Quote:
Originally Posted by MrDoug
How can anyone be so naive to be able to read a fiction book? I don't get it! Please explain.
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Assuming this is for real (am I'm not that sure) and looking at the choice of words in the question here is my explanation:
I assume that you use naivety here as the act of being too credulous, accepting things at face value, etc. In that case the answer is that naivety has nothing to do with fiction. You can be naive and enjoy fiction or you can be the most cynical and critical person and also enjoy fiction.
To read fiction does not mean that you need to believe that what you read is true. You do not even need to believe that it could be true (e.g. fantasy cannot be true).
Reading fiction has simply to do with a temporary and voluntary suspension of disbelief, a temporary and voluntary act of vicariously living a few moments as an imaginary "other". This is what fiction authors strive to achieve.
The point is not to find out facts, the point is to have the story play with your emotions. A thriller thrills, a horror scares, a comedy makes you laugh or smile, a tragedy makes you sad. For that to work you have to make-believe that the characters are real, else you won't care and if you don't care then your emotions cannot be engaged.
Naivety has more to do with non-fiction actually. Non-fiction does not equal truth. Naive people believe whatever non-fiction they read. They do not use critical thinking and just accept things as they are given to them. Frequently they will change their mind according to the latest "fact" they read (be it in a newspaper, a conspiracy magazine, a religious book, etc.).
If you are saying that you have never read fiction or that you've tried and did not get into it then I'm not sure that this is a skill that can be taught. Especially if you do not like "fiction" as a film which is supposed to be more easily "digestible".
I may be wrong of course.