Society Approved

This discussion is inspired by Black Mirror S3E1: ‘Nosedive’. Spoiler alert: a story summary is included below.

Act 1: The Setup

Picture, if you will, a pristine upper-middle-income neighbourhood. Neutral tones, pastel colours, perfectly orderly streets, and an atmosphere that feels.. artificially perfect. Like the smiles of some passersby.
Lacie is on her morning jog, diligently checking her phone (if that’s what it is) to see her latest rating: 4.2 stars. Not bad, but there is still room for improvement. As she passes other joggers, she greets them with a big smile and practiced enthusiasm.. an interaction that, in polite society, should would earn her a rating in return.
Lacie, however, has bigger dreams.. the perfect home, the perfect life, and perhaps even the perfect man, just like as the billboard advertised. She meets with a realtor to view her dream house, but there is one problem, the instalments are rather steep. This of course for a person with 4.2 starts but fortunately, those with 4.5 stars and above qualify for a 20% discount.
To improve her chances, Lacie hires a consultant, who informs her that raising her rating is not just about receiving 5-star reviews. It also matters who gives them. Ratings from people with scores of 4.5 stars and above carry more influence and can significantly boost her social credit standing.
Discussion Questions Act 1

1. How has social media and the need for validation shaped the way people seek approval, present themselves, and measure their own worth?
   Follow up group discussion questions (if time permits)
2. How do we distinguish authenticity from performance when people are rewarded for being polite, friendly, or kind?
3. Is it fair for social status and perceived human worth to influence the opportunities, services, or respect a person receives?

Act 2: The Downfall

Lacie devises a plan to reconnect with her old bestie, Naomi (4.8-stars). Surely, being close to someone of Naomi’s standing could help boost Lacie’s own score.
As luck would have it, Naomi is getting married and asks Lacie to be one of her bridesmaids.. even deliver a speech. The perfect opportunity to impress a room full of high-rated people.. a list of 4.5 stars and above only.
But unfortunately, Lacie’s plan begins to unravel the moment she starts her journey to the wedding. After a disagreement with her brother, her rating takes a slight hit. At the airport, things worsen, her flight is cancelled, and because of her rating, she is denied access to better travel options. Frustrated, she loses her temper with the airline staff.. uses profanity.. which causes her score to drop even further as the many stranges downvote her.
From there, Lacie enters a downward spiral. As her rating falls, people become less willing to help her, and every awkward encounter makes matters worse. She struggles to find transport, faces rejection from strangers, and grows increasingly desperate to reach the wedding on time.
Eventually, Naomi calls and tells Lacie not to come, fearing that her low rating will embarrass her and damage the wedding’s image.
Discussion Question Act 2

1. Does a rating system give people a fair chance to improve their lives, or does it make it harder for those with lower status to recover?

Follow up group discussion questions (if time permits)

1. If people are constantly judged and rated by others, are they truly free or are they being quietly controlled by society’s expectations?
2. When pressure increases, does a person’s true self emerge or does society simply punish them for failing to perform?

Act 3: The Collapse and Liberation

Lacie’s dream has completely fallen apart. Her rating has dropped, Naomi has told her not to come to the wedding, and the polite, polished version of Lacie is almost gone. Still, she refuses to give up. Dirty, exhausted, and emotionally unraveled she makes her way to the wedding anyway, clinging to the belief that she can still deliver her speech and somehow reclaim her status.
When Lacie finally arrives, she no longer fits into the perfect image Naomi has created. The wedding is beautiful, controlled, and filled with high-rated people.. everything Lacie wanted to be part of. But instead of giving the sweet, carefully rehearsed speech she had prepared, Lacie speaks with raw honesty. Her words are awkward, emotional, and uncomfortable, exposing the pain, jealousy, and insecurity behind her friendship with Naomi.
This public breakdown leads to Lacie being removed and arrested. Lacie has lost everything.. her rating, her chance at the house, her friendship with Naomi, and her place in polite society.
While sitting in a prison cell, the lenses that allow live updates to another person’s rating removed from her eyes Lacie notices the dust particles in the air.. it’s not perfect.. its real. With no rating system she finally speaks openly and honestly.. insulting another social pariah in the cell next to her.. a raw and unfiltered human exchange between two individuals outside the system. For the first time, she is no longer performing.. for the first time.. she is free.
Discussion Question Act 3

1. Is there any escape from being a performer in polite society? What would the costs be?

Follow up group discussion questions (if time permits)

1. If humans were all truly ourselves.. what would the world look like?
2. What is it that is being promised from the need to perform? Is it worth it?

Closing Questions

1. Why do some societies have more standards for acceptable behavior vs others?
2. Should there be a social credit system if there was ever a justification such as personal ESG scores?
3. Which part about “Nosedive” resonated with you the most?

References

1. Nosedive. Black Mirror. Season 3, episode 1
2. Sartre’s Waiter, ‘Bad Faith’, and the Harms of Inauthenticity: https://philosophybreak.com/articles/sartre-waiter-bad-faith-and-the-harms-of-inauthenticity/
3. Heidegger On Being Authentic in an Inauthentic World: https://philosophybreak.com/articles/heidegger-on-being-authentic-in-an-inauthentic-world/
4. The Cautionary Tale of Black Mirror’s “Nosedive”: https://www.psichi.org/blogpost/987366/489395/The-Cautionary-Tale-of-Black-Mirror-s-Nosedive