Do you like reading or web-surfing better? - Page 2

menevets · 08-16-2010, 09:47 AM

Web surfing is a general term.

I could be reading the Sunday New York Times for hours on the web - does that count as reading or surfing? I read the articles to completion and the paper has my 100% attention.

I love reading real books and newspapers and they have their advantages, but on the web, you have an immediate social aspect in the comments. Yeah, there's some brainless, nasty stuff out there, but there's alot of good comments as well, some better than the actual article. And if you have a friend to ichat with, that's even better.

Maggie Leung · 08-16-2010, 10:06 AM

It's a tie for me between books and Internet. I read a lot of nonfiction and news. What puts me in psychological flow state is editing, which I do for a living. Neither books nor Internet come anywhere close to editing for me. Flow meaning this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

GA Russell · 08-16-2010, 10:54 AM

Considering the amount of time I spend on each, I voted for web surfing. But a good book is so much more satisfying than an informative website.

Maggie May · 08-16-2010, 04:45 PM

I prefer to read. I only surf the net if I'm looking for something in particular, or I want to buy something I can't get in the stores. If I start surfing the net something is bound to catch my eye, and off I go in a direction I never intended to go in the first place. Before I know it, a couple of hours have flown by. Time I could have spent relaxing and reading a good book.

Slan
Mag.

JeremyZ · 08-16-2010, 05:49 PM

Well, remember that I asked about enjoyment. One member made the good point that he makes better lasting leisure memories by reading a book than by surfing. That is certainly enjoyable. But is it more enjoyable than blowing 2 hours watching hilarious youtube videos? Maybe not, maybe so.

I think a lot of us use the web for learning, and that can certainly be fun too. Especially since it is tailored to our own style and search terms.

One thing I've noticed is that I can surf the web seemingly without end, but I can only read for an hour or two before I am ready for a nap. Weird.

I bet that folks with short attention spans and/or ADD/ADHD like surfing better.

I also think they supplement each other well, surfing and reading books. All of us avid readers are a bit less loners because of this forum than we would be otherwise. Just social in a more private way, I guess.

FlorenceArt · 08-17-2010, 03:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by menevets

Web surfing is a general term.

I could be reading the Sunday New York Times for hours on the web - does that count as reading or surfing? I read the articles to completion and the paper has my 100% attention.

I love reading real books and newspapers and they have their advantages, but on the web, you have an immediate social aspect in the comments. Yeah, there's some brainless, nasty stuff out there, but there's alot of good comments as well, some better than the actual article. And if you have a friend to ichat with, that's even better.

You know, it's something I have never been able to do. I read the NYT on the web too, occasionally, but I have trouble concentrating on what I read until the end of the article.

I think it's a matter of multitasking. I never sit down at my computer to read. I do it between other tasks, either at home or at work. Reading on the web is a more or less guilty pleasure, a break from more serious and boring stuff.

Also, sitting in front of the computer is not a comfortable position. Even on my sofa with my laptop, I am never as comfortable as reading a book.

HarryT · 08-17-2010, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Also, sitting in front of the computer is not a comfortable position. Even on my sofa with my laptop, I am never as comfortable as reading a book.

That's what's nice about surfing the web on the iPad. It's as comfortable to do as reading a book. The BBC News site is my main source of news, so I spend quite a lot of time each day reading that.

menevets · 08-17-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's what's nice about surfing the web on the iPad. It's as comfortable to do as reading a book. The BBC News site is my main source of news, so I spend quite a lot of time each day reading that.

Totally agree. The tablet form, for me, was custom made for reading the Sunday papers. Not perfect for writing comments, but good enough.

Go to a cafe that features lots of kids playing WOW and you'll see lots of people sitting for hours and hours, long hours. With me, it's the same except I'm reading. The key is to get up and stretch every so often or break up the time with exercise.

Maggie Leung · 08-18-2010, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

That's what's nice about surfing the web on the iPad. It's as comfortable to do as reading a book. The BBC News site is my main source of news, so I spend quite a lot of time each day reading that.

Yup. My husband and I used to spend hours reading the Sunday papers, with them spread out all over our long dining table, while we had a lazy breakfast or brunch. We still do that, minus the print papers.

View Poll Results: Do you like reading or web-surfing better
Reading, by a lot	45	47.87%
Reading, by a little	15	15.96%
Tie	25	26.60%
Surfing, by a lot	3	3.19%
Surfing, by a little	6	6.38%
Voters: 94. You may not vote on this poll

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08-16-2010, 09:47 AM	#16
menevets Connoisseur Posts: 88 Karma: 750010 Join Date: Nov 2009 Device: PRS-300/Kindle 4 basic/iPad/iPod Touch/iPhone/Nexus 7	Web surfing is a general term. I could be reading the Sunday New York Times for hours on the web - does that count as reading or surfing? I read the articles to completion and the paper has my 100% attention. I love reading real books and newspapers and they have their advantages, but on the web, you have an immediate social aspect in the comments. Yeah, there's some brainless, nasty stuff out there, but there's alot of good comments as well, some better than the actual article. And if you have a friend to ichat with, that's even better.

08-16-2010, 10:06 AM	#17
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	It's a tie for me between books and Internet. I read a lot of nonfiction and news. What puts me in psychological flow state is editing, which I do for a living. Neither books nor Internet come anywhere close to editing for me. Flow meaning this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)

08-16-2010, 10:54 AM	#18
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	Considering the amount of time I spend on each, I voted for web surfing. But a good book is so much more satisfying than an informative website.

08-16-2010, 04:45 PM	#19
Maggie May Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,907 Karma: 87755439 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ireland Device: CYbook Gen3 and Sony PRS 3505 Kindle 3 G Nexus 7 iPad	I prefer to read. I only surf the net if I'm looking for something in particular, or I want to buy something I can't get in the stores. If I start surfing the net something is bound to catch my eye, and off I go in a direction I never intended to go in the first place. Before I know it, a couple of hours have flown by. Time I could have spent relaxing and reading a good book. Slan Mag.

08-16-2010, 05:49 PM	#20
JeremyZ Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 1000702 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Nook ST, Kindle 2, Samsung Galaxy Stellar phone	Well, remember that I asked about enjoyment. One member made the good point that he makes better lasting leisure memories by reading a book than by surfing. That is certainly enjoyable. But is it more enjoyable than blowing 2 hours watching hilarious youtube videos? Maybe not, maybe so. I think a lot of us use the web for learning, and that can certainly be fun too. Especially since it is tailored to our own style and search terms. One thing I've noticed is that I can surf the web seemingly without end, but I can only read for an hour or two before I am ready for a nap. Weird. I bet that folks with short attention spans and/or ADD/ADHD like surfing better. I also think they supplement each other well, surfing and reading books. All of us avid readers are a bit less loners because of this forum than we would be otherwise. Just social in a more private way, I guess.

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