanity bettering itself if faced with an apocalypse (provided there are survivors, I really doubt there would be).

[Peggy]

There is a line from Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly that offers a possible explanation of why things don't necessarily go the route of a clean slate: "One expects decent people to stand up for the good of all. Decent people shut their doors and hide behind them as decent people do. Massacres could never happen if it weren't for decent people." Got me thinking...

[Taggerung]

Taggerung wrote: "I agree with Peggy. I myself would see it as an opportunity to better humanity and start over with a clean slate, but since when has the majority of people done that when faced with a major disaste..."

Wow, that's pretty direct. I think it's probably true too...

[Anna]

What would probably happen is a group of well-meaning people would take the opportunity to create what they see as a better society, but it would be majorly flawed somehow, and that's how you get a dystopia.

[Peggy]

Anna wrote: "What would probably happen is a group of well-meaning people would take the opportunity to create what they see as a better society, but it would be majorly flawed somehow, and that's how you get ..."

That's a really interesting thought! I think so often we just assume in these dystopian societies that the government/leaders not only are evil, but always were. I am sure most all of us can relate to plans that didn't work out quite as we thought they would.