Day 14 "Bookstore Endangered"

So much is digital and cold now.

It seems the more we destroy privacy and attempt to connect in online public environments, rather than meet for coffee/tea/beer and the likes, the more we forget about the art of storytelling.

Now someone's life can, and in most cases is, expected to be summed up in a sentence fragment at the top of computer monitor or on a soulless smartphone.

A world of connected humanoids, all head down towards the cell in their face, the way those in power always wanted us to be...submissive.

I wonder what the lords of this land are doing as we pay no attention to their devious ways?

Look up from your phone today and watch how almost everyone stares down now, and not into a book either. Watch as they stare empty into their minute by minute social lives.

It is starting to feel like books are headed to the extinction list, to be devoured by the all-powerful and parasitic status update.

This person likes this, hates that, loves this, does this, did this, wants this, sucks this, spits that, tried this, failed that, believes this, fakes this, breaks this, smashes that, and the list goes on and on doesn't it?

I watch as Danbox crawls up to a shelf and pulls a book out. He sits with it open in front of him and reads it for the better part of an hour. This is not some ADD generation box man that spends his time plugged in, no, Danbox has a depth in him that takes the time to absorb the story of another, and not just the empty status alone.

The more time I spend with Danbox the more I can see how he seems more human than some of those supposed humans that surround him.

He looks up from the floor and away from the screen, and out in to the world; he takes the time to respect and listen to the stories of a stranger.

The real point here is that he takes the time.