Comments on: “Why would we ever buy a book?” asks principal

By: JJ Ross

JJ Ross — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:22:03 +0000

Whoops. Or she.

By: JJ Ross

JJ Ross — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:21:26 +0000

Btw, Dana, I agree about the principal in your original post. No excuse! He probably couldn’t follow this conversation . . .

By: Dana Hanley

Dana Hanley — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:59:47 +0000

Thanks, Renae! I think I remember the headline, but I haven’t read it yet. It is like training for ADHD.

By: Renae

Renae — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 03:03:08 +0000

Lisa had an interesting post about this topic. One of the articles she discussed is Is Google Making Us Stupid? The author wonders whether the internet changes the very way we think.

By: Dana

Dana — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:25:58 +0000

See, I always knew there was something counter-cultural about you.

By: Life On The Planet

Life On The Planet — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 01:56:45 +0000

Dana said:”I don’t think our culture was ever such that people sat down at restaurants together, reading separate books, or moms walking around town reading a book while ignoring her children who had books of their own as they crossed streets without looking.”

W-e-e-e-l-l, when I was in the fourth grade we weren’t allowed to sit down during recess. I remember a teacher commenting on my ability to read and walk without running into anything. (Gifted AND Talented!) I read nearly the entire Little House series while pacing. Perhaps that’s why I homeschool. I was never properly socialized on the playground.

By: JJ Ross

JJ Ross — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:51:19 +0000

Dana, that’s something I hadn’t even thought about, a loss of creative quality. I was thinking of e-books like audiobooks, you know, the same good book by the same good author that you’d read bound, except n a different format. Even given the exact same words, I would prefer to experience the book-book to either its audio or electronic versions (but I think that’s just personal preference I couldn’t justify as generally superior or healthier for society or whatever.)

I agree though, that it’s worth thinking about!

By: Dana

Dana — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:02:19 +0000

The biggest problem with e-books in my humble opinion is that they are generally written by people who where not able to go the traditional route and lack the funds to self-publish. There is nothing inherently wrong with that, but most of the e-books I have read have been poorly written and poorly researched.

There are notable exceptions, but they are typically short. Regardless of how well written they are, I still struggle with reading more than 2000 words online.

I do like the ability to get documents not widely available. Imagine the boon to historical researchers to have old letters, etc. transcribed and published online. You wouldn’t have to drive to the other side of the country to try to decipher the microfiches in some private collection. And any of us could go look at the original words and compare their conclusions.

There is also a tremendous opportunity for researchers to connect across the globe and share information and thoughts.

I’m not saying it is all bad. After all, I use this media for a lot of the same kinds of things. I am just saying that there can be other, unintended consequences. And we need to think about those as well.

By: JJ Ross

JJ Ross — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 16:38:34 +0000

E-books leave me cold too but OTOH, despite snarling and saying I loved the smell and rastle of real newsprint, I quickly learned to like having the world’s newspapers at my fingertips and a couple of years ago, we cancelled our home delivery of the local daily. I didn’t miss it at all.

On the other-other hand though, we recently started the New York Times daily delivery and it’s been a real adjustment for me trying to get back into the real thing!

By: Nance Confer

Nance Confer — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 15:55:46 +0000

Dana: The point is that some of these kids, at least, seem so focused on their virtual contacts and interacting through media that they are ignoring real people around them.

Thanks for the clarification.

Along the lines of the depression studies you mention, I wonder how much of this is personality and/or the chicken/egg problem you note.

JJ was too “bookish” and should go outside and play. My DD reads too much. OTOH, DS spends too much time on the video games. Goodness knows what we could find to criticize about JJ’s son — he seems to be a multimedia addict.

On a possibly related side note, I heard a news story about the lack of popularity of e-books. Again, nobody was sure if it was the lack of fantastic readers (although a new one was being touted — but why did the “reporter” need to test whether it would survive being splashed at the pool? wouldn’t you avoid that with a book too? so many questions as I am driving along. . . ) or the choice of e-books or the newness of it. . .

It all makes me want to holler: “Dang kids, get off my lawn!”

Nance