I got a little problem. It started a long time ago with me just trying it out of curiosity. But then, as time went by, I started doing it more and more. Now it’s out of control!

My ‘problem’ is with books. I find myself reading all the time. And, if I’m not reading, I’m thinking about reading; either about books I’ve read or which ones I plan to read next.

And here’s proof it’s out of control: I now often find myself driving home from work past bookstores THAT ARE NOT ON MY ROUTE!

What’s to become of me? Will I end up in some murky den surrounded by other book junkies all feeding their habit? Okay, I suppose the correct word isn’t ‘den’ but rather ‘library’ (or Borders, or Waldenbooks).

Do they have rehab for this?

I sure hope not!

Welcome to our world. Its why this website exists! TV is only good for watching the Simpsons and shows about diving...

Yes, there is hope and you have already taken the first step.

You have realized that the old world as we knew it is fast slipping away. You drive new routes because your older dealers are disappearing. Bookstores are closing all the time with few if any new ones to replace them. The old smokey mucky dens of yesterday must now be reproduced in your own home. Your books will be fed to you from the vast cyberminds.

Welcome to our world. Its why this website exists! TV is only good for watching the Simpsons and shows about diving...
Meerkat Manor? The Adult [14-year-old] Swim time block on Cartoon Network also shows a few things that are worth watching for 12 minutes, though I always get them online (along with all my other shows). 30 Rock and The Office are two comedies shown back-to-back that (I think) are both currently funnier than The Simpsons. Don't get me wrong, I have almost completely stopped watching TV in the past year and don't even have one hooked up now, but since you obviously wouldn't claim to have explored the medium to completion, I don't think it's fair to throw out such an incendiary statement.

As long as it does not hinder your job, I'd say that it's an addiction that's not bad for you. When you start reading instead of going to work, or you start leaving the trash lying around your house, turn messy etc. then you're in need of professional help.

Hmmm, I hadn't thought about reading instead of going to work. What a great idea! Ah, but then how would I pay for the books? Shoot.

If it wasn't for my wife, the house would be a mess. But, she either cleans it herself or, um, suggests I do it. So, no danger there.

Ah, but then how would I pay for the books?

The Internet could give you more books than you can read in a lifetime :p

The Internet could give you more books than you can read in a lifetime :p

Hmmm, wish you hadn't mention that. Now I'll really start goofing off.

No, maybe not, cause I'll need the dough to buy the next ebook reader that comes out. Shoot

it's a cruel dilemma, isn't it...

I think I have a similar problem just here at MR. Everyday I see the growing list of books uploaded some of which I know about but haven't read in a long time if ever and many I've never heard of but which sound really interesting. That usually starts me to think about what other books might be here and I look for those. Then I often find books missing in the collection and I start thinking about converting them to upload. And that's just the stuff published before 1923. I had no idea that my head would be thrown a century into the past when I bought this "modern" device.

"They tried to make me go to rehab I said no, no, no."

I have the same sort of addiction, unfortunately I am in the process of moving and it's showing its down-side. Because it's a short move (mile and a half) and we have plenty of time to do it we didn't hire movers and are doing everything in my half-ton Chevy. It will carry everything, just takes a few loads.

The sad thing was the almost full truckload of books -- which still hasn't emptied the old place.

This addiction is killing my back.

Welcome to our world. Its why this website exists! TV is only good for watching the Simpsons and shows about diving...You did that on purpose didn't you?
You left out soccer, gaelic football and rugby.:p If you've never seen a game of gaelic footbal you've never seen sports, that stuff is edge of the seat riveting action all the way through.

...
Do they have rehab for this?
...

Cassidym, I think you have to ask yourself a question:

"Am I appealing for help with a problem, or am I boasting about how large my "problem" is?"

I think we both know the answer the question, don't we? ;)

Cheers,
Marc (about to give you some good Karma, in the hope that you spend it well, like on some more books :D)

Am most definitely boasting.

In fact, a couple of years ago my wife made me haul all my books down to the condo library and it took about five trips with a large cart.

Ivan. Yes that was a joke. There are lots of things on TV i like watching. I tried to pick 2 that were the dumbest, (Even though I like the Simpsons) for comedic effect and failed... o well...

Lost is intriguing even though the writers have created an impossible situation for themselves and cant possibly truly 'explain' all the idiosyncrasies of the island.

The office is very funny.

I watch CSI sometimes but the zooming closeups of maggots crawling in dead people totally gross me out.

Everybody loves Raymond re runs are always a short brain vacation.

I dont enjoy hardly any reality TV shows or the greed based shows (Everybody wants to be a milionaire smarter than a 5th grader stuff. Although I dont condemn those or look down on anyone who likes that particular brand of Soda Pop.)

There are other shows on TV I watch...

Reading remains my pastime of choice when I'm home in the evenings. Golf and Skiing are great. Diving is supreme! Riding Motersickles in good weather is up there in the top ten. Fly fishing is engrossing. Hiking and shooting 22's in the woods is pretty cool.

