Is it possible for something to truly be unnatural? When we see cars, planes, buildings, or anything man made, they seem to always have to say that it’s “unnatural”even though all of the materials came from a natural sourced one way or another, Others like to say “man made” which is just a nicer way of implying the same thing-that its unnatural. This unhinged way of thinking also affects foods and more. Those who claim things are unnatural usually try to have an uncanny connection with nature, almost as if they were forcing it. This causes a false sense of disconnection with things that don’t resemble nature for the most part. From food to technology, if it doesn’t look like the rest of the outside world, then it’s an outcast that isn’t accepted in the “natural” family.

Some people tend to hold nature to such a high standard that anything “bad” that nature holds is automatically corrupt and no longer “natural” by their standards. We humans tend to do this the most when it comes to ourselves (humans), or even more so with human inventions. People are so against technology in some cases that they force themselves to believe that in one way or another it is not a product of nature. This happens so much as to where even the author Jane Jacobs (who is very involved in urban studies) has to call it out as a strict reminder,  claiming that “Human beings are, of course, a part of nature as much so as bears or bees or whales or sorghum cane. The cities of human beings are as natural, being a product of one form of nature” This is a very strong claim that personally fits perfectly with my idea of nature. Using the idea that she introduces in this quote, one could assume that this knowledge that she used towards us humans and our cities can go far further than what it has, even branching off to any other thing or invention that has been ruled unnatural.

It doesn’t just end there either, I’m a decently big guy, therefore food is obviously a big part of my life, as it is for all humans of course. Though it is very important to me, I’ve always been bothered by the label “natural/ all natural) on foods. The word “food”  describes something that is consumed by an organism and provides energy/nutrition to said organism. In that sense, everything should be a “natural” food as long as it is consumed by a living organism and provides nutrition and energy right? Wrong, Foods like white bread, cereal, or even bacon (which all have nutrition facts, and calories) are considered unnatural. Some foods are considered unnatural due to their sodium nitrite or other chemicals that they have in them, but it seems like the title of unnatural only goes to foods that people enjoy eating, almost as if humans hate to see other humans happy or enjoying their food. And we all know food is life so what’s really happening here?

The way I see it, to call something unnatural is to just find something to dislike about it. Whether that’s that it’s unhealthy, or that you don’t find it appealing in one way or another. People want everything to resemble nature as much as possible, and if it doesn’t they automatically tell themselves that they dislike it.This is why you would most frequently hear someone that’s on the older side or someone that overthinks everything to call it unnatural. Everything that is made from ingredients that were found on earth is a natural thing no matter how you put it.