[Kumabjorn]

I know that in a politically correct society we are supposed to accept everybody as they are, but last Friday I was at a bar when a man in his 50's began chatting me up. He seemed smart and funny so when the inevitable question came about following him home, I thought "an older man might be more intellectually interesting fare than the normal run of 30's something". Hence, I went with him. When we got to his place I immediately noticed that he didn't have any bookshelves, so I asked him if he read on a Kindle or Sony (the latter being the dominant choice in Sweden). He looked at me dazed: "What is that?", he asked.

I just said: "Never mind, and can I use the bathroom". Once there the phone came out and a text to a friend about saving me within the next 15 minutes was sent. She called and we pretended that my parents had been in a car accident, as expected he didn't offer to drive me to the hospital (I think he smelled a ruse) and I left in a hurry.

On my way home I realized that the lack of reading, no books and no clue as to an eReader, had been a total turn-off. There was never going to be any interesting conversation, no witty repertoire, no allusions to literary characters and no reading recommendations. I felt like I would only be wasting my time, I also admit that I began to think of him as an incompetent lover (obviously the diametrically opposite might be true). I am willing to withstand scorn and condemnation for my callousness, but I am actually more curious about how the rest of you think about non-readers. Had it been a woman I'm sure I wouldn't have cared as much.