Author Sherman Alexie Wants to Punch You in the Face

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by PhishStyx

My dual points were that the only method of contacting him as a consumer is through his website and that for someone who goes about name calling other people as "elitist" to have layers of protection against being approached by average people.

And I just love your implicit argument that not accepting intolerance is somehow a shared evil of the common man. Only a right jerk would be intolerant of intolerance!!
Shouldn't we all accept racism and sexism and elitism and ALL forms of intolerance in the happy spirit that they are given?!

No. We should not be intolerant, but some of us are falling into the very lap of intolerance. It is then that intolerance becomes bidirectional.

Of course, these are my opinions and your opinions may differ. That's the joy of enlightened, intelligent conversation: We can discuss issues of importance in reasoned tones of involvement, even though we may not agree.


Don

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by PhishStyx

Shouldn't we all accept racism and sexism and elitism and ALL forms of intolerance in the happy spirit that they are given?!

We should accept them to be, but we shouldn't accept racists, sexists, whatever-ists to talk others into believing their twisted POV! If the media wouldn't happily jump at things like this, it would surely help a lot...

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

No. We should not be intolerant, but some of us are falling into the very lap of intolerance. It is then that intolerance becomes bidirectional.

Very true! The freedom of speech in the US is (though sometimes double-edged) a very, very good thing which people in most other countries lack (don't forget this)...

In this case:
- If S.A. just talks about punching someone in the face (+ says it's a joke), let him be and think of it whatever you like (+ this will maybe affect your buying habits regarding his books).
- If S.A. really punches you in the face (for whatever reason) take action and sue his a** off.

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

Of course, these are my opinions and your opinions may differ. That's the joy of enlightened, intelligent conversation: We can discuss issues of importance in reasoned tones of involvement, even though we may not agree.

And the best part: Both of you could be right OR wrong!

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by jamesbeat

Oh wow! Why hasn't anyone made a solar powered ebook reader?

The panel could cover the entire back surface of the device, so it could be left in the sun when not being used.

I'm pretty sure I should patent that


EDIT: Too late
http://www.teleread.org/2008/09/03/a...just-a-design/

Dear Jamesbeat:

Astak also brought this up 6 months ago. It sounds really good. The problem is that changes in battery capability and other methods are giving us 16,000 pages to a single charge within months... so who cannot just plug their device in for three hours every month or so? It is kind of like... how much will people be willing to pay additional to stretch a few more days out of a month before recharging?

[sunsetsylvia]

Originally Posted by Robertb

... It is kind of like... how much will people be willing to pay additional to stretch a few more days out of a month before recharging?

Hmmm!
A few days more or less don't make a difference, but I like the thought of an eReader I have to plug in to recharge in like ... NEVER. What, with the non-backlit screen, you'd be charging it all the time while reading.
And with a well filled library one would be totally independent of computers and wall-chargers (which I don't own anyway) in one's holidays in any part of the world.
Yes, I like that thought a lot.

[pshrynk]

I sort of like the idea that it is an independent entitiy. Off the grid, so to speak. I have a Citzen Eco-Drive watch that has a light cell in the crystal. Completely se through. i wonder if the same tech could be applies to the screen of a reader, thereby allowing charging whilst reading. That would be cool.

[basschick]

i don't have time to finish this thread, although i've made it several pages.

the thing is that if one writes to his publisher and they do ask him to keep comments about ebooks to himself, he'll still be fully ignorant of what ebooks are about. his understanding them would be of value - his publishers shutting him up wouldn't. to be fair, since it seems he's created a little noise, they're probably not displeased since here we are talking about him and getting the word out.

[PhishStyx]

My email to his publisher was about the violence in his so-called joke.

The response I got was all about trying to convince me that there was metaphor hidden in his fantasy of punching some random innocent woman in the face. Oh and he insisted that he doesn't hate ALL technology, just e-books.

Also for some reason, he thought that I was joking when I said that should he venture to Virginia to punch me in the face, I would definitely punch back.

[cjcherryh]

I use my laptop as an e-book reader, and get color covers, to boot. Is it elitist, to use a device instead of extensive bookshelves? Living in apartments and being a college student with no way to port a book collection, people who live for days on the road...there are many, many reasons for this technology to fly.

[sunsetsylvia]

Originally Posted by gerraldo

The freedom of speech in the US is (though sometimes double-edged) a very, very good thing which people in most other countries lack (don't forget this)...

This is meant to be a joke, right? Please, tell me you aren't earnest.
I mean, talking about being prejudiced and eliteist and stupid ...

ETA: And you are in (from?) Austria, too? *is contemplative*

[mores]

"Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda"



Sorry ... please continue.

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by sunsetsylvia

This is meant to be a joke, right? Please, tell me you aren't earnest.
I mean, talking about being prejudiced and eliteist and stupid ...

ETA: And you are in (from?) Austria, too? *is contemplative*

Better go and get you some manners, boy/girl(?).

Oh, and please don't forget to tell us, what's so funny about or wrong with the remark of "people in most other countries lacking freedom of speech", if you don't mind.

BTW: Do you really think there's freedom of speech in Austria?!

[mores]

Of course there is, just like in all other democratic countries.
You won't get arrested and locked away indefinately for speaking your mind.
With Germany's and Austria's Nazi background there are some things you are not allowed to say, like using Nazi paroles or symbols. Not sure how the US handles that. But all in all I could call any politician an a-hole or the government incompetent and nothing would happen to me.

[gerraldo]

Originally Posted by mores

Of course there is, just like in all other democratic countries.
You won't get arrested and locked away indefinately for speaking your mind.
With Germany's and Austria's Nazi background there are some things you are not allowed to say, like using Nazi paroles or symbols. Not sure how the US handles that. But all in all I could call any politician an a-hole or the government incompetent and nothing would happen to me.

I don't want to go into detail, but anyone interested can find some information on freedom of speech HERE, HERE and HERE.

Learn more about democracy HERE or HERE (german).

BTW: To live in a democracy is NOT having automatically freedom of speech (especially not "like in the US")! What's a democracy anyway?! Just free elections and the right to call a politican an a**hole? In short NO!

BTW: Look for the limitations in Germany, they're simply the same as in Austria... (censored books, movies, games...)

BTW: There are no Nazi restrictions in the US. And there will surely happen something if you call a politican an a**hole.

[sunsetsylvia]

Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, but was shocked into not mending my words. As for my take on the matter: what mores said.
In the end I think we just have to agree to disagree. *shrugs*

[Robertb]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I sort of like the idea that it is an independent entitiy. Off the grid, so to speak. I have a Citzen Eco-Drive watch that has a light cell in the crystal. Completely se through. i wonder if the same tech could be applies to the screen of a reader, thereby allowing charging whilst reading. That would be cool.

I just ordered a new Skyhawk with Eco-Drive. I bought a Junghans solar watch five years ago on a plane and have never had a single problem.

Here is the problem I see with same technology on an eBook Reader. 60% of people who own eBook Readers list their bedroom as where they principally do their reading. Also, another 15% list travel (likely on a plane) as their principal place for reading. Neither will do much for recharging an eBook Reader. When not open for reading most people close the case and shut off the device.

Yes, I agree that you could read in your bedroom or plane and then charge elsewhere. But how many would do this with solar instead of just plugging in the USB charger or AC charger? I just do not know.

I am sure others see things differently and I am only one manufacturer (of Astak eBook Readers) so I am NOT putting anyone down for their opinion in any way. I just know that on my thread I mentioned Solar Charging at least twice and drew a major YAWN. Not one person said "go for it".