Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread - Page 75

Synamon · 03-08-2012, 10:17 AM

I've bought 7 books already this week. The $0.25 deals are too good to pass up and Poisoned Pen has another batch of $.99 mysteries out, plus there are Read an E-Book week deals.

ignacio ferrer · 03-08-2012, 11:17 AM

Maybe this has been asked before(because of the lenght of the thread I couldn't check).
Almost everybody says "I am an addict", but no one stated something as to why they are buying these books and what kind of benefit there is.
The alcoholic gets more sociable or relaxed or unconscious, the heroin addict gets some high, the gambler experiences excitement and so on.
Ebookwise you acquire immaterial objects that you can easily buy tomorrow or whenever you wish. They will not go away.
I don't think there are withdrawal symptoms.
As far as free ebooks go I can't see any problem at all.
In case of "real" books there is the collector. He/she can at least look at their books or hope for price appreciation.
So to sum it up: I would call the described phenomenon a silly habit or maybe just a habit.
Doesn't it lack the seriousness to be called an addiction?

HomeInMyShoes · 03-08-2012, 11:51 AM

^It's called oniomania or shopping addiction.

For the most part the thread is in jest and is really just there to point out to people that maybe some of us should stop buying e-books that we probably will never get around to reading. There may be actual oniomania people on the forum so I will apologize to them for taking the thread in jest at times.

pdurrant · 03-08-2012, 01:04 PM

Shopping can be addictive for some. But I don't have a problem really. Not me.

Sydney's Mom · 03-08-2012, 03:44 PM

What does it hurt? Well, your reading tastes can change. I have three floor to ceiling bookcases in the basement, filled with gory misteries and true crime books. Doublestacked. I bought them in my 30s and 40s, thinking that when I was old and eating dog food (lawyers tend to consider the worst case senario, drives my husband crazy!) and had no money for books, I would still have something to read. Now, these just take up space.

Now I like reading bestsellers, political and bodice rippers, the later which I wouldn't be reading at all without an ereader to hide the covers. I bought about 400 Harlequin books in Jan for 5 cents. Why? I was kicked out of the Chicago Public Library's reciprocal borrowing program, and my library doesn't have them. I am not making much of a dent in my 4000 book backlist, though. Mainly since most of the publishers have stopped selling bestsellers to the libraries, so I go online and reserve the hard cover. Brought 3 home today - all due the 22nd. (Before I Go to Sleep, The Art of Fielding and The Marriage Plot). But in bed tonight I will continue my Harlequin baseball romance (Opening Day is almost here!).

pdurrant · 03-08-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

I am not making much of a dent in my 4000 book backlist, though.

And I thought I was being excessive with my 400-odd backlist!

CRussel · 03-08-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Shopping can be addictive for some. But I don't have a problem really. Not me.

I don't have a problem. I can handle it. I can stop any time.

But this thread DOES help me keep perspective. (And a book I'd been refusing to buy at $12.99 finally came down under $10. So I broke down and bought it. )

Sydney's Mom · 03-08-2012, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And I thought I was being excessive with my 400-odd backlist!

Yes, I said I would stop when I got to 1000. Then 2000. You get the picture. I cannot stop. I will never read all these books. But all they do is take up a little disc space.

pdurrant · 03-08-2012, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Yes, I said I would stop when I got to 1000. Then 2000. You get the picture. I cannot stop. I will never read all these books. But all they do is take up a little disc space.

And space in your head...

Have you tried following the rules for acquisitions we've come up with in this thread?

* Add to wish list rather than buying
* Only buy if on special offer and on your wish list
* Only exception is most recent in series by favourite authors.

pdurrant · 03-08-2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I don't have a problem. I can handle it. I can stop any time.

But this thread DOES help me keep perspective. (And a book I'd been refusing to buy at $12.99 finally came down under $10. So I broke down and bought it. )

Fair enough. On your wishlist, and finally on special offer (or has come out in paperback).

Sydney's Mom · 03-08-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And space in your head...

Have you tried following the rules for acquisitions we've come up with in this thread?

* Add to wish list rather than buying
* Only buy if on special offer and on your wish list
* Only exception is most recent in series by favourite authors.

Actually, they don't take up any space in my head - for the most part, I forget what I have read at the same time I delete it from my kindle. That is why I keep even books I have read in Calibre - otherwise I would buy them over and over . . .

I thought this was a place to whine (or wine), not actually try and control myself. I can't think of any reason to actually put the breaks on - it isn't expensive cause a lot are free or really, really cheap. It doesn't take up any room. And most of all -- if I stopped, my husband would just spend the $$ on his bike collection anyhow. But it really impressed my daughter when she saw it the other day. Just further proof her mother is clueless.

pdurrant · 03-08-2012, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydney's Mom

Actually, they don't take up any space in my head - for the most part, I forget what I have read at the same time I delete it from my kindle. That is why I keep even books I have read in Calibre - otherwise I would buy them over and over . . .

