Pew Research Center and Gallup have shown, meanwhile, that the share of adults not reading any book in a given year nearly tripled between 1978 and 20

[candycorn]

"I think we are less curious as a nation. " I think that is the crux of it.


Here is a question for those reading this thread. Do you use the internet exclusively for politics (sites like this one included), porn, sports scores and news?

Do you ever just search out information on something you are curious about? Like history? Or science? The amount of information at our fingertips is mind-boggling. And yet, it is wasted.

My partner is constantly exposing me to things that I have not considered. I think where I may fail is, again, the curiosity.

Like, for just one example, I bought a television about a year ago. It was a Fire TV from Amazon. The word "mute" is not on the remote or the screens. The cable company I have gave me a remote with my service and the word "mute" is on the remote control device on it.

Turns out that this is offensive and it is recommended that one not use that word unless talking about a person who is, in fact, mute. I researched that on the internet so I have tried to curate my vocabulary to remove he word or phrase.

But mostly it is used for entertainment; not deep dives into subjects.

 

[BULLDOG]

Does reading "To kill a mocking bird" prepare you for life? Does it make you more knowledgeable about the world around you? I think not.

To Kill a Mockingbird gives you insight into the value of compassion in a way that no internet sourse I have found could. No life could ever be lived to it's fullest without that compassion.

 

[fncceo]

Does reading "To kill a mocking bird" prepare you for life? Does it make you more knowledgeable about the world around you? I think not.

If that's the only book you ever read in your life, then "no" it probably won't improve your life much ... but if it's only one of many, many different worlds and ideas to which you can be exposed through books, then it will definitely make you a better person.

If not better, at least more interesting.

 

[candycorn]

But it does sharpen your mind and increase your vocabulary.

Does arguing on a political debate site prepare you for life? Does watching a baseball game?

Give up man.

I was on here with someone who said that music had no place of importance in their life the other day....it was the same guy who thought Cincy was going to beat Alabama. Can you imagine not having a song that you and your loved one danced to, enjoyed together, or sang at Christmas?

It is almost like the scene in Armageddon where Luke Wilson's character is talking to the psychiatrist at NASA about Jethro Tull being a minor member of the Eagles and the shrink asks, "Who is Jethro Tull"? That look he gives him.

 

[fncceo]

 

[candycorn]

To Kill a Mockingbird gives you insight into the value of compassion in a way that no internet sourse I have found could. No life could ever be lived to it's fullest without that compassion.

I honestly put Crash up there in the same category (but well below).

And, while we're on the subject of using the Internet for enrichment, when you get tired of the porn next time, for a real boner-killer look into Harper Lee's life. Some quite interesting things about her.

For years, my spouse would say...just out of nowhere... "I was to be a ham" which is in the movie when Scout says it in the most hillbillyish voice there is--not sure about the book. We'd both start giggling.

 

[fncceo]

Turns out that this is offensive and it is recommended that one not use that word unless talking about a person who is, in fact, mute.

I have never had a mute person come up to me and tell me they were offended by the button label on my remote.

You would think they might have said something about it.

 

[Godboy]

But it does sharpen your mind and increase your vocabulary.

Does arguing on a political debate site prepare you for life? Does watching a baseball game?

Arguing on a debate site makes you informed and it exercises the mind more than simply reading.

 

[Godboy]

To Kill a Mockingbird gives you insight into the value of compassion in a way that no internet sourse I have found could. No life could ever be lived to it's fullest without that compassion.

BUUULLLSHIIITTT! Get out of here with your lazy platitudes.

 

[BULLDOG]

I honestly put Crash up there in the same category (but well below).

And, while we're on the subject of using the Internet for enrichment, when you get tired of the porn next time, for a real boner-killer look into Harper Lee's life. Some quite interesting things about her.

For years, my spouse would say...just out of nowhere... "I was to be a ham" which is in the movie when Scout says it in the most hillbillyish voice there is--not sure about the book. We'd both start giggling.

From my understanding, Scout was Harper Lee in so many ways.

 

[basquebromance]

BUUULLLSHIIITTT! Get out of here with your lazy platitudes.

i read political stuff all day in audiobook format, no one reads more than me, books are at my feet, world domination through social media is my next thing!

 

[BULLDOG]

BUUULLLSHIIITTT! Get out of here with your lazy platitudes.

Yes, I see what you mean about exercizing your mind. You might need to get a trainer, though. You're doing it wrong.

 

[Godboy]

Yes, I see what you mean about exercizing your mind. You might need to get a trainer, though. You're doing it wrong.

I find your aegument unconvincing.

 

[basquebromance]

I find your aegument unconvincing.

you should read the NY Post. there's always good UFC content!

 

[1srelluc]

"I think we are less curious as a nation. " I think that is the crux of it.


Here is a question for those reading this thread. Do you use the internet exclusively for politics (sites like this one included), porn, sports scores and news?

Do you ever just search out information on something you are curious about? Like history? Or science? The amount of information at our fingertips is mind-boggling. And yet, it is wasted.

I think older (age of books) folks are a lot more well-rounded.....I mean here we are with the knowledge of the ages at our fingertips and by and large the post internet generations are as "dumb" as a post.

I remember waiting in anticipation for the next in the series of Foxfire books to come out or ordering Trapping and other outdoors "how to" books from the Herters catalog.

Oh sure if I want to know something about a particular subject in all those books it's now at my fingertips but having read them all I'm a lot better off.

It's stored away in my mind to recall when needed.....Then the internet is great for fleshing out the details of what I may not have remembered on a subject.....Had I not read the books I would have nothing to recall.

Even magazines were useful back in the day.....We had Fur-Fish & Game in our home for 50 years and we would read it cover to cover. There are still boxes of them up at my mom's place.

Deer love persimmons but a lot of folks don't even know that or use it to their advantage.

 

[BULLDOG]

I find your aegument unconvincing.

I know better than to try to convince a MAGA of anything. Your mind is made up, and facts just confuse you.

 

[Godboy]

I know better than to try to convince a MAGA of anything. Your mind is made up, and facts just confuse you.

Have you not noticed where democrats have led us? I assure you most people have. The GOP could let a dart board randomnly decide what we do and we would STILL end up in a better position than we are now.

 

[FA_Q2]

What does Ingraham railing against wokeism in the military have to do with reading for pleasure?

The OP is incoherent.

 

[WinterBorn]

Arguing on a debate site makes you informed and it exercises the mind more than simply reading.

And gives you a warped sense of what is going on in the world.

Reading broadens your horizons and shows you other points of view. Here, other points of view are treated like enemy propaganda.

 

[Godboy]

And gives you a warped sense of what is going on in the world.

Reading broadens your horizons and shows you other points of view. Here, other points of view are treated like enemy propaganda.

Who only reads USMB? I assume ALL of us read all kinds of shit all day long because we have a computer in our pocket at all times.