This is probably the reason why there are so few readers out there

[Steven Lake]

It's probably due to idiot moms like this. Ugh.

http://creativeauthorsguild.blogspot...-buy-book.html

It's people like this telling their kids that books are stupid and not to read them that are making this world so bad, and reducing the total reading public. Of course, these guys aren't the only ones hearing that kinda stuff. I've talked with a lot of people at conventions, signings, or just on the street, and their general take on books is, "They're stupid" or "Nah, I don't read. It doesn't interest me." or excuses even more lame than that.

One of my favorites comes from a comic book convention where I asked a guy, "Why don't you read books" to which he replied, "Oh I do. But I want mine to have pictures in them.

Uh, isn't that what your imagination is for? And no, just because a comic book has the word "book" in its name doesn't mean it's truly a "book" by the proper definition of the word. Ugh. Sorry for the rant, but this just bugged me.

[HamsterRage]

That's disgusting, but I don't think it's the underlying reason for the lack of readers.

Reading is a skill, and like any other skill it takes effort to learn and practice to master. For many people, that's a barrier they can't just get over. A skill that you haven't mastered enough to enjoy is just a chore.

[jhempel24]

For alot of people staring at a page for hours on end makes them tired, and that feeling isn't very desirable when you are using it for entertainment. Plus there is a huge time barrier between reading a book and watching a movie.

My two sisters don't read because they don't find it enjoyable. Only one of them finds it "stupid" but she's got alot of issues anyway LOL.

But I agree that's disgusting, put the book down or I'll take away your make-up?? Really??

[FizzyWater]

This is so sad.

My mother has never been a reader. But she and my father actually bought me my first books, read to me, etc. She values reading, even if it doesn't interest her much.

[NightLight]

First off, I think taking away makeup from young girls is a good thing.
Secondly, movies, video games, texting and television are what's killing reading.
People now have the attention spans of gnats.
And it's getting worse.

[GA Russell]

OK, all of you who believe in democracy! Remember that that woman has the vote!

I agree that the story is disgusting. It troubles me that someone with that attitude should have the money to pay for airline tickets.

However, on the bright side, the girl did pick up the book on her own, and enjoyed reading. Perhaps she will not allow her mother to be much of an influence later on.

[tubemonkey]

First off, that mom is a loser. I feel sorry for her daughter.

Secondly, I prefer pictures in my books too. I used to do book reports in school by reading the Classics Illustrated version.

[Entu]

Maybe this woman know what its best for her kid.... maybe.....

When i see person with book/reader in hand in my city i'm really amazed, it wasn't that bad like 10 years ago,when i'm talking with people they are not intrested in reading books they call it "time waste", why read book when they can see move and its takes only 1,5h!

And this mom wasn't one person who call books stupid, 3 or 4 years ago i was meet some really nice guy, but on our first date when i say to him i like reading books he say " really? But books are stupid and brings nothing to life, i never understand womans.. " that was ofcourse our last date :P , but sadly more and more people like that in the world..



OOT - Tubemonkey nice post count 666 :P

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by Entu

OOT - Tubemonkey nice post count 666 :P

[Marc Johnson]

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

One of my favorites comes from a comic book convention where I asked a guy, "Why don't you read books" to which he replied, "Oh I do. But I want mine to have pictures in them.

Uh, isn't that what your imagination is for? And no, just because a comic book has the word "book" in its name doesn't mean it's truly a "book" by the proper definition of the word. Ugh. Sorry for the rant, but this just bugged me.

Hey, I read comic books. They're a lot deeper and well written than you give them credit for. At least most of the non-superhero ones, which is what I mostly tend to read these days. And a lot of movies are based off comics. Not the obvious ones like Watchmen or 300 but ones like The Road to Perdition and A History of Violence.

I don't know if you read comics but if not you may want to give anything Vertigo a try. Then there's Bone, Strangers in Paradise, The Walking Dead.

[Logseman]

Comics are a distinct way of conveying information and stimuli in order to deliver messages, and they deserve the same consideration of art that literature has.

[James_Wilde]

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

One of my favorites comes from a comic book convention where I asked a guy, "Why don't you read books" to which he replied, "Oh I do. But I want mine to have pictures in them.

Uh, isn't that what your imagination is for?

This reminds me of the story of a young teenager in the UK who was interviewed around the time television started up, particularly children's television. She was asked which she preferred, children's radio or children's television.

"Oh, radio," she replied. "The pictures are better."

[LDBoblo]

I've never met a parent who told their kid to not read, unless it was an inappropriate time.

I've met many parents who failed to encourage a kid to read, but none that tried to prevent it.

Seems like a caricature of the more general suppression of curiosity. Good easy way to evoke anger among some folks.

[Sweetpea]

My parents always encouraged us. Even though my younger brother never got into reading until he was older, we were never ever stopped from reading (ok, I was stopped from reading about every day, but that was more because I never knew when to stop and would read the night away )

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by Steven Lake

It's probably due to idiot moms like this. Ugh.

http://creativeauthorsguild.blogspot...-buy-book.html

I'm so afraid to hit the "context" button on this, but...

Is it possible that the woman's cash was tapped out? Plane travel can do that to ya.

Is it possible that the book, however innocuous to the author, was considered anathema by the mother? (Maybe she has a bee up her butt about Dr. Seuss, I dunno...) Maybe she didn't want to encourage reading of that particular type of book, and carelessly made a comment that encompassed all books?

Is it possible that the mother was just having a bad day? (Again, traveling in an airport, I can believe that...)

Okay, I got nothin' on the makeup bit...

But bottom line, without a bit more context, the author might have been reading the moment the wrong way... and considering how extreme the mother's viewpoint sounds, I would tend to think he'd missed something significant before or after that conversation.

(Or maybe I'm just feeling overly-sympathetic after watching Scrooged last night...)