[yugyug]

Originally Posted by JAVO

Modern Western civilization ignores nature. But does it rely on a nature? Do we derive essential resources from nature?

Everything humanity uses/has is derived from the earth and its living residents, beast & plant alike. The further back you get in the production line, the closer you are to nature because you're the one gleaning the ingredients from the earth or its residents. The guy digging the ore is closer in proximity to nature than the gal tightening the bolt in the car factory, for instance. However, this doesn't mean that the ore miner is definitely "close to nature" in the sense I think you mean. He may be touching the earth, but he may not be any more "aware of nature" than the car factory gal who goes on long hikes in the forest whenever she gets a chance.

Has consumerism replaced resourcefulness and thoughtful dependence? Has technology replaced wonder?

I think the onset of the industrial age caused an increase in the number of people who were distanced from interaction with nature/wilderness. At the same time, I think that trend is slowly reversing again because of technological advancements. As things become more automated, people are gaining more free time to travel and "go back to nature." Because various belief systems (Native American, New Age, Green movement) are gaining popularity, because of shows like Survivor and Man vs Wild, and because of a gradual change in curriculum in our schools, more people are taking treks into the wilderness. And, chances are, while they are there, a percentage of them will be filled with wonder while experiencing nature. And, they may go back and talk to others -- such as you do -- and those others may then be inspired to go see for themselves.

What are the short and long-term personal and societal implications of this disconnect?

I think, on a personal level, the disconnect's impact depends upon the personality and upbringing of the individual. If you grew up loving to camp and hike then, in adulthood, you work overtime and weekends in a metropolis, you are likely going to miss being in nature. Maybe to the point of depression. If you grew up in the city and rarely or never ventured beyond it, you are likely quite content to stay "disconnected." That isn't a bad thing for them; it is where they choose to be in order to make them the happiest. The conflict arises when the nature lover looks down on the city lover because they are "disconnected" or the city lover encroaches upon nature in order to expand the size of their city.

Again, though, you may be talking about something deeper in the psychology of a society. Are there more crimes perpetrated by those who are "disconnected" than those who are tuned to nature? Are depression rates higher among the "disconnected?" I haven't looked up such stats.

Originally Posted by colmena

The woman who showed me around had a son called Michael. Michael has grown up seeing most of his food grown from the earth. He understands that nature is doing all the work; from the man that sow's the seed, to the earth, sun, and rain that helps to grow it.

I believe this distinction between food in plastic packing is substantial to peoples' philosophies. I don't think technology will ever be as powerful as nature, but which one we are mindful of will make a great deal of difference to our happiness.

I think it is a bit biased to say that being aware of nature's power & ability to care for our needs makes a difference in our happiness. I've had the same bias. When I stepped outside that belief, I realized that a multitude are genuinely happy while thinking milk is born in a carton. Maybe their belief affects your happiness or mine because we think they are being ignorant or naive or shorting themselves by not getting back to nature. Yet, they are content. I am happier when I'm in the garden or hiking in the mountains, but I know that not everyone gets their kicks out of such things. To them, dirt under their nails and slapping mosquitoes isn't thrilling, and I can understand that. It's the way they're wired.

Originally Posted by Grayscale

for me, it's not that i feel disconnected with nature, it's that when i come back i feel disconnected with society. everything seems to take on a different light for a few days, a lot of things that i thought nothing of before become incredibly foreign, mainly people and their behaviors.

* Nods in full agreement. * This is how I feel, too.