Humanity and Nature 

The history of humankind has been a history of escaping our natural state. What humans call

civilization is just a campground converted into a glamping ground. In doing so man has made nature

alien and antithetical to himself. Many people view nature now as a hot and spider-infested place that they

wouldn’t want to spend an afternoon in, much less camp. That is at least how I feel about the natural

world. A walk around the block is enough nature for me. Ultimately this process of alienating ourselves is

driven by pleasure. We’re seeking the comfort of air conditioning and avoiding the pain of the humidity

of nature. Our pleasure, however, has come at the expense of nature. Human civilization is the cause of

like 99% of pollution. Environmentalists often underestimate just how much pollution our way of life

causes. Instead, they promote milquetoast tweaks around the edges instead of attempting to reframe our

civilization to coexist with nature rather than antagonize nature. Such reluctance to acknowledge these

things shows to me that many have been completely immersed in the echo chamber that is human

civilization. We view these things through such an anthropocentric abstract lens that we are not willing to

simply be in nature. Solitude in nature from an individual perspective can cure you of the ills of

civilization and modernity. Even though I am often a shut-in who can’t be bothered, there are some days

when the beauty of nature has even me going outside. It was John Muir who said, "In every walk with

nature, one receives far more than he seeks." So, take off the Oculus, clear the browser history, and touch

grass.