Sherman Alexie still hates ebooks - Page 4

meraxes · 12-02-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDBoblo

Why would I want to be so specific when being vague allows me to only offend those insecure enough to take it personally?

Because I thought the point was to argue your case if you disagree with something said here - not to throw banana skins at your opponents from high up in the trees.

kindlekitten · 12-02-2009, 10:30 PM

first off let me say that Alexi is not representative of Native views of technology. most embrace it wholeheartedly (given access).

second, please think twice when you are ready to refer to him as an "Indian" author and just ask yourself if you would be making that same distinction for the "black", "asian", "muslim", "female" author and so on.

thanks

kennyc · 12-02-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

first off let me say that Alexi is not representative of Native views of technology. most embrace it wholeheartedly (given access).

second, please think twice when you are ready to refer to him as an "Indian" author and just ask yourself if you would be making that same distinction for the "black", "asian", "muslim", "female" author and so on.

thanks

And what is so wrong with saying black, asian, indian, chinese, muslim or male author?

Nate the great · 12-02-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

And what is so wrong with saying black, asian, indian, chinese, muslim or male author?

With this particular author, I have to agree. He's made a career out of being a Native American author and poet. His identity is the focus of his work.

Falbe Publishing · 12-03-2009, 12:17 AM

I regularly watch Stephen Colbert, and I saw this interview this morning. My impression was that it was somewhat of a gimmick to be controversial and get attention. It'll make the paper-only crowd buy his book to support him. I suspect that Sherman is just basically a book lover who doesn't like the idea of things going digital, but he's expanding on that message and making extreme points for the sake of marketing. He actually seemed to me like a nice guy.

kindlekitten · 12-03-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

And what is so wrong with saying black, asian, indian, chinese, muslim or male author?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nate the great

With this particular author, I have to agree. He's made a career out of being a Native American author and poet. His identity is the focus of his work.

granted he is being a luddite ass. but I think he can just rest on his laurels as a human for that. k?

charleski · 12-03-2009, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

My impression was that it was somewhat of a gimmick to be controversial and get attention.

Precisely.

Just as with Kaufman, we have a minor mid-list author (not sure if Kaufman even qualifies as mid-list) whose agent has come up with a scheme to get his name out there. This has all the hallmarks of a publicity stunt: use a minor PR slot to voice an outrageous opinion (punching people in the face, Nazi bookburning) that will get picked up by the big media. The only difference between the two is that Alexie's agent has enough clout to translate this into a spot on Colbert.

Anyone with any sense will recognise this nonsense for the cynical media ploy it really is.

[Edit: Surprise! I just checked Amazon and it turns out Alexie has a new book just out. What a co-incidence!]

kennyc · 12-03-2009, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charleski

...

[Edit: Surprise! I just checked Amazon and it turns out Alexie has a new book just out. What a co-incidence!]

I'm waiting on the ebook.

Kali Yuga · 12-03-2009, 10:28 AM

Egads, you people are so sensitive it hurts.

Colbert is a comedian. This is not serious journalism, nor should it be treated as such. I.e. you're allowed to laugh.

Who cares if some authors dislike ebooks? Authors are a diverse group, so it's inevitable that while some will enthusiastically adopt new tech, others will be careful and others will oppose it no matter what. Ebooks will continue to grow in scope despite the handful of (vocal) protestors.

And If Sherman Alexie wants to cut himself off from a segment of the reading public, that's his business.

Moejoe · 12-03-2009, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kali Yuga

Egads, you people are so sensitive it hurts.

Colbert is a comedian. This is not serious journalism, nor should it be treated as such. I.e. you're allowed to laugh.

Who cares if some authors dislike ebooks? Authors are a diverse group, so it's inevitable that while some will enthusiastically adopt new tech, others will be careful and others will oppose it no matter what. Ebooks will continue to grow in scope despite the handful of (vocal) protestors.

And If Sherman Alexie wants to cut himself off from a segment of the reading public, that's his business.

I don't think it's sensitivity so much as incredulity. I mean, are these paper-only authors not using emails, or writing on word processors or checking news online?* Why is it so hard for them to accept non-paper books, yet most of them (and I'm guessing) use the rest of the technology quite happily? Why is the book such a magical object to them? Or are they, like some people I know, more interested in the packaging than the content? Mere collectors of things rather than interested in story or ideas.

*Harlan Ellison excluded.

Riocaz · 12-03-2009, 10:54 AM

Harlan Ellison doesn't have to be excluded... He may not do it directly but his legal team sure does :-)

kindlekitten · 12-03-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

I don't think it's sensitivity so much as incredulity. I mean, are these paper-only authors not using emails, or writing on word processors or checking news online?* Why is it so hard for them to accept non-paper books, yet most of them (and I'm guessing) use the rest of the technology quite happily? Why is the book such a magical object to them? Or are they, like some people I know, more interested in the packaging than the content? Mere collectors of things rather than interested in story or ideas.

