# I get it; you enjoy reading. Would you prefer a medal or a trophy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 13, 2006, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331 "2006-07-13T15:14:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/81 "2006-07-13T20:44:42Z")
> [@iampunha](#): > > Crap. Upon reconsideration, hompohone argument retracted in favor of something that actually makes sense: the OP tried to spell mute and was successful, but should have typed moot. So it’s a word choice issue, I think, rather than a spelling mistake. Flaunt/flout is another example of this phenomenon. Actually it’s a case of being in a big damned hurry and making stupid mistakes. Normally I would use “moo” a la Joey Tribiani, just cause I’m that kind of dork. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/82 "2006-07-13T20:49:02Z")
> [@Balduran](#): > > I do find it amusing when people start bragging (not that everyone brags about it of course) about how many novels they read. Kind of like people who act like uber-nerds because they know how to write some html code. But I don’t get why it’s automatically bragging? Sure, some people brag, and some people are just genuinely proud of it. I have been guilty of both in my life, I’ll admit. Mostly, though, I’m proud and grateful that I have the opportunity to read so much…people who are not snooty about it and genuinely don’t have any interest in reading I actually kind of feel bad for. I get SO much out of reading, I’d like very much for people I know to get something out of it, too. As for the TV thread, that’s another thing. Why is it bragging to merely state you’ve been without cable for years? Some of the people in that thread were bragging, sure. Some were merely commenting. I can tell you I didn’t mean to brag, if that’s how it came out. I don’t have cable because if I do have it, I don’t have the willpower not to watch. So I don’t have it. It seems that merely to state something as fact is being considered bragging in this thread! ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/83 "2006-07-13T20:51:01Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > But bragging about how you always have a book at your side (or “no less than five” in your purse)? That’s pretty lame. that’s either a big ass purse or very tiny books. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/84 "2006-07-13T20:52:48Z")
> [@wring](#): > > that’s either a big ass purse or very tiny books. Honestly, that’s what I thought, too. 🙂 I have no books in my purse, they couldn’t fit. ---
**Author:** ![iampunha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/74df32/32.png) [@iampunha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iampunha)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/85 "2006-07-13T20:53:39Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Actually it’s a case of being in a big damned hurry and making stupid mistakes. Normally I would use “moo” a la Joey Tribiani, just cause I’m that kind of dork. 😛 Damnit, wookinpanub, how is this supposed to help me?😉 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/86 "2006-07-13T20:57:25Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > Forgive me, but it comes off as a thinly veiled pat on one’s own back. Mixed metaphor alert! I claim a set of stainless steel salad forks - I’m going to stick them in the head of my neighbour, who, on seeing my bulging shelves, said scathingly, “Oh, you’re a _bookworm_.” The woman is a primary school teacher, has a young daughter, and regards reading as an irritating occasional necessity for school or work, rather suspect if undertaken of one’s own will. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/87 "2006-07-13T21:00:00Z")
> [@Manda JO](#): > > intelligent, passionate people like complex, subtle, nuanced things. Reading is one of the places where you find those nuances. Visual art is another, math and science and game playing also have these qualities, and there are many more. What percentage of people do you consider “intelligent and passionate”? IME, a sizeable percentage of people who are passionate about art, science, and gaming like reading about those interests. In fact, it is hard for me to imagine any interest that could not be complemented/enhanced through reading. Heck, I enjoy naps. So I’m certainly not going to say folks have to be processing input every possible moment. And kudos to those who use waiting or commuting time as time they intentionally “tune out” and decompress. But will you admit that at least some of the folks who are just sitting there simply don’t have much going on upstairs? No, I’m not going to say folks who read are “better” than those who don’t. I will suggest, however, that I believe on average readers tend to be more intelligent, more informed, and have higher language skills than non-readers. Certainly, there will be exceptions among both groups. