Many people seem to be mesmerized by small, portable screens and can’t take their eyes from them for long. Yesterday, in less than a two-block radius from where I live, I saw three bodies, still breathing, but pretty obvious ODs. Out cold, each missing a shoe, lying in the street.
It may be a stretch to see both phenomena as zombification, but I think they express similarities under that description. The endless scrolling is a type of dependence and escape from what’s in front of you.
Most would say passing out from fentanyl is a bit more dire a dependency and escape, but a shared phenomenon nonetheless, no? It is striking how very common a response that readily cops to smartphone/social media addiction as just that. For example, “I know it doesn’t really satisfy, but I’m addicted.”
Heard that so often. “I should quit, but I’m very unlikely to do so.”
It’s more and more a dark, unappealing, cold, declining reality out there. Who really wants to straight-up face it? A late spring article in The Atlantic was called “The New Dark Age” about Donald Trump’s war on knowledge itself. True enough, but the reality is far deeper and scarier.
Tech addiction or dope. Why are these unholy choices so popular? Both are offered detox efforts that aren’t effective.
The emptiness of society pulls each of us to be zombies or addicts of one sort or another.
John Zerzan is a local anarchist writer whose books include Elements of Refusal and Future Primitive. You can listen live to his “AnarchyRadio” at 7 pm Tuesdays on KWVA 88.1 FM or via audio streaming. He once had a correspondence with the Unabomber.
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519