*Harlan Ellison excluded.

damn good thing we've moved away from stone tablets 'eh? postage on those would be a bitch!

BenG · 12-03-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Why is the book such a magical object to them? Or are they, like some people I know, more interested in the packaging than the content? Mere collectors of things rather than interested in story or ideas.

Of course you could say the same thing about the folks who say they would only read ebooks and have to buy the newest gadget that comes along.

(This from someone who owns a Kindle, Sony and iPod Touch. But I regularly buy paperbacks also.

)

CCDMan · 12-03-2009, 11:55 AM

Meh. Another author is afraid of losing revenue so pretends he hates e-books because he is trying to save the world from the big, mean digital book.

Humans are what they are because they evolved to adapt quickly to change. By that standard this guy is a (metaphorical) Neanderthal and look what happened to them.

Adapt or die. Kick and scream if you wish, it will not help.

markbot · 12-03-2009, 12:25 PM

I agree with Alexie on a few fronts. The despicable "open source" culture that pervades the internet and 75% of the world's population, especially in Asia, will lead to fewer incentives to innovate and to create. I have no doubt that book pirating will become as bad as music pirating once books go all digital. Sure, you can digitize a paper book and sell it illegally in paper or digital form.....but the consumers of that pirated copy will have a new powerful tool in which to steal: the ebook.

This is why ebooks must have ironclad DRM.

12-02-2009, 10:30 PM	#47
kindlekitten Professional Adventuress Posts: 13,368 Karma: 50260224 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The Olympic Peninsula on the OTHER Washington! (the big green clean one on the west coast!) Device: Kindle, the original! Times Two! and gifting an International Kindle	first off let me say that Alexi is not representative of Native views of technology. most embrace it wholeheartedly (given access). second, please think twice when you are ready to refer to him as an "Indian" author and just ask yourself if you would be making that same distinction for the "black", "asian", "muslim", "female" author and so on. thanks Last edited by kindlekitten; 12-02-2009 at 10:32 PM.

12-03-2009, 11:55 AM	#59
CCDMan *** Posts: 335 Karma: 5759 Join Date: Mar 2006 Device: ***	Whatever Meh. Another author is afraid of losing revenue so pretends he hates e-books because he is trying to save the world from the big, mean digital book. Humans are what they are because they evolved to adapt quickly to change. By that standard this guy is a (metaphorical) Neanderthal and look what happened to them. Adapt or die. Kick and scream if you wish, it will not help.

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12-03-2009, 12:17 AM	#50
Falbe Publishing Gadget Slave Posts: 264 Karma: 600001 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Battle Creek, Michigan Device: Sony PRS505SC	I regularly watch Stephen Colbert, and I saw this interview this morning. My impression was that it was somewhat of a gimmick to be controversial and get attention. It'll make the paper-only crowd buy his book to support him. I suspect that Sherman is just basically a book lover who doesn't like the idea of things going digital, but he's expanding on that message and making extreme points for the sake of marketing. He actually seemed to me like a nice guy.

12-03-2009, 10:28 AM	#54
Kali Yuga Professional Contrarian Posts: 2,045 Karma: 3289631 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: Kindle 4 No Touchie	Egads, you people are so sensitive it hurts. Colbert is a comedian. This is not serious journalism, nor should it be treated as such. I.e. you're allowed to laugh. Who cares if some authors dislike ebooks? Authors are a diverse group, so it's inevitable that while some will enthusiastically adopt new tech, others will be careful and others will oppose it no matter what. Ebooks will continue to grow in scope despite the handful of (vocal) protestors. And If Sherman Alexie wants to cut himself off from a segment of the reading public, that's his business.

12-03-2009, 10:54 AM	#56
Riocaz Fulfilled but not by iRex Posts: 932 Karma: 286846 Join Date: May 2006 Location: London Device: Far too many	Harlan Ellison doesn't have to be excluded... He may not do it directly but his legal team sure does :-)

12-03-2009, 12:25 PM	#60
markbot Guru Posts: 612 Karma: 7511929 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 2	I agree with Alexie on a few fronts. The despicable "open source" culture that pervades the internet and 75% of the world's population, especially in Asia, will lead to fewer incentives to innovate and to create. I have no doubt that book pirating will become as bad as music pirating once books go all digital. Sure, you can digitize a paper book and sell it illegally in paper or digital form.....but the consumers of that pirated copy will have a new powerful tool in which to steal: the ebook. This is why ebooks must have ironclad DRM.