Aliens Among Us
By Anonymous
It’s a sunny October morning; as I make my way to class, I notice that very few people are paying attention to nature; most are moving hastily, with their attention glued to an electronic device. Whether they are scrolling through social media or listening to music on their AirPods, everyone is distracting themselves from nature and the environment around them. I do not notice anyone using their walking time as a chance to “free their mind,” de-stress, look around, and think about their surroundings. I notice that most people are walking with urgency, rushing to ensure an on-time arrival. Others are speeding by on scooters and bikes, startling nearby pedestrians. The rest of the people are walking slower towards the Warren dorms, taking some time to relax as they come home from class. I notice very few people talking or socializing with one another; even when they are walking in groups, they are still distracted by electronics. From an alien’s perspective, I would ask: what is so important on those devices that we cannot step away for even a minute to enjoy the outdoors? I think we all know the answer to that; reading new content, chatting with others, and even doomscrolling capture us in a way that the trees simply cannot.