Quote:
Originally Posted by J. Strnad
The big loss came when we moved from papyrus scrolls to paper books. I loved the reedy smell of papyrus and the continuous flow of the scroll over the herky-jerky movement of text through pages.
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I've never quite understood this analogy, or rather I've never appreciated its intention. Many people who call upon nostalgia and emotion to defend their preference for real books simply aren't able to sufficiently articulate their opinions. Sure, some folks are simply stubbornly ignorant, but many others do not fully appreciate intangible media.
Scrolls, books, clay tablets, stacks of photocopies, carved toilet seats...all of these things are tangible and can be interacted with directly. They do not depend on intermediary devices, complex electronics, or software to remain usable. That is a big advantage for many people.
I still wish it were possible to print/bind ebooks conveniently and cheaply. I am stuck buying hard copies of every book I really enjoy.