Paper books still have an advantage

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by Asawi

Oh, I hear people saying they read "real books", but often they use that term because they don't have a better one. They don't do it because they think it's "superior", but because they haven't tried any alternative besides audiobooks. Maybe they've tried reading on their cell phone, and if that would be the only alternative to paperbooks I can totally understand why they prefer "real books". I probably would too! As soon as they understand how a dedicated eReader works they tend to realize that it's pretty much the same thing as reading a "real book" and that's it. We can then move on to arguing/discussing about what genres or authors are "worthy" of our attention...

Perhaps you're right. Very, very few people here have ever seen an ereader or know what it is. They think it's the same as your average tablet.

[DiapDealer]

I never said I paid much attention to them. But the pushback was there from the beginning. Whenever I shared that I had adopted ebooks, the book-petters and book-sniffers came out of the woodwork to voice their disdain.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes. I've met enough people who say "I like to read REAL books". They may not consciously feel superior, but the fact they use the word "real" speaks pretty loudly.

I've even seen people using the phrase "real books" (meaning paper) among the MR members.

Seeing as eBooks or audiobooks are often used for accessibility, I can also see a touch of ableism in it.

This was in a cozy mystery I read and it almost made me hurl my reader into a wall:

After making sure that his passengers were comfortable in the back of the luxurious car, he’d steer the majestic sedan over the winding roads leading to Storyton Hall. During the scenic drive, he’d gently and courteously remind the guests of the resort’s restrictions on technology.

“Storyton aims to be a place of peace and tranquility, a place conducive to reading. Therefore, all electronic devices may only be used in the privacy of one’s room. No computers, cell phones, handheld games, or e-reading devices will be allowed in the public areas. Ignoring this request could lead to an early termination of one’s stay.”

Occasionally, a guest protested, saying that he or she was expecting an urgent call. “May I suggest using room service until your call comes through?” the chauffeur would respond pleasantly.

Other guests would insist that they needed their e-readers to increase the font size of the books they wished to read, but their driver would have a solution for that conundrum as well.

“I recommend you acquaint yourself with Storyton’s vast library. Sinclair, the head librarian, can direct you to an impressive selection of large-print books.”

[Asawi]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I never said I paid much attention to them. But the pushback was there from the beginning. Whenever I shared that I had adopted ebooks, the book-petters and book-sniffers came out of the woodwork to voice their disdain.

"How dare you adopt a new technology for something as basic as reading a book!"

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Seeing as eBooks or audiobooks are often used for accessibility, I can also see a touch of ableism in it.

This was in a cozy mystery I read and it almost made me hurl my reader into a wall:

Why would anyone want to visit such a hidebound place?

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

This was in a cozy mystery I read and it almost made me hurl my reader into a wall:

That book (Murder on the Poet's Walk) sounds awful (based on what's been quoted).

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I've even seen people using the phrase "real books" (meaning paper) among the MR members.

I stand and attest that indeed I have very likely been one of those hateful and hurtful spewers of the phrase 'real books' here on MR. But there was no malice in it. Paper books have been THE format for so long, that when discussing them as something different than ebooks or audio books, the phrase 'paper books' just doesn't leap to mind.

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I stand and attest that indeed I have very likely been one of those hateful and hurtful spewers of the phrase 'real books' here on MR.

Coming from you, no one would take it amiss. I meant people specifically mentioning real books as opposed to ebooks. I don't actually remember who those people were, I just remember reading such stuff in more than one post.

[ashort]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

The fact that someone posts this kind of defensive "paper is best" bakvaas in a forum explicitly focused on other reading media nicely illustrates the point. There is no "best" - reading matters, not the medium.

Calm down, you gonna have a heart attack.

[issybird]

Eh, I have no issue with the term "real books" and I know I've used it here. Real v. virtual, what's the problem? By objecting to the term "real books" you're just buying into the mindset of the paperites.

"Ebooks aren't real books." *sniff*
"You're right. Ebooks are virtual books."

It's the responder who owns that exchange. At a minimum, it forces the paperite to define terms.

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

That book (Murder on the Poet's Walk) sounds awful (based on what's been quoted).

It was actually the first book of the series and there was a serious part that just made me go seriously WTF?

Spoiler:

Apparently there's a big family secret involving them being book-protectors for hidden manuscripts

The first few chapters were just a standard cozy, then the fat aunt had a stroke and she's like "HERES THE FAMILY SECRET" and it turned into James Bond with the protagonist getting ninja lessons

Looking at the goodreads reviews (filter to 1 and 2 stars) a lot of other readers were confused too

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by issybird

Eh, I have no issue with the term "real books" and I know I've used it here. Real v. virtual, what's the problem? By objecting to the term "real books" you're just buying into the mindset of the paperites.

"Ebooks aren't real books." *sniff*
"You're right. Ebooks are virtual books."

It's the responder who owns that exchange. At a minimum, it forces the paperite to define terms.

Paperite.

It's the meaning that counts, IMO. If you, ZodWallop or any other old, longtime member here who is well known to read and like ebooks uses the phrase "real books", of course I would not take offense. I doubt I'd even notice. What's objectionable is someone specifically using "real books" to diminish or belittle ebooks or audiobooks. As in "I prefer real books", "Nothing beats the smell and feel of real books" and so on. In short, when the speaker/poster means (consciously or subconsciously) to convey the perceived inferiority of ebooks.

Now, would I get all bothered by such a statement? Would I call them out on it? Probably not. Let them think what they like.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

What's objectionable is someone specifically using "real books" to diminish or belittle ebooks or audiobooks. As in "I prefer real books", "Nothing beats the smell and feel of real books" and so on. In short, when the speaker/poster means (consciously or subconsciously) to convey the perceived inferiority of ebooks.

That's what I meant; don't let them co-opt the word "real" to evoke superiority or any implicit positives.

"I prefer real books."
"Do you? I prefer virtual books."

Essentially force the conversation so that the opposite of "real" is "virtual" or "digital" and not "fake" or "phony". You define the terms, not the paperite.

[Quoth]

Both ebooks and paper are real books. But not all real books suit the medium of ebooks.

[rcentros]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

Yes. I've met enough people who say "I like to read REAL books". They may not consciously feel superior, but the fact they use the word "real" speaks pretty loudly.

I can't speak for others but here's why I normally use the term "real books" for paper books — because they're "real" in the sense that you actually hold them. With an eBook you hold a device that allows to read a book in electronic form. Break the device and you have nothing (until you can replace it). I'm not implying one is superior to the other (I almost exclusively read eBooks), it's just a distinction between the two.