I thought this was a place to whine (or wine), not actually try and control myself. I can't think of any reason to actually put the breaks on - it isn't expensive cause a lot are free or really, really cheap. It doesn't take up any room. And most of all -- if I stopped, my husband would just spend the $$ on his bike collection anyhow. But it really impressed my daughter when she saw it the other day. Just further proof her mother is clueless.

Well, I must admit that we don't count freebies around here...

And if you're happy, then you're OK.

Sydney's Mom · 03-08-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And if you're happy, then you're OK.

I don't know about that. Need more time to read!

mikaelalind · 03-17-2012, 03:04 PM

I have 300 unread books in Calibre, and I just bought books for 34 dollar on ARe. Oops. On the other hand I'll get half of it back in e-book bucks. Which I can use to purchase more books. Oh.Wait.

pdurrant · 03-17-2012, 05:45 PM

Welcome to the thread.

Some simple guidelines to help you get your TBR list under control:

* Add to wish list rather than buying
* Only buy if on special offer and on your wish list
* Only exception is most recent in series by favourite authors.

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03-08-2012, 10:17 AM	#1111
Synamon Lunatic Posts: 1,691 Karma: 4386372 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Land of the Loonie Device: Kindle Paperwhite and Keyboard, Kobo Aura, iPad mini, iPod Touch	I've bought 7 books already this week. The $0.25 deals are too good to pass up and Poisoned Pen has another batch of $.99 mysteries out, plus there are Read an E-Book week deals.

03-08-2012, 11:17 AM	#1112
ignacio ferrer Banned Posts: 200 Karma: 289206 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: Onyx M92	Maybe this has been asked before(because of the lenght of the thread I couldn't check). Almost everybody says "I am an addict", but no one stated something as to why they are buying these books and what kind of benefit there is. The alcoholic gets more sociable or relaxed or unconscious, the heroin addict gets some high, the gambler experiences excitement and so on. Ebookwise you acquire immaterial objects that you can easily buy tomorrow or whenever you wish. They will not go away. I don't think there are withdrawal symptoms. As far as free ebooks go I can't see any problem at all. In case of "real" books there is the collector. He/she can at least look at their books or hope for price appreciation. So to sum it up: I would call the described phenomenon a silly habit or maybe just a habit. Doesn't it lack the seriousness to be called an addiction?

03-08-2012, 11:51 AM	#1113
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	^It's called oniomania or shopping addiction. For the most part the thread is in jest and is really just there to point out to people that maybe some of us should stop buying e-books that we probably will never get around to reading. There may be actual oniomania people on the forum so I will apologize to them for taking the thread in jest at times.

03-08-2012, 01:04 PM	#1114
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,126 Karma: 315558334 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Shopping can be addictive for some. But I don't have a problem really. Not me.

03-08-2012, 03:44 PM	#1115
Sydney's Mom Wizard Posts: 2,899 Karma: 6995721 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Idaho, on the side of a mountain Device: Kindle Oasis, Fire 3d Gen and 5th Gen and Samsung Tab S	What does it hurt? Well, your reading tastes can change. I have three floor to ceiling bookcases in the basement, filled with gory misteries and true crime books. Doublestacked. I bought them in my 30s and 40s, thinking that when I was old and eating dog food (lawyers tend to consider the worst case senario, drives my husband crazy!) and had no money for books, I would still have something to read. Now, these just take up space. Now I like reading bestsellers, political and bodice rippers, the later which I wouldn't be reading at all without an ereader to hide the covers. I bought about 400 Harlequin books in Jan for 5 cents. Why? I was kicked out of the Chicago Public Library's reciprocal borrowing program, and my library doesn't have them. I am not making much of a dent in my 4000 book backlist, though. Mainly since most of the publishers have stopped selling bestsellers to the libraries, so I go online and reserve the hard cover. Brought 3 home today - all due the 22nd. (Before I Go to Sleep, The Art of Fielding and The Marriage Plot). But in bed tonight I will continue my Harlequin baseball romance (Opening Day is almost here!).

03-17-2012, 03:04 PM	#1124
mikaelalind Fanatic Posts: 590 Karma: 788068 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Sweden Device: Sony PRS 505, Cybook Odessey	I have 300 unread books in Calibre, and I just bought books for 34 dollar on ARe. Oops. On the other hand I'll get half of it back in e-book bucks. Which I can use to purchase more books. Oh.Wait.

03-17-2012, 05:45 PM	#1125
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 74,126 Karma: 315558334 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Oasis	Welcome to the thread. Some simple guidelines to help you get your TBR list under control: * Add to wish list rather than buying * Only buy if on special offer and on your wish list * Only exception is most recent in series by favourite authors.