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/88 "2006-07-13T21:14:40Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > But I don’t get why it’s automatically bragging? Sure, some people brag, and some people are just genuinely proud of it. I have been guilty of both in my life, I’ll admit. Mostly, though, I’m proud and grateful that I have the opportunity to read so much…people who are not snooty about it and genuinely don’t have any interest in reading I actually kind of feel bad for. I get SO much out of reading, I’d like very much for people I know to get something out of it, too. > > As for the TV thread, that’s another thing. Why is it bragging to merely state you’ve been without cable for years? Some of the people in that thread were bragging, sure. Some were merely commenting. I can tell you I didn’t mean to brag, if that’s how it came out. I don’t have cable because if I do have it, I don’t have the willpower not to watch. So I don’t have it. > > It seems that merely to state something as fact is being considered bragging in this thread! “Merely stating” is a hard thing to discern in a written conversation. As far as my op and the particular thread I referenced, without going through each reply, I’m just saying that it strikes me that people (some, not all) _seem_ to take quite a lot of pride in \*how much \* they read. It reads like a one-upmanship contest. The thread title aside, I saw many more self references to \*how much \* the respondant reads than to the actual topic, and I’m saying this seems to be a recurring thing. You’ve explained why you do it, and I appreciate that. After all, underneath my feeble rant really was a question of sorts. My point, however poorly made is not that everyone who mentions reading EVER is a snob, but that this is a subject that elicits an observable (on _my_ part)and slightly unpleasant (in _my_ opinion) reaction. I see a few others have noticed the same thing, or at least can sort of get where I’m coming from, so even if \*you \* don’t hold that view, I didn’t just pull it out of my bonnet. Let us not get started on “the T.V. thing” (Not your comments. The "tv watcher = imbecile argument) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/89 "2006-07-13T21:15:37Z")
I prefer the medal, because what with all the books around my place, there isn’t any available shelf space for a trophy. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/90 "2006-07-13T21:18:33Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > What percentage of people do you consider “intelligent and passionate”? IME, a sizeable percentage of people who are passionate about art, science, and gaming like reading about those interests. In fact, it is hard for me to imagine any interest that could not be complemented/enhanced through reading. All my students are intelligent and passionate until proven othrewise. And I don’t worry about anyone else. Many activities can be enhanced by reading, but it’s not the only way. You can play chess or paint or dance or make music or meditate on all those things and be reveling in the complexities there without often picking up a book. All these things can be complimented by reading, yes, but it’s not the only way to enjoy them. And it seems that to some people reading is as slow and as torturous a path to understanding as visual media are to me, so it’s no wonder they find other paths. > [@](#): > > Heck, I enjoy naps. So I’m certainly not going to say folks have to be processing input every possible moment. And kudos to those who use waiting or commuting time as time they intentionally “tune out” and decompress. But will you admit that at least some of the folks who are just sitting there simply don’t have much going on upstairs? Sure, but since I don’t know which are which, I am not going to sit there and mentally shake my head at them. In that waiting room, they might be tuned out or they might be looking at the world with a visual artist’s eye and seeing so much that I would miss, or they may be people watching and enjoys the depth of the complexity of the human spirit as shown by the interaction of that woman over thier and her three sick kids. I don’t know. > [@](#): > > No, I’m not going to say folks who read are “better” than those who don’t. I will suggest, however, that I believe on average readers tend to be more intelligent, more informed, and have higher language skills than non-readers. Certainly, there will be exceptions among both groups. Higher language skills for sure, but language skills are only one type of skill, and not something everyone needs to prioritize. In fact, the world would be pretty boring if everyone prioritized the same skill set. I really have enjoyed my interactions with people who have different minds, and have learned a great deal, I would not have done that if I dismissed non-readers catagorically as simplistic thinkers. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/91 "2006-07-13T21:21:36Z")
> [@Manda JO](#): > > I would not have done that if I dismissed non-readers catagorically as simplistic thinkers. When you encounter someone who truly seems to be a “simplistic thinker”, do you feel you just haven’t discovered their passion? Because I think there are a pretty good number of “simplistic thinkers” out and about. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/92 "2006-07-13T21:31:38Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > When you encounter someone who truly seems to be a “simplistic thinker”, do you feel you just haven’t discovered their passion? > > Because I think there are a pretty good number of “simplistic thinkers” out and about. Of course there are. But I’d be a pretty crappy teacher if I didn’t at least give them the benefit of the doubt, and that’s a habit I try and carry over into the rest of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/93 "2006-07-13T21:49:27Z")
> [@Otto](#): > > As far as caring whether other people read or not, I only care to the extent that I think we’d be better off as a society if more people read something on a regular basis. What **Otto** said. Plus: Reading is a survival skill. It is the kind of skill that must be practiced, else it will atrophy. How anyone can be disdainful of readers is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/94 "2006-07-13T22:02:24Z")
