Yes, and in spite of the platitudes and excuses offered, I can confirm that it truly is happening. Studies undertaken by the National Education Association and the Census Bureau have found that the majority (about 52%) of US adults no longer read for pleasure at all. As age drops, the percentage who do not read unlessed forced to do so rises.
It was suggested a few years ago that the rise of instant messaging and e-mail would bring a new dawn of literacy, but I don't see it happening. Instant messaging and texting, at least among the young kids, consists entirely of junk like "OMG" and "O RLY" and other illiterate platitudes. The advent of broadband has shifted the bulk of internet usage into visual rather than textual communication, with all the attendant limitations on content and detail.
Those same cell phones that encourage foul initials-only texting also contain cameras. Why bother to send a text message when a picture will surfice - easier on the pinkies, what?
All sweeping generalisations are not a good benchmark, I do know a handful of well read people so there must be more out there, who makes up the sales in the bestsellers lists if there are not people who buy?
On a similar dumbing down note, I have picked up Vernon Little God last night and feel that it will not last me past the point I am at now. If this is the sort of book that it takes to engage the public nowadays then I will stick to the Classics.
I really only can speak for the US population on this. Yes, we still have readers, but as I pointed out, most are age 40 and older. I believe a major change is taking place in society and culture, and literacy as we once knew it is disappearing
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I don't know, Lord of the rings and Harry potter started a lot of young people reading. I wouldn't write the world off just yet, its easier to read a book than on a screen, but there's so many unpublished writers now online :)
Alas, I have a close up view of that phenomenon and it seems to be an empty one. True, Harry Potter got boys in the 11 to 12 year old range interested in reading (for a while.) But the advent of the movies meant that they now choose to "wait for the movie" rather than read those dauntingly large books. The other problem has been that there are only six Harry Potter books and those who started paying attention just to read those refuse to read anything else. I did a campaign two years ago to introduce other authors who write similar stories, but found almost no interest. They would rather read Harry Potter over and over again
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I'd like to read more, but don't seem to get a lot of time. I'm sure that Internet use has largely consumed the time I might otehrwise have spent reading or creating. It's also largely replaced tv watching for me, perhaps a step up at least.
Obviously I think there is value in the interchange that can take place over the internet, or I wouldn't be here. This discussion is an example.
Like so many things in life, reading requires time. We are pressured from so many directions, pulled and torn, that it is easy to let reading, or exercise, or proper nutrition slip. Reading is exercise for the mind, and a very important exercise at that. If necessary, we have to set aside a segment of time for it, even if only 30 minutes a day. If the newspaper is all you read, fine, but make sure it is a good quality journal. :)
You are a literate and educated person, I know that. So you need to keep feeding your intellect. Don't starve it.
Oddly enough, the seven years I spent working at a college dedicated to "communication and the arts" leads me to the conclusion that even academia is declining in the area of literacy
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That I can't argue with, My university was perfectly happy to graduate full fee paying overseas students who couldn't even make a coherant English sentence. They're paying for it now though, their degrees aren't held in high esteem anymore and people are starting to do work first so they can find out what they actually want to do then go to uni later on in life.
I spent 4 years doing a business degree that was useless as everyone wanted experience or someone who hadn't gone to uni yet. Then I was overqualified for entry level jobs *gnaws on his tail* Eventually I started a traineeship in IT and that got me a job. And here I am bitter cynical and completely non-plussed about my uni experience. Still dad wanted me to get a degree and I did. I still seethe when I remember a lecturer marking me down for using the correct English rather than the American English spelling.
That's a whole 'nother soap box for me. In the US, and obviously elsewhere too, college and university education has been degraded to mere preparation for the job market. That's not what it always was. I went to college not to train for a specific job, but to expand my educational background. I loved learning in all areas, and wanted to take advantage of every bit of it that I could absorb while it was still available to me
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It reminds me of a comedy tape I once heard, where the comediean was talking about going to a Waffle House after a performance at a club while traveling. He brought a book along to read, and the waitress asked him "What are you reading for?" Not what are you reading, but why. He sad he was reading to broaden his mind, keep it active... and most of all, he was reading so he would not end up waiting tables at a waffle house.
Alas, you have it exactly right. In the US, at least, today people are very proud about their ignorance, and resentful of anyone who displays more education or intellect than they themselves have.
