I have a confession. I used to be an avid reader. All my life. The 9 years old flashlight under the covers thing. I was never without at least 10 books from the library. Always on the waiting list, trying to get them to order obscure books, etc.
I used to read several favorite novels over and over.
I have messed around on the Net since the late '80s, but in the mid '90s, I got a real computer and discovered the World Wide Web. Got hooked, line and sinker.
All the info in the world, a few clicks away. Sadly, since then, books have taken a backseat. I am ashamed!
I just realized I haven’t been to the library in a couple years. I haven’t read a book cover to cover in a year probably, dammit!
I have a stack of unread books gathering dust. I need help! Of course, discovering the SDMB just contributed to the problem.
I have noticed that I read far less than I used to, also.
I justify it with the thinking that just because I am no longer reading books, it doesn’t mean that I am no longer reading, using my imagination, or learning.
I read a lot on the internet. Fictional stories, news, just about everything. If I need to do research, it is here. But, I am still reading.
I understand what you mean by curling up with a good book. I never really realized how much I missed it until now. I have been reduced to reading Dave Barry (not that there is anything wrong with that, it is just not what I would consider a compelling read) and the like for the last few years, when I needed something to push me over the edge into sleepyland.
On deeper thought, I think I miss the quiet time that I used to get from a good novel.
Great. I finally start posting after lurking for a year, and now I am losing my desire to spend my free time on the 'net.
Yes, I do. More, in fact. I get more opinions on good books and visit websites that have different recommended book titles, so I use my offline time (the minority of my day) to catch up on the reading.
I think I read the same amount, but I feel that I am making better choices of reading material.
Seriously, the people at http://www.bookcrossing.com are wonderful at recommending new authors, books, etc. I have tried a few authors that I wouldn’t have looked at previously based on opinons posted there.
The short answer is “yes” I am not reading as much as I used to. I’ve been on the net since 1999. My reading habits were not affected until I was introduced to Message Boards about 2 months ago. This seems like an addiction, an obsession if you will. You know it’s occupying far too much of your time to the detriment of other things (in this case “reading”) but you continue to “sign on” and peruse the boards.
I have, however, begun to address the problem. Only yesterday I acquired and began reading Michael Beschloss’ The Conquerors. He is a presidential historian who writes for the layman. This book deals with Roosevelt and Truman’s invovlement and affect on WWII and it’s aftermath.
Wish me luck, cause I’ve got a “monkey-on-my-back” and I’m having withdrawal pains. ** **
I think that after finding the internet, instead of removing reading from my life with the extra time spent on the internet, I made extra time for reading at the expense of my social life
I don’t think I read less than before getting the Internet. Mainly because we got AOL in 1996ish, when I was about twelve. (And now I’m eighteen. Ah…has it only been six years?) I already read a lot before, and I still kept reading novels afterwards.
Maybe this has something to do with the fact that I’m younger than most of you posting? This is a WAG, but perhaps younger people adapt to new technology better and incorporate it into their lives more efficiently. But then again, there are a lot of kids who would rather go online/watch TV than read, so maybe that has nothing to do with it.
When my family first got internet access during my junior year in high school, I was at the stage where I barely did any reading at all, probably because none of my friends did either, and I instead spent way too much time on computer games and TV. Since I’ve abandoned gaming entirely and several reduced TV time (I only watch The Simpsons now), that leaves more time for reading even though I usually spend two hours per night online. I’m currently working on my eighteenth book in the fifty book challenge.
I read less than I used to, absolutely. But I’m taking part in the 50 book challenge this year (I know there’s a CS thread on it, and there are a couple LJ communities dedicated to it) and am so far on pace to meet the goal. I’ve read 10 books in 2003 that I’m actually counting (there are a couple that I elected not to count for various reasons). So while my reading has gone down since before I had the internet, it’s gone up in just the last few months, which is good. And I have been reading books I already had, as opposed to going insane at the bookstore (my usual MO), which is really good.
I’ve noticed that my attention span for reading printed material has gone WAY down in the past few years - I can get through a magazine since the articles are so short, but I can only read a few pages of a novel before my mind starts to wander.
I mostly blame the Internet, but some of it may be due to reading habits acquired since I’ve been in college, however, like skimming through long paragraphs and getting more information out of figures than from the text. But I used to be a reading fiend, so I’ve been seriously considering getting one of those e-book thingies, since I think scrolling down to the end of a chapter would be more satisfying for me now than flipping pages. Has anyone in my situation had any luck with them?
FTR, I’m a month shy of 21 and have been using the Internet regularly since I was 16.
A bit less, but only because my teaching and other activities necessitate use of email and searching–so it takes up some time that I otherwise would have spent reading. I still try to do some reading as often as possible, usually while on my exercise bike.
I read a lot less printed matter in terms of fiction, which I do miss. The non-fiction still stays the same, especially if I’m doing a research project and I’m tracking down source leads.
But my patchy newspaper reading has given way to daily on-line perusal of the articles that interest me.
I do miss reading into the wee hours of the morning. (However, I’ve just re-read a Terry Pratchett novel, so I feel a bit better now, thanks. :))
I’ve started reading a lot more since I came to this board, oddly enough. I think I’m trying to understand the obscure literary jokes you people are known to make.
I actually think that I read more. The net give me quick and easy access to so many things (some unexpected) that I find myself going to books for more info that I can read and digest at my leisure - and at odd moments.
Until I had 'net access at home (~7 years ago), I read 2-3 books a week, usually working on a couple at a time. That’s dropped to 4-5 per year. I think the change is due largely to my reallocation of time to web wanderings, but the onset of crappy middle-aged eyesight has been a factor as well.
I probably do, but I read different things. I don’t read newspapers or magazines as much, but I do read more books. Reading used to be a way for me to keep informed which now I do a lot of on the Internet. Reading has become more of a pleasure or expand my mind activity.
What I don’t do as much of is watch TV or write letters. I do miss writing and reading letters. Everything is email or IM now and when I sit down to write someone, I find I don’t have as much to say (they usually already know everything).
