Originally posted by West Coast
Sorry to burst your bubble, but people do not only not read books, but they are also not reading newspapers. Know why? Its called the 'internet.'
This is true, and is a blessing and curse too, especially in regards to multimedia and acceptability of the actual validity of the source.
The Internet takes no "investment" besides the initial set up, whereas you choose a book usually quite carefully.
The multimedia of the internet and other forms of such media does allow a much better representation, learning and explanation of the topic.
However just like internet pages it usually is in a very "short" time frame, either by choice in internet pages read, or short clips.
Many feel they have then got real understanding of that topic, without questioning, or reading the referenced materials too.
I see this abound much in places such as ATS where people will debunk without even watching, reading the OP's source first.
The ability to jump from topic to topic quickly, and to have no investment in the learning of that information has dumbed down the population IMHO,
with many people having their idea and worldveiw of their experience, based on 5 minutes read of someone elses view or nice video's / Pic's.
The subconscious Meme prevalent in the last and following generations too of of MSM " its on the TV so it must be true" mentality has done much harm
to real knowledge.
A book involves in both a fictional and factual style of reading a clear progression from start to end of the story or topic, it involves using your
own mind more and bringing into play your imagination to create the picture or representation of the information or story, which always makes the
learning of it easier and often also to deeper levels of understanding of the topic, theme of the story or information, sparking of connections with
other already information that can be linked in your mind.
To watch a even good documentary can not be as effective as reading a book on a subject, as it is more of a passive experience, but it lends itself to
human nature as we are usually very visual in our outlook.
The imagination is a muscle, and we as a world IMHO all need to go to the mental gym more, which will build the muscles of creativity, eureka moments
and also true deep understanding. (current thread contributors excluded of course)
Though even we avid readers of books find ourselves here and so will that 20% soon be 10% in time, as we too become lazy in our way of finding
information and experiencing stories..
I always find that when you have read say a really good book, and then a Film is made about it later, that no matter how good the film my experience
of reading it was more personal and even vivid in imagination of the story, and the screenplay never comes close.
We colour and experience in our minds from the projections created by the words we read a much more rich tapestry and emotional experience than can be
achieved by passive means, though I have found there is one exception to this, and it seems to based on gender.
Think on the popularity of Mills and Boon books etc, for many years, and continuing today, but the male predominance for that Actual Visual image of
pornography.
Its the only area I know where the screen is ahem... better than the word but as said seems to be based on the male experience only, whereas I have
found that cross gender preference for the emotional intensity generated by books against other passive media...
I have discussed this with partners in the past and found it intriguing, how a Mills and Boon can be so appealing for women still with the plethora of
visual media for them, whereas the old stories of the days gone by in Playboy etc would hardly raise any attention
in the modern male mind due to
our conditioning by culture.
It certainly lends something this last point to the long held statement that females are driven by more emotional and feeling desires than men's
surface or visual prompts. I then find it strange though that many women might say if asking for example what car someone had "it was a red one",
whera's in this regard even having stating the above about this preference within the male mind on this subject alone is predominately "visual" the
reply would not probably mention the colour, or it wouldn't matter much at all, the Type of car or engine?status of it would be the response...
Just my 2c lol
Elf