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I don't really "hang out" with people, intelligent or otherwise. But like many people, I have little choice in the people I am realted to, work with, live near, or encounter in public. I didn't want to give the impression that I am "hanging out" with illiterate dolts. I just run into them from time to time. Plus, even people who are reasonably intelligent and educated seem to value reading less and less. For example, the young lady who thought people would "feel sorry for" her if she were seen reading in public had a Master's degree.
Some people definitely see reading as a negative. I actually feel snobbish towards people who don't read. I can't imagine a world without books! I can't wait to get off work tonight and go home and snuggle up with my pup and a book! What could be better? Some people would rather zone out to Jersey Shore than read a book and that's just sad. I realize not everyone wants to read as much as I do, but some people can't even be bothered to read the news.
No one has ever given me a hard time about it, but I've definitely encountered people who didn't "get it." Their eyes sort of glaze over when you start talking enthusiastically about a particular book. OTOH, it's always great to find someone whose eyes light up when talking about a book. It's like you're in a secret club.
Nope. Quite the opposite actually. Normally people find out that I love to read say "Really? You like to read?", like they're schocked at the fact. Growing up I didn't start to enjoy reading until about the 6th grade & then it took off & has never looked back. My teacher told my mom one time that she was the only parent she'd ever had that would threaten to take away a book as a form of punishment. I also had childhood friends who loved reading. I also had some who only read when it was required by the teacher. To this day though I ALWAYS have a book with me. I have one book in each of my 3 cars. And if not there then I've usually got my nook & a book in my purse & I always have my iphone with my nook, kindle, & ibooks apps. And I couldn't care less what people think about it.
Normally people find out that I love to read say "Really? You like to read?", like they're shocked at the fact.
I have trouble understanding that too. Why is reading so "shocking" to people?
So we can include in this thread:
People who think reading is uncool
People who think reading is boring/not enjoyable, and are shocked when they hear we LOVE it.
People who think being seen reading is a cause for embarassment
People who see reading as a activity that makes them pity/feel sorry for the person who is reading
I think my coworker who didn't want people to think she was reading was not (God, I hope not) so concerned about reading not being "cool." But I got the impression from her that she believed people would "feel sorry for" her, to see her reading, when she could instead be socializing, in person or electronically. She definitely talked about the idea of "feeling sorry" for someone who is seen reading, like the poor thing has nothing better to do.
I just don't understand the idea that some people see reading as so unenjoyable, so non-valuable, that they would pity a person who is reading, or worry about others pitying them if they were reading.
There may have been a little of the idea that reading was "uncool" but this person seemed more focused on the pity thing.
This is part and parcel of the eating alone issue, particularly for females. In public it has a cast of solitude, not necessarily loneliness but in her case that's the effect. I'd say it's youth but older women can feel that way too. Instead of a book you could suggest to her a newspaper or a weekly. That looks more like a person open to engagement, and maybe this is what she wants to project. Thing is, most people read news online these days so she'd actually look "hip" with a real paper in front of her!
I never cared. No one's ever given me a hard time either, any more than I'd give them a joking hard time about their pursuits, like clothes or The Voice or beanie babies. So if they did it's all fair.
Reading in America is close to it's demise. Many people over the last thirty years have told me that they "just don't have time to read", but then go on to speak of something they saw on TV or their computer. Others say they "read too much in College", I guess we are to assume that they now know most of everything so reading would be a futile task anyway. Myself? I've been a lifelong (67) reader, and wouldn't have it replaced by Kindles or my computer anytime soon. Books have a certain magic to them, cheap (used) and always easily referenced after they're read. I've been thought of as a "bookish" person by most who know me, and most of them don't read much, so, I doubt if they see any value in what I pursue through books.
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