That's fair. I suppose the source of my irritation isn't just that one sentence; it's more holistic. And it's borne out of experiences living in rural areas that people from nearby cities treat like their own personal playgrounds. I just don't have much patience left for an article bemoaning the lack of "nature" when "nature" is still very much there, and its apparent disappearance is the result of deliberate choices, not some irresistible force.

Anyway, I'm going to put down the screen and go outside and look at the dark starry sky now.

You can spot a tourist a mile a way goes the saying in the big cities.

Your irritation is irrational; the group you are talking about is not coherent and it also exists where you live. I agree with you that there are choices being made that makes nature so much worse. I've always been a cityslicker with relatives on farms, my view of those that move in their circles they are a lot more pro destroy the nature.

If you are just talking about the privileges of nature from living in far out suburbs or country side, then I might be inclined to put you in the same category. I won't because our situation will be so different and it would be irrational to make you an enemy without knowing what your situation actualy is.

If your work depends on big ag you can't do much to resist those market pressures, "it is what it is" as they say. However, I've seen people with money spend extraordinary amounts in restoration of thousands of acres as we can find fit among the arable acres.

"And it's borne out of experiences living in rural areas that people from nearby cities treat like their own personal playgrounds."

That has been my sad experience too. I live in a beautiful place. Lack of services keep most people away, but as more people seek to enjoy nature, it gets trashed. I used to go on walks and things were clean, now I can fill a small bag with trash.

There are some local attractions that the world should see, but the locations are not shared online for fear they will be trashed. Those fears are not unfounded.

As for the dark, starry sky - just last night I looked out my window at a cold, clear night and all the stars. It is our there, but who wants to live in a place with spotty cell service, no trash service, a few small restaurants and abundant cold weather?

Your latter gripe is the subject of the article, surely? Nature is there and not everyone makes the effort get out amongst it. Whether our screens and fears of the dark unknown are irresistible is perhaps debatable.