Sherman Alexie still hates ebooks

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

...

TV has been working at destroying reading and book culture, but electronic books are actually helping books make a comeback. Tech is not a general evil, it is just the question of how it is used and abused -- just like everything else.

This is more at the core of destroying reading/books/book "culture" than any form shift.

[zacheryjensen]

Originally Posted by Alan Kaufman

Does it strike anyone here as strange that the two authors, Alan Kaufman and Sherman Alexie, who stand up to oppose the hi-tech cestruction of books are each the sons of genocided people? Kaufman (me) is son of a Holocaust survivor; Alexie is Native American.
Perhaps we intuit something that you don't, about how trashing of sacred cultural
artifacts such as the book has genocidal implications that you all, in your haste to embrace all these toys, may be unaware of, through no fault of your own. We just happened to be born to genocided people. And we're trying to warn you, alert you, that despite all the reassurances that it won't happen, can't happen, etc., the fact remains: hi-tech is destroying books and book culture. The book world is in collapse. And this bodes terribly for our culture and civilixation. It is a step into barbarism of the worst kind, though one may not immedioately see this.

It strikes me as odd that you think there is a single individual alive on this entire planet that does not hail from one or more cultures in their ancestry that has been the victim of genocide or other similarly grandiose evil actions.

Then your implication that books are somehow a sacred part of culture is just about the most ridiculous thing I've read in the last hour. Books are a technology exactly like computers are a technology. They are a fantastic technology, very effective at their purpose. Some people prefer a different technology now, that is ALL that is happening. No significant producer of books has, to date, suggested that standard paper books are going anywhere. None.

I hope that someday you recognize how ridiculous your claims are.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by Alan Kaufman

Does it strike anyone here as strange that the two authors, Alan Kaufman and Sherman Alexie, who stand up to oppose the hi-tech cestruction of books are each the sons of genocided people?

...

Perhaps we intuit something that you don't,

No. I think that if you give a child a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

No. I think that if you give a child a hammer, the whole world looks like a nail.

Also, if you give a child a nail they will eat that nail and you'll have to take them to the hospital and your sister will never trust you ever again to babysit and do DIY at the same time, also, you really should not leave bags of nails out where a toddler is crawling about...

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

Alexie's chief issue with ereaders is that at this point in time he considers them a luxury item and not readily available to the general population.

Oh, his chief issue, huh? Because he's an indian? You racist! Oh, wait a second (remembering something about kindlekitten) you self-hater!

(disclaimer-- the preceding post is entirely a parody and is not meant to offend any indigenous populations of any continent in any way, except for Alexie, who has my permission to be indignant because it would be fun to watch.)

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

Oh, his chief issue, huh? Because he's an indian? You racist! Oh, wait a second (remembering something about kindlekitten) you self-hater!

(disclaimer-- the preceding post is entirely a parody and is not meant to offend any indigenous populations of any continent in any way, except for Alexie, who has my permission to be indignant because it would be fun to watch.)

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Also, if you give a child a nail they will eat that nail and you'll have to take them to the hospital and your sister will never trust you ever again to babysit and do DIY at the same time, also, you really should not leave bags of nails out where a toddler is crawling about...

What about spoons?

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by ardeegee

What about spoons?

Spoons are okay. Not as easy to swallow

[Littermate]

Originally Posted by charleski

But why did Colbert chose him above all the other authors falling over themselves to get on? ...

It's really sad when an author opts to go to outrageous extremes to get publicity and the extra income it brings. There are plenty of others who are able to get a spot on a high-rated show like this without sacrificing their integrity or decency.

And those kind of authors often ARE on the show and Colbert often displays his obvious respect for them. This time it just happened to be this author. So what? Personally I didn't consider what he said to be "outrageous extremes." Wanting to engage the military and conduct a pogrom against E-Reading folk and exterminate them all like roaches, that would be outrageous. It was just his opinion expressed in a mildly contentious way and he was using his prerogative to be wrong on some details just like I often am. His previous desire to punch e-reading folks on the nose is no worse than many of the comments I've been reading on this forum and a lot less shrill. I think his main sorrow was the decline he felt was going on at local levels because I got the impression he very much enjoys meeting people and performing for them. He misses that human contact and feels sad about it. And in a way that saddens me too.

