Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw
There's been lots of stuff you and I have disagreed about on here over the years. We've both said stuff that the other does not agree with, but I'd be appalled if you thought I was insulting you every time we disagreed. Certainly, for my part, none of it was intended as insult.
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I've never thought you were insulting me over the years. If I had, I'd have let you know. That's another perfect example of why I prefer to let people know when I feel they've intentionally insulted me: there's no wondering.
Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw
So why is "real books" any different? Even if the person using the phase is suggesting ebooks are in some way fake things, such a patently false statement seems to hold no weight or impact (for me) as an insult. I am at a loss to see why it should be different for other people.
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You're making the mistake of assuming that those two words alone are capable of offending me. My conversations with people are rarely two words long. It would take a very special person to come up to me and offend me by saying "I prefer real books. Goodbye." It's through continued conversation, and multiple--and quite haughty--uses of the phrase, coupled with some sort of explicit statement that I can't be a "real reader" if I don't read "real books." Or that my penchant for ebooks is actually detrimental to the rest of the literary world. Or that enlightened people only read "real books" and would never settle for reading on a **shudder** device **shudder**.
I'm glad that you've never had the displeasure of having to deal with any of these dicks, but I have. Several times. They exist, and they intend to insult with their use of "real books". So I take offense, and let them know I feel insulted. Saves me the trouble of having to pretend they didn't insult me. Also lets friends know they should probably not invite me and those particular people to the same events. It's a win/win for all involved.