The Entropy Sessions

by Novo Dé

  “But. We only have ourselves to blame,” I say quietly, almost at a whisper at first. “That’s why we’re not closer. You. Me. All those people out there. All of us. We just can’t seem to evolve fast enough. Just think about it doc. Think of all the fucked up shit over the years. The genocides. All those Crusades. Or both – some of the Geno-sades. The war waging. I mean, to think…just the thought that we still have to go to war over these things…is beyond me.”

  “Why do you think we do it?” Cohen says back.

  “Because. Because. We’re…monsters. That’s why. We’re just these, greedy little monsters.”

  “And that includes you?” He asks, with a nonjudgmental, yet inquisitive tone. “You think of yourself as a monster Tybalt?”

  “Absolutely. I already included myself in that circle a long time ago doc. Definitely no better than anyone else out there,” I say, motioning toward the outside.

  And Cohen smirks, lips pursed together.

  “We just, we just can’t seem to think about ourselves, everyone, as this single thing.”

  The sterile white walls are particularly white today.

  “Hell, I can’t think of one concrete thing that really unifies us. Technology connects us, definitely, but unifies us, nah.”

  “Now Tybalt, let me stop you there,” he finally interjects. “You’ve explained at great length your disdain for technology, or maybe, the use of it, but haven’t really discussed any ideas that would act as a better alternative. So, please humor me. Tell me about a better future for once.”

  Looking up, I pause to think.

  “Well for starters, we gotta relearn how to use technology as more of a tool; use it instead of allowing it to use us. Because, believe you me, just like the climate, there’ll be a point of no return. The singularity nightmare. And not like the fuckin’ movies; there ain’t gonna be no robot apocalypse, no terminator uprising. Just. This. Absolute—”

  “But you still haven’t—”

  “Alright alright. So look, this is what I think; this is what needs to happen. It’s really quite simple. People have to ah, take a step back. Realize there’s still a world around them. A world worth livin’ in, a world worth experiencing. People, just, need to start livin’ again. Really livin.’”

  Cohen makes another ‘hmm’ sound with his throat.

  “That is, rather simple of you Tybalt, even for you.”

  “I have my moments,” I say, smiling.

  “So what do you propose we do then? How do we unify all those people out there?” He says with a head motion toward the door.

  “I dunno doc. Isn’t that what people like you are here for?”

  And Cohen realigns his glasses on his nose before speaking, glaring at me with the same kind of disdain I used to get from my teachers in grade school. But before he can even utter a word, I push forward.

  “Well you already know my take on the matter – I don’t think we’re gonna see any kind of balance anytime soon. We’ll never see any kind of unity in our lifetime, if we keep doin’ the same things we’re doin.’” I pause, returning the glare back to Cohen. “And what’s really funny doc, is that, I can actually see a world without physical conflict, violence, war, but unity, nah.

  Because, because, stuff like NCLs, or whatever comes next, is going to continue to propagate a life of exclusivity, where people begin to find peace with being physically alone, but consciously connected. And their digital life will become a surrogate for their real one. And a new conflict with arise without any actual conflict at all. Some real doublethink shit. And things will continue to change, but really stay the exact same.”

  “Ya think so huh?” Cohen gently counters.

  “It’s a slow moving coup.”

  And Cohen smirks again, lips still pursed together.

  “At the end of the day, it’s all about control,” I continue. “And they’re all slowly takin’ over.”

  And what controls the present controls the past. And what controls the past, controls the future.

  “Ok, then tell me Tybalt, what kind of future do you want, for just yourself?”

  “That’s easy doc. The kind where, at the very least, I’m still in contro...”

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