And in case anyone takes me for a neo-luddite and doubts my credentials as a fully committed E-reader I actually cried when I recently knelt on my Sony 505 and its screen went all weird, with a big square twilight zone at the top with Nazca lines running out from it every which way. I am suffering with big clunky paper monstrosities. Suffering...

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Littermate

...
And in case anyone takes me for a neo-luddite and doubts my credentials as a fully committed E-reader I actually cried when I recently knelt on my Sony 505 and its screen went all weird, with a big square twilight zone at the top with Nazca lines running out from it every which way. I am suffering with big clunky paper monstrosities. Suffering...

Maybe it was a Freudian slip.

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by Alan Kaufman

Does it strike anyone here as strange that the two authors, Alan Kaufman and Sherman Alexie, who stand up to oppose the hi-tech cestruction of books are each the sons of genocided people?

JK Rowling is also anti-ebook. So are Ray Bradbury and Audrey Niffenegger, and all three of those have been discussed here.

Sherman Alexie gets special attention for expressing a desire to be physically violent to ebook readers. And you get special attention because you're continuing to converse with us, and some of us like conversation, even when the target obviously isn't listening. Otherwise, both would be ignored in a couple of days.

Perhaps we intuit something that you don't, about how trashing of sacred cultural artifacts such as the book

Sacred in whose culture? Sherman Alexie's ancestors had no thick tomes of paper wisdom to hand to their descendants. Your comments show idolotry of the medium, not respect for the message.

the fact remains: hi-tech is destroying books and book culture. The book world is in collapse.

You are, once again, conflating the publishing industry with book culture. Books are doing fine; they're moving to another medium--one with less censorship, less costs, and more accessibility.

[Beau]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

Silko, Ceremonies

not an ebook, sorry

harjo, reinventing the enemys language a wonderful anthology, also not an ebook

the man made of words, by momaday

http://www.amazon.com/Woman-Who-Watc...ef=pd_sim_b_93 woman who watches over the world

these are a starting point. there are many tribes with issues unique to the tribe in addition to the shared problems

Interesting book list, thanks for the recs.

Beau

[EatingPie]

Originally Posted by Alan Kaufman

Does it strike anyone here as strange that the two authors, Alan Kaufman and Sherman Alexie, who stand up to oppose the hi-tech cestruction of books are each the sons of genocided people? Kaufman (me) is son of a Holocaust survivor; Alexie is Native American.
Perhaps we intuit something that you don't, about how trashing of sacred cultural
artifacts such as the book has genocidal implications that you all, in your haste to embrace all these toys, may be unaware of, through no fault of your own. We just happened to be born to genocided people. And we're trying to warn you, alert you, that despite all the reassurances that it won't happen, can't happen, etc., the fact remains: hi-tech is destroying books and book culture. The book world is in collapse. And this bodes terribly for our culture and civilixation. It is a step into barbarism of the worst kind, though one may not immedioately see this.

As a counter, I cite myself. Of Polish descent, with many family members murdered during the Holocaust. And I disagree with both you and Alexie.

There is certainly a danger in moving to all-electronic in terms of government control. On a different note, the film Rollerball had a world where all books were "digitized" but the AI in charge of all knowledge had grown senile and forgotten everything.

However, moving to e-Books does not equate to book burning. Books still exist, and are easier to distribute than ever. That's something an oppressive government would not like. And libraries are still there. And taking precautions protects you from remote deletion. The far greater danger is that of owning certain books becoming criminal, which would lead to arrest and possibly death.

However, at this point, we are not replacing books, but adding a new format. Hardcover, paperback, ebook.

-Pie

[taglines]

Well said, Eating Pie!

[Elfwreck]

Originally Posted by EatingPie

However, at this point, we are not replacing books, but adding a new format. Hardcover, paperback, ebook.

And if there's no DRM, ebooks can be printed, creating pbooks in whatever size & shape is convenient for the person who wants to read it. It's not like ebooks *prevent* paper versions.

I've printed books for my daughter to use at school, with line spacing wide enough to underline, and margins large enough for her to take notes in them. I use 8.5" x 5.5" pages, cut in half & bound with plastic comb binding. 1/2" margins on the inside and 1" margins on the outside; 1.3 multiple line spacing. I haven't seen any printed books that match those preferences.