Anyone that has ever watched Black Mirror has likely found themselves wondering, “Am I in an episode of Black Mirror right now?” I’ve found myself in this conundrum more than a few times, and have been fortunate enough to be carrying a camera during this dejavu-esque sensation. Tonight, as I sat in a less-than-comfortable chair at an undersized-nowhere-near-level table in a coffee shop sitting next to two college-age girls, I found myself experiencing the Black Mirror Phenomenon yet again. This time, without a camera, I scrolled through photos I had taken during similar moments as I listened to the girls explain to each other how annoying it is that everyone they know is addicted to social media, and then seamlessly transition to how they can get more likes on their instagram posts. The irony escaped them but entertained me for at least twenty minutes.

For those who haven’t experienced Black Mirror and yet continued reading into the second paragraph, I’ll reinforce your efforts. Black Mirror is a British television series that is considered science fiction, but may be moreso recognize as slight hyperbole to American Society in 2017. In one episode, people rate each other based on their immediate interactions, and these ratings provide status symbols that allow them certain lifestyles. Think of a hybrid of Yelp and Tinder, it’s not far from our current reality, but the notion of it likely gives you the heebie jeebies. In this episode, people are obsessed with having positive interactions because even getting pissy with your barista might render someone of lower status to give you a two star rating and set your average back a fraction of a point. Not an exhaustive explanation by any counts, but you get the idea — this futuristic world is within our reach and the notion of attaining it makes humanity look and feel… well disturbing.

As mentioned before, I scrolled through photos I took in parralel to the high-pitched giggles, eye rolls, and irony. If you haven’t experienced the Black Mirror Phenomenon yet, likely because you haven’t yet enjoyed the series, these photos may help you identify with what I am attempting to describe.

You might be in an episode of Black Mirror if you visit Rocky Mountain National Park and

… you see sticks being sold for $25.

… there are people who willingly pulled over to watch a moose cross a river with pure annoyance strapped across their face.

… people who paid to be in beautiful landscapes haven’t looked up from their screens.

You might be in an eve darker episode of Black Mirror if…

… you find a memorial that is failing its own mission dedicated to protecting and preserving “… the culture, tradition and living heritage of the North American Indians.”

… and then no one notices the egregious failure, or that they are visiting a monument dedicated to people America committed genocide on while wearing colors of that nation’s flag.

… at the monument dedicated to Native American Indian People, folks sit in a room dedicated to the white sculptor and take photos of his photos.

Perhaps one of the defining characteristic of this feeling is the absurdity in one’s inability to recognize irony and hypocrisy when it stares them right in the face. Or maybe, I’m just an asshole doing the same thing I just attempted to define. Is this Black Mirror?!