Ah but did you not see the completely unnecessary insult by the book reader (even though it was a comedy):)
I suppose in a way a lot of people's lives have become so complicated that actually learning about other things just makes it more complicated. Ignorance is bliss and all that. Still I'm often amazed that so many people don't take the time to stop and actually wonder why things are the way they are. However in my family Education was king, and though I didn't like uni I did learn some valuable facts about life, people and the world in general.
I am glad to have brought all these favorite books from Alaska with me. In spite I donated boxes and boxes to the library in Sutton. Interestingly, the Chief of the Native tribe there, whom I visited on a few occassions, had more books than nearly anyone I have ever been in the house of. Every wall floor to ceiling shelves of books and he read them all and again. Good man, going nuts this morning trying to remember his name and the name of the tribe. Something with Wolf in it
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I will look at your books for sure then. I already know a lot about you, of course, and I like what I know. But there is nothing more telling about a person than the things he/she keeps on the bookshelf (or doesn't keep there.)
We don't have room for all the books here. Our city house was a two story affair and we had converted most of the second floor to library. The walls were lined with bookshelves, even in the little hallway leading to the bathroom. Now many of those books are languishing in boxes out in the big barn. Fortunately all are labeled and mostly in some kind of order, and as we find we need things, we keep pulling them out. The house is becoming a clutter of books again.
As I said to nipper above, reading is important. It is an exercise for the mind, and your mind needs exercise just as much as your body does. You are the complex and intelligent person you are, at least in part, because you have done a lot of reading. You may no longer need to do it at the same rate, but you still need to do some. It is the way we discover
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You'd love the big book sale we have in my city every year, a local charity "Life line" gets all the books donated to them and sets up a huge stall and you can get heaps of great books for bargin prices. I still use my set of mechanic textbooks :) Not to mention all those "How to guides" Plus collections of fictional works and biographies.
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I shall cross reference it in my journal and credit you - a good way to spread the message within the cartoon.
:O)
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It was suggested a few years ago that the rise of instant messaging and e-mail would bring a new dawn of literacy, but I don't see it happening. Instant messaging and texting, at least among the young kids, consists entirely of junk like "OMG" and "O RLY" and other illiterate platitudes. The advent of broadband has shifted the bulk of internet usage into visual rather than textual communication, with all the attendant limitations on content and detail.
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All sweeping generalisations are not a good benchmark, I do know a handful of well read people so there must be more out there, who makes up the sales in the bestsellers lists if there are not people who buy?
On a similar dumbing down note, I have picked up Vernon Little God last night and feel that it will not last me past the point I am at now. If this is the sort of book that it takes to engage the public nowadays then I will stick to the Classics.
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Like so many things in life, reading requires time. We are pressured from so many directions, pulled and torn, that it is easy to let reading, or exercise, or proper nutrition slip. Reading is exercise for the mind, and a very important exercise at that. If necessary, we have to set aside a segment of time for it, even if only 30 minutes a day. If the newspaper is all you read, fine, but make sure it is a good quality journal. :)
You are a literate and educated person, I know that. So you need to keep feeding your intellect. Don't starve it.
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I spent 4 years doing a business degree that was useless as everyone wanted experience or someone who hadn't gone to uni yet. Then I was overqualified for entry level jobs *gnaws on his tail* Eventually I started a traineeship in IT and that got me a job. And here I am bitter cynical and completely non-plussed about my uni experience. Still dad wanted me to get a degree and I did. I still seethe when I remember a lecturer marking me down for using the correct English rather than the American English spelling.
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I suppose in a way a lot of people's lives have become so complicated that actually learning about other things just makes it more complicated. Ignorance is bliss and all that. Still I'm often amazed that so many people don't take the time to stop and actually wonder why things are the way they are. However in my family Education was king, and though I didn't like uni I did learn some valuable facts about life, people and the world in general.
I shouldn't be down about that I suppose :)
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We don't have room for all the books here. Our city house was a two story affair and we had converted most of the second floor to library. The walls were lined with bookshelves, even in the little hallway leading to the bathroom. Now many of those books are languishing in boxes out in the big barn. Fortunately all are labeled and mostly in some kind of order, and as we find we need things, we keep pulling them out. The house is becoming a clutter of books again.
As I said to nipper above, reading is important. It is an exercise for the mind, and your mind needs exercise just as much as your body does. You are the complex and intelligent person you are, at least in part, because you have done a lot of reading. You may no longer need to do it at the same rate, but you still need to do some. It is the way we discover ( ... )
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