Talk:Bread and circuses

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Hwat? Scarlet A.pngd hominem 22:19, 20 March 2012 (UTC)

It's a "religion is the opiate of the masses" sort of thing. Get the public riled up about gays and flag burning to distract them from income inequality and human rights abuses (just examples, no particular nations in mind).--Brxbrx 22:44, 20 March 2012 (UTC)
I wouldn't call bread a triviality, either. That said, yes it's the idea that authoritarian regimes stay in power by providing basic needs and distracting people from other problems with entertainments. Which is why the Soviet Union, for instance, had a state-funded orchestra in every city, and Franco's Spain bankrolled Real Madrid, the most successful football team in Europe. Sophiebecause liberals 21:09, 22 March 2012 (UTC)
Seems I got it wrong, it's not an opiate of the masses sort of thing. Sophie got it right.--"Shut up, Brx." 02:52, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
Why can't the opiate of the masses ever just be opium? Star of David.png Radioactive Misanthrope 03:22, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
That's why we put poppy seeds on the bread. Тyrant 03:23, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
Ohoh, clever, clever. Star of David.png Radioactive Misanthrope 03:24, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
Wait till you see the circus. Тycommunications wire 03:28, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
...Never seen the circus.--Dumpling (talk) 03:32, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
I've been to the Circus World Museum. ТyComplaints 03:34, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
The modern equivalent is cheep tv and facebook. Give em distractions, or a way to "feel" involved (i'm posting about this or that horror; i'm an ACTIVIST!!!!) and they won't actually go out and riot. --Pink mowse.pngGodot What do cats dream about? 03:40, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
I 'grr' at you Ty. Grr! --Dumpling (talk) 03:41, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
For a bunch of people claiming to never have seen the circus, there sure are a lot of clowns here. ±Knightoftldrsig.pngKnightOfTL;DRgoing galt: the literal crazy train 03:44, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
We're all just really big fans of Stephen King's It. Star of David.png Radioactive Misanthrope 04:29, 3 April 2012 (UTC)
...No. --Dumpling (talk) 04:34, 3 April 2012 (UTC)

I think that this article misses the mark a bit on the definition. "Bread and circuses" are the two things a government has to make sure the people have in order to remain in power, to justify its rule, whatever. "Bread" is food and other basic requirements. Without food, etc., the people will simply revolt. "Circuses" are (what this article mostly focuses on in a way) the distractions which make a six day week of 14 hour days in the salt mines bearable - entertainments. ħumanUser talk:Human 02:53, 1 March 2015 (UTC)

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