Are you using your reader to hide your reading habits?

[stop__dreaming]

I voted yes, because I do sometimes feel that people comment on what I am reading and seem to have an opinion on it which kind of makes me feel uncomfortable. Masking the fact that I am reading a certain book hides that, but then I use BookTracker via Facebook and GoodReads and detail what I am reading anyway, haha.

[Andy_T]

Originally Posted by applesauce

The only ones I hate having on there are the shades of grey. when I work out how to del them I will.

Having read some reviews on amazon, I can understand that sentiment. Mind you, not from the puritanical, but rather from the literary standpoint.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Xanthe

Nope, I got over worrying about what other people thought of my reading material once I left my teen years - a long time ago.

I never cared what others thought of my reading material. Not even during my teens and before. I started reading electronically simply because it was a lot smaller and lighter and easier to use than that large book I was toting around...

[RHWright]

Not usually. At a level between rarely and sometimes, which are not choices on the poll.

[afv011]

Originally Posted by RHWright

Not usually. At a level between rarely and sometimes, which are not choices on the poll.

That'd be a yes. The question is not "do you always", but simply "do you".

[Joykins]

Yes, I do.

I don't hide from people I know--that is, I have a public goodreads profile and list all my books there. I talk to friends about books I've read. However, I read a lot of books with embarrassing covers, mostly historical and m/m romances, and I've been in the unenviable situation where a man who just happened to be sitting next to me on a plane decided it would be great fun to just look over my shoulder and read my romance novel out loud. So yeah, I hide what I read from strangers because I don't want public attention drawn to the fact that I'm reading some silly thing about gay Regency Lords in space or whatever.

[QuantumIguana]

I don't think an e-reader does that good a job of hiding my reading habits. If I have a book that I would prefer people not know about, I can stash it in a dresser. But with an e-book, it's right there with the other books on my "bookshelf". That's why I would like to be able to have private folders.

[Andy_T]

Well, you can always stash your bookreader in your dresser...

[QuantumIguana]

I suppose I could. But if I hide my e-reader in a drawer, then I can't shove it in someone's hands so they can try it out.

[Mel]

Yes, I'm hiding my books, but as I always used book covers with paper books it's not an ebook only phenomenon. I'm not embarassed by my choices but so many don't seem to get the idea that I'm reading because I want to read, not because I'm waiting for them to talk to me. If the book is obscured it cuts down on casual comments. And I can make up the name of an imaginary book and author so they don't feel compelled to discuss plot points with me.

[Serpentine]

How many of those people were reading homoerotic Harry Potter/Alien crossover fanfic tho?

The shortfall of non-checkbox polls.

[ilovejedd]

Originally Posted by Mel

I'm not embarassed by my choices but so many don't seem to get the idea that I'm reading because I want to read, not because I'm waiting for them to talk to me. If the book is obscured it cuts down on casual comments. And I can make up the name of an imaginary book and author so they don't feel compelled to discuss plot points with me.

Same here. People can be annoying specially when you just want to be left alone and read in peace.

[QuantumIguana]

Fair enough. But some people do like the fact that their book cover can be a conversation starter. I don't mind if someone strikes up a conversation with me based on the book I am reading - so long as they don't have any ulterior motives. If they really aren't interested in the book I am reading, but only want to use it as a foot in the door to talk to me about their tracts they want to hand out, I have a problem with that.

[spindlegirl]

Originally Posted by ilovejedd

Same here. People can be annoying specially when you just want to be left alone and read in peace.

Some people don't even see giant headphones and closed eyes as a tipoff.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

My reading choices are just part of the vast world of personal interests that I hide from the world at-large. Back off, you unwashed masses! My fetishes are my own!