[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Thanks. Not really guilt, because obviously I cannot myself keep a bookstore open. But I understand why they are leaving. And I don't think my behavior is irrational. A quarter of the store is taken up with "stuff," rather than books. There used to be a section for staff picks, but now it was teen bestsellers and children's bestsellers in addition to NYT bestsellers.

I remember before ereaders, before the internet, really, you could spend hours in a bookstore, just taking a look at all the books. Now, they just have the stuff I see on the internet. I did pick up the books n bytes magazine, and learned about the book "California." It looked good, so I recommended it to my library.

I guess my lament is about the lack of personal interaction in our current society. It used to be, if you wanted to see a movie, you went to the theatre. If you wanted to buy a book, you went to a book store. If you wanted groceries, yarn, clothing, just about anything but a car, you went someplace, probably several someplaces, and interacted with people. Now, you see young people texting back and forth when they are sitting right next to each other!

Oh well, The world will continue on, I suppose.

I agree about not liking to see local business fail. I have numerous small stores that I support because I appreciate the convenience or the quality. Most of my non electronic shopping is done at B&M stores.

Aside from bookstores, which seemed to be taking a big hit long before Amazon and other online booksellers, things haven't changed much in my city.

Big chains take over smaller chains and are in turn taken over themselves. Small businesses open and close. Quite a few expand into small chains.

In the dense commercial areas and malls, 99% of the space is occupied, and these areas get larger not smaller. There are exceptions, smaller suburbs are over building retail space and expecting exorbitant rents with no foot traffic etc. but this is not from businesses failing.

I think that most things will continue as usual for a few years at least and society will adapt to preserve itself.

Of course we may evolve into a SF type society where we will all be fed by tubes and have brain implants. Somehow I doubt it as most people want to get out and about occasionally.

Helen