Are we escapists?

Alphapheemail · 03-23-2009, 04:49 PM

I was talking to a friend of mine and I was telling him how ever since I had the pleasure of welcoming my e-reader into my life I am devouring books ( I just started the Ender saga by Orson Scott) and I could never be happier!
He stated how he never really could understand how people read so much and he could never do it unless it was DIY books. He ended the convo by saying that he felt that people who had their noses so much in other worlds and lives were just trying to escape from their own realities.

Now, it did sound weird and somewhat true to an extent, but I still felt a bit apprehensive because I do not feel that's my main reason for reading so much.

I wanted to get the general opinion on this subject from the lovely gals and gents in this forum.

Thnx

Michelle

pilotbob · 03-23-2009, 04:51 PM

That's rather a strange opinion coming from an author.

To me, it is just another form of recreation. So people like movies, some tv, some sports, some bowling, some concerts, some magic shows, some even like circus and clowns, and some folks like to go to a parade... and then some people like to read.

Weird, just weird.

BOb

EDIT: I just re-read this, I thought you had said that Card said this in the book foreward or something. Now I see you said that a friend said it. Yes, alot of non-readers don't get it. Heck we all have different interests.

RickyMaveety · 03-23-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphapheemail

I was talking to a friend of mine and I was telling him how ever since I had the pleasure of welcoming my e-reader into my life I am devouring books ( I just started the Ender saga by Orson Scott) and I could never be happier!
He stated how he never really could understand how people read so much and he could never do it unless it was DIY books. He ended the convo by saying that he felt that people who had their noses so much in other worlds and lives were just trying to escape from their own realities.

Now, it did sound weird and somewhat true to an extent, but I still felt a bit apprehensive because I do not feel that's my main reason for reading so much.

I wanted to get the general opinion on this subject from the lovely gals and gents in this forum.

Thnx

Michelle

I suppose it depends a little on what you like to read. But, yes, reading is one form of escapism. Like BOb mentioned, so are movies, and games, and sports, and traveling.

But then, anything that is escapist can also give you another perspective on life or on yourself, so it's also broadening and educational.

I spent a lot of my youth sick in bed, and this was long before Netflix and cable TV. So, all that I had to keep me entertained were books. I learned early on that if I always had a book with me, I never had to be upset with anyone for being late (even if it was late with my meds), or be bored (anywhere .... I take a good book with me to football and baseball games ... because I hate football and baseball ... I sit in the back of the box with a glass of wine and a few shrimp, and I read).

So, that's your friend's opinion of reading, and personally, I think it's a load of crap. No ... that's too harsh. It's half crap and half interesting theory.

shighfield · 03-23-2009, 06:49 PM

Some people love movies, other's watch TV we like to read. I do admit I like to loose myself in a good book, but I don't think that makes me someone trying to escape his own life.

badgoodDeb · 03-23-2009, 06:55 PM

Reading books is also good exercise for the brain. (Tell this to the friends who spend all their time at the gym.) When I haven't had time to read in a while, I get tongue tied, and can't think of the word I'm looking for. When I've been flying through a bunch of books, I have lots of words available in my brain!

Oh, and it also exercises in that it helps keep Alzheimer's at bay.

So tell your friend that you are exercising the grey matter!

Idoine · 03-23-2009, 07:11 PM

When I'm reading a good book (for me !) I'm immersed in it, almost nothing can disturb me from the story (even very late at night, it's extremely rare I fall asleep on a book !

). It's a real escaping for me, no doubt !

But some just can't do that.
They can't be immersed in a tale that is too foreign of real life.

I have a friend that is reading History or Crime quite a lot, and doesn't go with Fantasy or Sci-Fi, and is always amazed of my ease at immersing myself into this sort of Fiction !

PS : Sorry if my turns of phrases are not exactly correct, not my mother language...

Edit : By the way, my english comes almost completely from my readings, so it's another interest in the reading of various types !

