People Recognize my Ereader ... Can I Pretend its a Geiger Counter?

[faithbw]

I hardly ever have people ask me about my e-reader in public. I catch mass transit pretty frequently and no one seems to care. I admit that I usually wait until I'm seated on a bench or at a bus terminal or stop before reading. The very occasional comment that I do get is usually along the lines of "Is that a Kindle?" or "Is that an e-reader?" Nothing snarky though.

[no.guru]

Originally Posted by faithbw

I hardly ever have people ask me about my e-reader in public.

Same here. There were quite a few comments when I got my first ereader in '09, but now a person looking at a screen in public isn't noticable. Not gazing at a screen in public seems to get second looks.

[carpetmojo]

Just talk at it now and then, they'll think it's a boring old clunky mobile ............

Originally Posted by HarryT

I'm not sure where the "alone" comes into the picture . I just read while I'm eating, period .

I never sit down to a meal without one of my electronic ebook reader devices or a paper book beside me.

[BeccaPrice]

I want a cover for my kindle that says "no, I'm not reading porn."

[cfrizz]

I think since I got my first reader back in 2010 to current, I have had a total of five people ask me if that's a Kindle, ereader etc. I take public transit, and just about everyone else has their noses buried in their phones, readers, tablets, netbooks, HCs & Pprbks & newspapers.

And those who have asked, I have been more than happy to spread the word about ereaders!!!

Chill out and spread the word!

[elemenoP]

I admit, when I see people playing games on an e-ink reader like a Kindle, I have the urge to say to them, "you're supposed to be reading!" I would never say it, though. I have no such urge when I see someone using a tablet.

eP

[MidnightBlue]

Originally Posted by emellaich

Confession time: I am a reading addict, and I have always taken my books everywhere. When I drive, I have my ereader read out loud to me, and when I walk I carry a book with me.

For the last 10 to 15 years, I'd read by looking at an electronic device (from PDA through to present day). For some reason, no one ever commented when I walked and looked at an electronic device, or even an ereader in recent years.

However, now everyone knows what ereaders look like. Now, I get questions and smirks all the time. 'Watcha reading. It must be good since you can't put it down.' 'Look out, reading and walking at the same time you will run into something.'

When no one knew what an ereader was, I guess I looked like a busy businessman and didn't get any comments. Increasingly, however, I am now getting lots of snippy remarks.

I guess I need to shop for some kind of case that disguises my ereader as some mysterious gadget. Maybe a flat panel geiger counter? I can say I'm looking for fall out from the earthquakes in Japan?

I have never had an urge to read while walking - except on a treadmill with a book holder. I enjoy reading and prefer to relax when doing so, somehow walking outdoors while reading would reduce my ability to concentrate.
If you want to disguise your reader, why not make a cover for it from a hardcover book? One with a dust jacket, just remove the cover and stick it to your eReader cover.

[cromag]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

Pretend it's a bible.

People stop talking to you real quick.

Well, most will stop -- but the ones who keep on talking will become much more annoying!


Mine is almost never recognized as an ereader. I recently took my folks to a doctor's office and wound up spending a lot of time in the waiting room. There were quite a few people there, including a few Kindle users and at least one Nook. I don't think anyone noticed me.

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by emellaich

However, now everyone knows what ereaders look like. Now, I get questions and smirks all the time. 'Watcha reading. It must be good since you can't put it down.' 'Look out, reading and walking at the same time you will run into something.'

When no one knew what an ereader was, I guess I looked like a busy businessman and didn't get any comments. Increasingly, however, I am now getting lots of snippy remarks.

Your 1st example I would have answered with: "Yeah, guess some people still know how to read."; the 2nd with: "You mean like running into people disturbing me while I am reading?"
People having serious questions get serious answers from me. People making stupid comments end up wishing they didn't.
The kindle question I usually answer with: No, no portable amazon outlet, that's an independent one.

Originally Posted by BeccaPrice

I want a cover for my kindle that says "no, I'm not reading porn."

Not one that says: "I read better porn than 50 shames." would be interesting to see how many people have the courage to ask for recommendations.

[ScalyFreak]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

Not one that says: "I read better porn than 50 shames." would be interesting to see how many people have the courage to ask for recommendations.

To avoid hi-jacking the thread, just send them to me in PM

[graycyn]

Originally Posted by booklover6

Me too, I don't care if I am in a restaurant with my husband, out comes my book or usually whatever ereader I am carrying.

Guilty here as well, though in my case, hubby will also be trotting out the Sony T-1 I gave him. Sometimes we talk over meals, sometimes we read. Sometimes, if the restaurant has WiFi, we get out our Android things and have fun.

I was surprised one day, a server recognized my Note for what it was, this is a small town, I didn't expect that. He confessed to being a geek on the spot.