> [@EddyTeddyFreddy](#): > > :: picks over the prizes not yet taken :: > > OOOO! OOOO! There’s still a pony! Gimme that pitchfork and I’ll dig it out. There’s a pitchfork available in the prize package?!? Gimme! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![bagkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ab992/32.png) [@bagkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bagkitty)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/95 "2006-07-13T22:07:36Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Not me. I’m having **Hamish** summarize it aloud. That sounds about as interesting as a book on tape… couldn’t you have him relay the information by means of an interpretive dance. Now **that** would be impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/96 "2006-07-13T22:18:45Z")
> [@Omega Glory](#): > > No, I know what you mean. Most of us are readers, so it’s like people really have to go that extra mile to really stand out. “_I \* always bring a book to appointments." "Well, \* I_ always bring five books with me.” “Yea, well _I_ had several books grafted onto my palm, so I’m not even capable of forgetting \*my \* reading material.” Heh. The problem isn’t that people read, it’s that people are can be so smug about it. Yeah, we all know you got an “A” on your _Moby Dick_ book report in the 2nd grade. And your daughter is reading _Finnegans Wake_ on the kindergarten commute. Yeah, I can see where the OP is coming from. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/97 "2006-07-13T22:20:49Z")
Eh, can’t say I have ever conciously lorded my superiority over a person because I read. I definately agree that it is likely to be human nature to feel superior to others based on likes and preferences, as a defensive mechanism if anything. I do sort of feel that reading makes a person better in many ways. I would feel the need to be defensive and rude about it if somebody deliberately shunned reading and insulted me because of it. I don’t personally believe that being educated makes you a better person. But if push comes to shove and some backwoods hillbilly was talking down about all those college edumacated ijits, I would probably get snooty and feel superior to him. More of a reaction to a threat though. I have friends that don’t ever read a book, but I don’t feel better or smarter than them, but if they talked smack about reading, I would probably get reactive and blurt out something about how uncultured they are. Sad, true, but it isn’t any different from the reactions I get when people find out I don’t watch sports on the telly. I don’t see the surprise on how people read a lot or derride those that don’t on this message board. You are on a message board dedicated to fighting ignorance, an all text medium, in which highly educated and intelligent people come to discuss all things geeky, obscure, and where they can interact with people similar to them and talk about things, or complain about things they cannot do in the real world. Unless you frequent MENSA meetings that is. I think if you DON’T read, you probably ought not be here. No snootyness intended whatsoever, just practicality. How do you expect to interact in GD, GQ or 1/4-1/2 of Cafe Society if you don’t read? There are hundreds if not thousands of lower-brow, FREE message boards and communities out there, and complaining about how highly intelligent and educated people like talking about how educated and intelligent they are (or what/how many books they have read or are going to read) on a message board you have to pay to contribute when you should be well aware of what the community is like here is just plain silly. Just so you aren’t confused. This message board is very high-brow, full of extremely bright and gifted people that like to read and talk about politics, science, arts and humanities and BOOKS, things you have to know having read a book. Documentaries are nice, but they don’t cut it. While I am not one of these extremely bright and gifted people, I pay to enjoy reading others, feeling dumb, and getting a sense of my place in this world. If you are like me, perhaps you should quit bitching or leave or something, cause it isn’t going to stop. If you are one of those brilliant and highly educated people, sorry a lowbrow near moron like me figured this out before you, but with high education and brilliance, there is a higher occurance of arrogance and showmanship. People like to brag about their gifts, their education, and how many books they have read or what GPA they got in school, and God-forbid, their IQ. Just human nature. I know you are just venting or what not, but… uhh, perhaps you should try and adjust and get over it? ---
**Author:** ![Belrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed655f/32.png) [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/98 "2006-07-13T23:18:23Z")
What? No ugly ceramic dog as a prize? _Grump_ ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/99 "2006-07-13T23:46:50Z")
> [@lisacurl](#): > > There’s a pitchfork available in the prize package?!? Gimme! 🆒 Here ya go. But it’s been, ah, broken in. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Carlyjay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Carlyjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carlyjay)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2006, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331/100 "2006-07-13T23:49:15Z")
Oh, fine. Since no one else wants it, I’ll have a national holiday in my name, please. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-get-it-you-enjoy-reading-would-you-prefer-a-medal-or-a-trophy/364331.md?page=6)