Over · 03-23-2009, 07:13 PM

It's interesting how readers, when confronted with escapism, answer with a "tv/games/movies are forms of escapism too!", as if in the defensive.

tompe · 03-23-2009, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over

It's interesting how readers, when confronted with escapism, answer with a "tv/games/movies are forms of escapism too!", as if in the defensive.

Yes, strange. Reading or watching TV is part of life. So I really do not get the talk about escapism from real life since I do not see that you can say that one way to live is more correct or real than another way. Maybe you can talk about escaping from somehing else you really should be doing considering your goals but that is another thing.

badgoodDeb · 03-23-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Idoine

When I'm reading a good book (for me !) I'm immersed in it, almost nothing can disturb me from the story (even very late at night, it's extremely rare I fall asleep on a book !

). It's a real escaping for me, no doubt !

Yup, me too. I can tell myself I'll quit at midnight .... but even with a chime clock I just DO NOT HEAR midnight go by. I'll ask myself if it even chimed? Maybe it's broken? But it chimes every *other* time just fine, so I'm sure it's just me. And I agree, I don't read as a means to fall asleep! Though I'm sure I could find books that work well to put me to sleep -- they aren't the ones I choose to read!

Ervserver · 03-23-2009, 08:05 PM

The Mrs reads all fantasy books, I tell her she does so to escape reality. I believe she needs to moderate and mix it up a bit, try reading some other things.

badgoodDeb · 03-23-2009, 08:07 PM

Riiiiiight. Suggest that, and she's likely to switch to romance novels. Have you *seen* the kind of detail they go into, in the modern romance books? I like Georgette Heyer, and other Regency authors --- where there might be a kiss on the last page of the book. Certain other authors seem to have a mandate of at least 3 steamy sex scenes per book. Don't get her started on that!

RickyMaveety · 03-23-2009, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Over

It's interesting how readers, when confronted with escapism, answer with a "tv/games/movies are forms of escapism too!", as if in the defensive.

Nothing defensive about it. Everybody needs some form of escape from time to time. I'd rather it be reading than drugs, or movies rather than alcohol.

Alphapheemail · 03-23-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

That's rather a strange opinion coming from an author.

To me, it is just another form of recreation. So people like movies, some tv, some sports, some bowling, some concerts, some magic shows, some even like circus and clowns, and some folks like to go to a parade... and then some people like to read.

Weird, just weird.

BOb

EDIT: I just re-read this, I thought you had said that Card said this in the book foreward or something. Now I see you said that a friend said it. Yes, alot of non-readers don't get it. Heck we all have different interests.

You know now that you say that it is a good point! Kinda like how people lose themselves in video games.

Alphapheemail · 03-23-2009, 09:00 PM

You know, thanks guys you all have good points that I did not see before. For a sec I thought that the bailout and such had me in such a rut that I ran to my books! Hehe

But one thing is for sure, we can't be escaping with stories that touch on so many reality planes, each book gives us something to which we then go forward and then apply to our own lives. So it cannot be escaping when you're trying to make sense of things... wether it be in a physics journal or im my case the saga of a super intelligent 6 y.o.

no?

RickyMaveety · 03-23-2009, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alphapheemail

You know, thanks guys you all have good points that I did not see before. For a sec I thought that the bailout and such had me in such a rut that I ran to my books! Hehe

But one thing is for sure, we can't be escaping with stories that touch on so many reality planes, each book gives us something to which we then go forward and then apply to our own lives. So it cannot be escaping when you're trying to make sense of things... wether it be in a physics journal or im my case the saga of a super intelligent 6 y.o.

no?

True. Not everybody reads to escape all the time. I love true crime stuff for the same reason I love to watch slasher movies. They make me feel ever so much better about my own life. I think of them not so much as an escape, as a perspective device.

