Unplug and Connect

Other sci-fi nerds like myself may be familiar with Seth McFarlane's The Orville.  For those of you unfamiliar with the Star Trek-inspired comedy, it deals with a spaceship crew traveling across the universe to seek and make peaceful contact with other civilizations.  Despite the future setting and entertaining storylines, it's often a thinly veiled commentary on present-day society.

Take for instance a recent episode in which a time capsule from the year 2015 is opened.  Among the objects found within is a cell phone, and through it, one of the characters gets to know its long-deceased owner.  Not only does he learn everything about the woman to whom the phone belonged, he also falls in love and has more of a relationship with her than with a living person.

I think it's sad that our electronic devices and social media outlets connect us with so many people while simultaneously distancing us like never before.  Our face-to-face encounters are becoming fewer and more difficult to actualize.  Although keeping in touch electronically is de rigueur, we must not forget the importance of in-person contact.

I know I'm biased as a perch librarian, but libraries play a big part in creating and encouraging people to physically come together and interact with each other sans electronics.  Programs--for instance, storytimes for kids, escape rooms for teens, and crafting groups for adults--promote socializing in person.  If you're tired of dealing with others remotely through screens, come to the library where there's always people right in front of you.  Come unplug for a spell.

Ever yours live from the perch.