I could go on and on as a great Hedonist who specializes in finding interesting and fun stuff to do.

then there's the biggie of all time... (I think everyone knows what I mean here... heh heh!)

I've always wanted to climb Mt. Everest and hang gilde!

But reading will do for those Evenings at home before I go to bed.

Good drug dealer's are hard to find, so I read instead. I think of e-book readers as really nice, expensive bongs. You can grow your own content from .txt, or buy it already grown and formatted. I don't have a problem, I can quit anytime I want. Really, I can. I promise.

Stephen King told me to blow up my TV, so now I can only watch tv on my computer if I download the show. It has to be something I really want to watch if I go through the trouble of downloading it.

Me too! I could quit anytime. Okay, okay, well, most anytime.

And I didn't buy an ebook reader so I could occasionally read at work while my boss thinks I'm just looking at a note book. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

cassidym - I would only start to worry if, one day, you wake-up inside the storyline of one of your books and find you can't escape, especially if it's a book you borrowed and you're not really enjoying it. What's even worse, maybe you already exist in the storyline of a book you read in a previous life and don't even realise it - or perhaps that's not a bad thing if you are happy in the storyline you exist in. Perhaps the storyline of whatever book we are reading is our real existence - but only while we are reading the book. Perhaps every book is a parallel universe in which we actually exist and when we put down the book we do so to escape from our true existence. I wonder what happens if you start reading a book in the storyline of the book you are already reading and in which you exist - blimey. :blink:

What's that.....yeah okay, your turn on the joint. :eek:

Tommy :p

cassidym - I would only start to worry if, one day, you wake-up inside the storyline of one of your books and find you can't escape
Tommy :p

Sounds like Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder.

Patricia - you have the advantage, I'm afraid. I'm ashamed to say I've never heard of that author [ I know that is gaspingly awful to admit ] - mind you, I don't get out much :). I'm currently [re]reading Philip K. Dick's works, so that's probably having a profound influence on my thought processes. He was a bit mental - but I do love his tangential take on life and the simplicity of his writing. Which is just as well, because I'm a simple soul who is also probably a bit mental. :D However, I will stay-back after school, do the lines and write an essay on this cheeky author who stole my idea, and whose story is probably not as good as the one I would have written. ;)

Tommy :p

From what I've read of Dick's, it felt like heavy substance abuse. Very creative though!

'Sophie's World' Which I've read in French is totally different. Psychoses brought by extreme solitudes unbridled by social guidances. Extremely slow tiring read... to me that is.

'Sophie's World' Which I've read in French is totally different. Psychoses brought by extreme solitudes unbridled by social guidances. Extremely slow tiring read... to me that is.

I like Sophie's World a lot. It is basically a philosophy book written as a story and it succeed with illustration philosophical points in the story. I know that philosophy students that wanted to repeat for an exam in history of philosophy sometimes read that book. If you like philosophy it is great.

yvan - indeed, Dick is very creative. I find the beauty of his writing, like many brilliant authors, is in its simplicity and the many themes which it explores. His writing is very direct and uncomplicated, while at the same time being subtle and mind stretching. I will look-up this philosophical Sophie thingamajig and tell what I think. However, I will have to admonish you for being a bit of 'une grande tete' for telling us you've read it in French ;). However, if you are actually French then I congratulate you on your beautiful English - and you are forgiven. :D

Tommy :p

Thank you Tommy.
French Canadian of Ukrainian, Scottish, French, Spanish and Algonquin origin(s) and I pass. This is the "New World", all bastards are here... :laugh4:

*Stands up*
"Hi, my name is Sam and I'm an e-book addict.":o

I cannot remember a time when I haven't read, I read everyday - even if it's just a page! The books...they call to me...they keep me company at 3am when the insomnia is raging!

Besides, buying a book is cheaper than paying for a tattoo (which is my other habit!) - anyone any good at tattoos?

Oh wow, reading a good book while getting a tattoo done...I've just imagined heaven :2thumbsup

You have painful passtimes Puddytat purr, and I'm not saying anything about the reading while being tatooed on unless it's one of the latest works written by Arthur C. Clarke.

yvan - I love the French language. The movement of the lips is very sensuous. Also, I love the French-Canadienne accent. It always seems to me to be full of warmth and good-fellowship. My ancestry is very eclectic also, although probably not as worldy as yours. I do have Viking, Irish and Anglo-Saxon blood - indeed I am distantly related to George Stephenson of steamtrain fame. Although I do not claim to have any of his brains or aptitude for the mechanical. However, once when I had a flat tyre I did take the spare wheel out of the boot of my car - although somebody else did change the wheel I believe :).

I got a little problem... I often find myself driving

It's not that hard to stop, you just have to slowly wean yourself off it. Start by parking further and further from the shops (choose spots where parking is easy), then buy a bicycle and learn to ride it, then start riding. After a while you'll be able to sell your car and you'll have much more money to spend on books.

See, problem solved!

Ooooooooh that's a really good idea, especially as you can't now say that you need the car to get home all your books that you buy to feed your habit!

Just make sure you put your reader somewhere safe while your pedalling