03-23-2009, 04:49 PM	#1
Alphapheemail .a ribbon around a bomb. Posts: 639 Karma: 4334 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: sigh... ny Device: PRS700	Are we escapists? I was talking to a friend of mine and I was telling him how ever since I had the pleasure of welcoming my e-reader into my life I am devouring books ( I just started the Ender saga by Orson Scott) and I could never be happier! He stated how he never really could understand how people read so much and he could never do it unless it was DIY books. He ended the convo by saying that he felt that people who had their noses so much in other worlds and lives were just trying to escape from their own realities. Now, it did sound weird and somewhat true to an extent, but I still felt a bit apprehensive because I do not feel that's my main reason for reading so much. I wanted to get the general opinion on this subject from the lovely gals and gents in this forum. Thnx Michelle

03-23-2009, 04:51 PM	#2
pilotbob Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,832 Karma: 11844413 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tampa, FL USA Device: Kindle Touch	That's rather a strange opinion coming from an author. To me, it is just another form of recreation. So people like movies, some tv, some sports, some bowling, some concerts, some magic shows, some even like circus and clowns, and some folks like to go to a parade... and then some people like to read. Weird, just weird. BOb EDIT: I just re-read this, I thought you had said that Card said this in the book foreward or something. Now I see you said that a friend said it. Yes, alot of non-readers don't get it. Heck we all have different interests. Last edited by pilotbob; 03-23-2009 at 05:14 PM.

03-23-2009, 07:11 PM	#6
Idoine Which book will be next ? Posts: 661 Karma: 2172 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: France Device: Cybook Gen3 1.5, Sony PRS 600 RC, Samsung Omnia...	When I'm reading a good book (for me !) I'm immersed in it, almost nothing can disturb me from the story (even very late at night, it's extremely rare I fall asleep on a book !). It's a real escaping for me, no doubt ! But some just can't do that. They can't be immersed in a tale that is too foreign of real life. I have a friend that is reading History or Crime quite a lot, and doesn't go with Fantasy or Sci-Fi, and is always amazed of my ease at immersing myself into this sort of Fiction ! PS : Sorry if my turns of phrases are not exactly correct, not my mother language... Edit : By the way, my english comes almost completely from my readings, so it's another interest in the reading of various types ! Last edited by Idoine; 03-23-2009 at 07:15 PM.

03-23-2009, 06:49 PM	#4
shighfield Groupie!? GROUPIE!?!? Posts: 319 Karma: 649 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The Dirty Shwa Device: EBW 1150, Libra Color	Some people love movies, other's watch TV we like to read. I do admit I like to loose myself in a good book, but I don't think that makes me someone trying to escape his own life.

03-23-2009, 06:55 PM	#5
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,574 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Reading books is also good exercise for the brain. (Tell this to the friends who spend all their time at the gym.) When I haven't had time to read in a while, I get tongue tied, and can't think of the word I'm looking for. When I've been flying through a bunch of books, I have lots of words available in my brain! Oh, and it also exercises in that it helps keep Alzheimer's at bay. So tell your friend that you are exercising the grey matter!

03-23-2009, 07:13 PM	#7
Over Wizard Posts: 1,462 Karma: 6061516 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Cascais, Portugal Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6	It's interesting how readers, when confronted with escapism, answer with a "tv/games/movies are forms of escapism too!", as if in the defensive.

03-23-2009, 08:05 PM	#10
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	The Mrs reads all fantasy books, I tell her she does so to escape reality. I believe she needs to moderate and mix it up a bit, try reading some other things.

03-23-2009, 08:07 PM	#11
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,574 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Riiiiiight. Suggest that, and she's likely to switch to romance novels. Have you seen the kind of detail they go into, in the modern romance books? I like Georgette Heyer, and other Regency authors --- where there might be a kiss on the last page of the book. Certain other authors seem to have a mandate of at least 3 steamy sex scenes per book. Don't get her started on that!

03-23-2009, 09:00 PM	#14
Alphapheemail .a ribbon around a bomb. Posts: 639 Karma: 4334 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: sigh... ny Device: PRS700	You know, thanks guys you all have good points that I did not see before. For a sec I thought that the bailout and such had me in such a rut that I ran to my books! Hehe But one thing is for sure, we can't be escaping with stories that touch on so many reality planes, each book gives us something to which we then go forward and then apply to our own lives. So it cannot be escaping when you're trying to make sense of things... wether it be in a physics journal or im my case the saga of a super intelligent 6 y.o. no?

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