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In The Naked Sun by Isaac Asimov, each human on Solaria stays far from everyone else. To see or be seen in person is disgusting and obscene. Instead, attended by robots, humans “view” one another remotely through holograms.
I thought of Solaria when my branch bank closed its face-to-face drive-up window in favor of video screens and pneumatic tubes, presumably for security. I think of it now as we talk to neighbors via devices instead of walking across the lawn. One character in The Naked Sun eventually escapes to a saner, more nurturing planet. Our escape shouldn’t require leaving Earth, but there’s another possibility. How long would it take for our psyches to adapt, elevating physical closeness from risky or imprudent to a lasting cultural taboo?
2 Comments
Rick Santovec
4/7/2020 02:13:18 pm
I think that Social Distancing will have even stronger roots in the future, long after the Virus fades from memory. The young people of the world have been practicing social distancing long before the current virus. Many of them would much rather have a text conversation than a face to face encounter. Our actions during this virus lockdown will only re-enforce this behavior not discourage it. 4/8/2020 07:24:07 am
Rick, I agree. For better and worse, our culture had been moving in this direction well before social distancing became an emergency measure. Texting, as you say. More face-to-face encounters happen with the practitioner wearing latex gloves so skins don't touch (compared to what I remember from childhood). Or separated by screens or more, as at my drive-in bank. Partly, we have the technology to do it. Partly, with some justice, we worry about security of various sorts. Partly, we litigate more and are more aware of unwanted touch. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI'm a historian who writes novels and literary nonfiction. My home base is Madison, Wisconsin. Archives
September 2023
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