Nikita

2 comments on Hacker News

1. NeutralFnoordFeb 7, 2025

   The existence of a fictional movie says nothing about how popular conspiracies are. I have seen a lot of dystopian movies and read such books, including cyberpunk. A Scanner Darkly, The Illuminatus Trilogy, The Matrix, Snow Crash, Dune, eXistenz, just name some random ones. I'll mention four series, too: Twin Peaks, X-Files, Utopia, Nikita. That doesn't make me a conspiracy nut, because I am able to differentiate between fiction and non-fiction.

   The trouble from 80's is different. We've shifted power vacuum, but whilst doing so the rich have become very much more rich, and [generally] they don't want to take responsibility; they want raw power. Things like bullshit (lies, conspiracies, manipulation), drama (such as creating friction between poor and middle class), obliteration of facts and science, cryptocurrency to avoid sanctions and law, and criminal behavior (including methods to avoid paying tax) are each tools for achieving more of such power.

   UFOs are one of such, too. They're a tool to accelerate the distrust in government. For the acronym UFO itself is broad. A meteorite or Starlink satellite could be mistaken for an alien spaceship. Furthermore, drugs, hallucination, psychosis and the power of suggestion alone are strong tools to feed such fables.

   I am well aware fans of conspiracies can very well be fans of X-Files but it is fiction first and foremost, plus don't forget Scully's role and background.

2. NeutrallesterbuckMar 17, 2013

   I happened to watch some of the TV show Nikita last Friday, and the plot driver was "a character was the password", as he had a subliminal password. He would play some odd video game to "enter" the password, but he never actually knew it.

   I thought that sounded made up, but apparently subliminal passwords do exist:

   http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/7.382686-Remember-Uncrackable-Passwords-With-Your-Fingers