Watching videodrome made me cringe because although it was made 23 years ago I can see the ways in which our lives have changed to become more and more like the fiction shown in the film - the "cathode ray mission" for example - according to tv licensing, if you are over 75 you get your television license for free, or if you are blind, you receive a 50% discount on the cost of the yearly license - the licensing agency are equal to the "cathode ray mission" in that they are providing the ability to watch television to people who may not otherwise be able to watch it (legally at least).
Also when the UK switches off the analogue tv signal, the government is going to provide help for the poorest households in Britain so they can still have a TV - another scheme suitable to the "cathode ray mission" where those on Income support, jobseekers allowance or pension credit will receive help with the costs involved with the change over. "The support scheme will provide equipment to convert one TV set, and help with its installation and follow-up support, to people aged 75 years and over and people with significant disabilities – that is, receiving attendance allowance or disability living allowance. There will be no charge for this help for the poorest eligible households - e.g. those on Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit. There may be a modest fee for this help for other households." (http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/en/how/faq.html#will-there-be-a-scheme-to-help-older-people)___##0##___ The only difference I think with this scheme and the "cathode ray mission" is that the poor people will not have to travel to specific places to watch tv like in Videodrome, as they can watch it in their own homes...

As far as the end of the social goes, I think I am guilty in contributing towards this - I would rather have a conversation using an internet chat client than use the phone, and email or text is my "preferred mode of discourse". Some of my friends see more pictures of the body of the person that is supposed to be Zoe Lisle (see blog picture) than they do of me, the actual real live person. I think we all need to leave behind the mobiles and televisions and computers behind for a compulsory afternoon a week to stop us losing touch completely with the real world. Even the development of internet based shopping has killed off reality a bit - take christmas shopping for example - when buying DVDs from play.com just to avoid the queues at Woolworths entertainment desk, other shoppers on there at the same time as you don't have the opportunity to wish you Merry Christmas, and probably wouldn't take it if they did. In Woolworths, at least you can reassure yourself that it definitely is Christmas, as people wish you a Merry Christmas and you look at the decorations. On the internet, you always wonder if the date on your computer is actually right, and whether it's actually may and Play are conning you into thinking it is Christmas to make money. It's also quite a lonely experience doing your shopping on the internet, especially if you are only doing it to avoid having to interact with other real people...