MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Do we need a new word for "reading" on screens since it is a very different animal?

JasonB · 11-03-2009, 02:24 PM

I'll admit that I only read the first and last pages of discussion here - I skipped over the middle 10 pages. So, what I'm about to say may or may not have been said. It probably has been, but I'm going to say it anyway just because I feel the need to respond regardless. <grin>

If we come up with a different word to describe reading on a screen rather than a book - then we can follow that argument to include reading a magazine, a billboard, text on a TV, text on vehicles that are moving swiftly by us, etc.

I find the whole question and debate pretty much a non-issue. In my opinion, there's absolutely no reason to introduce a new word at all. (Unless you think it might be "cool" - but that's not a good reason.) We read the same way regardless of what medium it is that we're reading. I can think of no good reason to introduce another word just for this one particular medium (as opposed to any others).

11-03-2009, 02:24 PM	#169
JasonB Connoisseur Posts: 92 Karma: 15000 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Sony PRS-505	I'll admit that I only read the first and last pages of discussion here - I skipped over the middle 10 pages. So, what I'm about to say may or may not have been said. It probably has been, but I'm going to say it anyway just because I feel the need to respond regardless. <grin> If we come up with a different word to describe reading on a screen rather than a book - then we can follow that argument to include reading a magazine, a billboard, text on a TV, text on vehicles that are moving swiftly by us, etc. I find the whole question and debate pretty much a non-issue. In my opinion, there's absolutely no reason to introduce a new word at all. (Unless you think it might be "cool" - but that's not a good reason.) We read the same way regardless of what medium it is that we're reading. I can think of no good reason to introduce another word just for this one particular medium (as opposed to any others).