Victor Oakes: "You know, I get why people criticize capitalism, but it's hard to deny it's been working for centuries. I mean, sure, inequality's a problem, but the system always finds a way to adjust. It’s evolved so many times, why wouldn’t it keep going indefinitely?"
Elias Verum: "Yeah, but that’s the thing—those ‘adjustments’ are just patches over a growing problem. The cracks are getting bigger. The inequality we’re seeing? It’s baked into the system at this point. And it’s not just about money anymore—it’s about control. The way corporations are using surveillance capitalism to manipulate people… that’s like a ticking time bomb."
Victor: "Surveillance capitalism? Come on, it’s just companies figuring out what people want and giving it to them. It’s efficient. Technology has always been used to improve things."
Elias: "Efficient for who, though? Look, these corporations are getting more sophisticated at predicting and shaping what people do. We’re talking about AI-driven systems, data scraping every move you make, and then feeding it back to manipulate your behavior—without you even realizing it. People think they’re making their own choices, but they’re being nudged in a way that benefits the few at the top."
Victor: "Alright, but doesn’t that just prove capitalism is adaptable? These companies are using technology to keep things moving, to innovate. It’s not like anyone’s forcing people to use these platforms—they choose to."
Elias: "Sure, but once people wake up and realize they've been misled and manipulated for years, that ‘choice’ is going to feel like a sham. That’s when things blow up. The control these corporations have is getting too tight. Once people hit their limit, they’re going to start looking for alternatives."
Victor: "Okay, but alternatives? What alternatives? People talk about them, but where’s the real competition?"
Elias: "They're already here. They just need time. Take Splinterlands—yeah, it’s a game, but it’s also a decentralized platform where players actually own what they earn. They make decisions with real transparency. Unlike the systems we’re stuck in now, where everything’s hidden behind closed doors, Splinterlands is built on blockchain. Everything’s out in the open. Players aren’t just pawns; they have power."
Victor: "But how many people are really using something like that? You’re comparing a niche game to systems with billions of users."
Elias: "It doesn’t need to replace everything overnight. People are already getting tired of the way things are—corporate control, lack of transparency, all of it. Splinterlands is showing that there’s another way to run an economy, one where the community actually benefits, not just a few big shareholders. The more people realize they’ve been exploited, the more they’ll start looking for platforms that respect their freedom and data."
Victor: "But we’ve heard this before, right? Revolutions against the system—most of them don’t pan out. People stick with what they know."
Elias: "Until they don’t. History’s full of examples where systems only changed when the pain got too much. The inequality, the manipulation, the loss of control—people can only take so much. That’s why alternatives like Splinterlands are so important right now. They’re building the infrastructure for a more transparent, equitable system. And when the current system finally collapses under its own weight, people will need somewhere to turn."
Victor: "So you’re saying these alternatives are just biding their time?"
Elias: "Exactly. Right now, they’re small, but they’re staying relevant. And when the tipping point comes, when people finally realize they’ve been living in a rigged system, platforms like Splinterlands will be ready. That’s why we need to support them now. It’s not about rejecting the present—it’s about building something better for when the cracks get too big to ignore."