Quote:
Originally Posted by speakingtohe
Ahh, a conspiracy theorist, or an anti conspiracy theorist perhaps. I have to admire your faith that truth and justice will prevail. 50,000 to one is long odds to buck if any of the 50,000 have a vested interest. If I was the greatest expert in the world, which I think we both know I am not, and in possession of the first written copy of one Shakespeare's (or was it Roger Bacon) plays I would not bet on being able to prove it, no more than if it was an electronic copy of the original. So while I might believe I was right, what good would that do me.
A paper book that you hold in your hands is indeed unchangeable while you have complete control over it. But is it the original version? Has it come unedited, unchanged and unexpurgated, completely as the author intended. Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't see how being on paper makes it any more inherently truthful or better. Sure it is what you bought and hasn't changed since you bought it. But if you lost it could you say for sure that a replacement copy was exactly the same. If you bought one of the same print run you probably could, but if it was not how could you know without relying on memory.
You acquire a copy PD book a hundred years old, you can bet dollars to doughnuts it has been bowdlerized at some time. Sure your copy never changes, but is your copy the absolute real original as it was written and do you know that for a fact. Doubtful. An ebook copy of James Patterson's latest is more likely to be as the original. If not there would be feathers flying.
I think it was much more possible to change books in the public consciousness in print in bygone days before there were ebooks and widespread distribution of them. Just let anyone try and readjust the story of a modern thriller and see what a hue and cry would arise. There are those who object to typos being removed in newer editions because it destroys the authenticity.
Bowdlerization may be scary, but nothing new.
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OK, I shouldn't have said "original," necessarily, but a paper copy would mean that as of whatever date that edition was issued, this was the exact text being published. Changes to paper books can't be made in the blink of an eye as they can with digital files.