I’m with you, Anti, and I just ordered these for my trog-smashing pleasure. 
Oh, and can I get a nice shiny lapel pin instead of a trophy (so I can shove it in total strangers’ faces and feel ultra-superior)?
(bolding mine)
I wasn’t aware that anyone else used the word “buttmunch” except my husband and me.
When I mentioned I only had one episode of West Wing left on the DVD I was watching while I exercised, my husband asked what I would do for the rest of the time.
“They make these nifty devices now that let you see stories in your head. They’re like TV shows, but you have to get them off little pieces of paper. I call them ‘paper movies.’”*
*Now you know why we call each other “buttmunch” so often.
Sorry, the trophy has already been taken.
tldr
Troglodyte.
I still haven’t gotten my aardvark yet. Is there a customer service desk or something I can call?
Have you read the thread about how to cook a lobster? Nasty, nasty thread. There are plenty of wine and food afficionados who look down on people who don’t share their views.
Open a thread mentioning how you like your Filet Mignon well done, with ketchup, and they’ll all come out of the woodwork.
Warning, this is not an acutal invitation to open such a thread.
roots around in box
Pretty slim pickings here. I guess I’ll take this refrigerator magnet. I can use it to hang up my library’s hours.
I guess that leaves me this 2006 wall calendar. Still good for 5 and 1/2 months!
WOOKIN, I kinda get what you’re saying, but it’s not reading per se that’s the crux of it.
It’s a thread about “I can’t believe more people don’t X” and then maybe a third of the replies are simply “I X - let me tell you about how I X.”
That would be mildly annoying (to me) no matter the subject.
Because it’s the same reaction that(some) people give to circus freaks or Ripley’s Believe or Not stuff. All of those folks probably do something (knit, run thru men like nobody’s business, make jewelry, bake, who knows what)–but the response isn’t wide eyed wonder (well, maybe the chick and the men got that response…). 
I wasn’t building an argument per se re reading, but I was bringing up the positives of reading-such as academic performance.
I think I may have mistook the tone of the OP, but if I have–what was your point? Sarcastically offering a prize for folks who like to read isn’t a hostile approach to readers? I’m confused (a common state o’ mind for me).
I see the point that Manda Jo makes about hiking–a good analogy. Perhaps it is irritating to listen to folks extol the virtues of reading, as if those virtues made them all round better people. (but, see, I do think that reading makes you a better person-as in, you, yourself, not in comparison to others–now the deep, dark secret is out). I know I get irritated by people who bore me with their fervor re dieting, exercise or cooking. But I see that vehemence as a foible. Something about reading threatens people-more so than train spotting, IMO.
It’s not a big deal-it doesn’t keep anyone up at noc(at least I hope not!)–it’s just an attitude that I’ve noticed over the years. To be told everytime(or at least it seems like every time) I carry a book somewhere, “you read alot.” I reply, “yes, I do.” “huh.” (I get this at work, mostly). It’s a bizarre response–sometimes they probe into why I would spend my time doing this; sometimes they just watch me read. It’s odd as hell (I cannot wait to not work there anymore, 2 more years and I’m gone).
Sorry if I came across as harsh–but I am still confused by the OP.
Remember the picky eater thread?
I honestly can’t believe how many people keep taking this as a rant about people who love to read, and people who want to talk about their love of reading. There is a difference between talking about the joy that you get from a hobby and engaging in an um, bookshelf measuring contest to get yourself declared über reader. You see this behavior in all types of groups, and it’s never pretty.
If anyone’s still on his/her cross, please get off. I need the wood for the book burning.
It was taken in post #68. 
You get the ashtray on a stand.
I have to admit to a prejudice against those who seem to proudly admit that they don’t read books - as if a reader is a foppish intellectual and they’re much more salt-of-the-earth than that.
I, however, almost never read with the intent of <echo> improving my mind </echo> or :eek: actually learning something. Except for reference books directly related to my job, which I scan for needed info, I read non-fiction just to get the aforementioned movie-in-my-head experience. I think the last non-fiction book I read was maybe four years ago: “Blind Man’s Bluff” about cold war submarine use. It was a very entertaining read and if it hadn’t been entertaining I’ll bet you dollars to donuts that I wouldn’t have gotten beyond the first few chapters.
I’ve got enough stress and pressure in my life. No need to add more pressure with some I-feel-inadequate need to improve myself. I’m pretty good as is, IMO.
Those of you who read non-fiction are probably all foppish intellectuals, anyway.
My cleaning lady (is that the correct term?) asked me if I really read “all those books”. She always makes neat piles of books, and noticed that each month there are different books laying around. When I told her yes, I read them, that’s why they are there, she was surprised. She said that I read more books in a month then she has read in her lifetime.
She seemed to feel sorry for me. I know I felt sorry for her. Guess it’s all about point of view.
No, he was sacarstically offering a prize to people who brag about reading.
Thanks you, but lots of other things make you a better person, too. As a reader, I’ve always sort of envied people that acually go out and do things instead–people in CS who cook from scratch every day, students I’ve had who dance five hours a day no matter what, and more on weekends, people that are involved in community theater. I’d never do any of that, and not least because it would cut into my reading time. But I suspect they have access to something I don’t, have learned things I haven’t, through their dedication to creation instead of consumption.
Well, you work in a shitty place, and I am sorry. But I promise you there there do exist people that are still very smug about how much they read, and really do think that reading isn’t just a noble pursuit, but is the most noble of pursuits, and it’s an obnoxious attitude, because it minimizes all those other things. It’s not the worst attitude in the world, but it’s certainly pit-worthy. It always bugs me–for one thing, I think holding up reading as this most holy, most virtuous act pushes a lot of kids away from it.
(heck, I even did a search for “dog” to make sure my lame joke would be unique :rolleyes: )
I don’t smoke, is the collection of victorian-era sex toys still available?
To hell with the ugly ceramic dog, I’m taking the trip to Hawaii!
Or possibly the really atrocious watercolor paintings or the giant tasteless vase with four peacock feathers in it.
And here are two more. Starting a pit thread about eating habits is pretty much a sure fire way to kick off an eight-page brawl on this board.
Ding ding ding ding!!! Thank you, Manda Jo! Tell her what she’s won, Don Pardo!
This sums it up much better than I seem to have been able to. And to those talking about people mocking you for reading (I’m still unable to picture this, but I will take your word for it), how does turning a judgemental eye on someone else’s reading habits make it any better?
Now, to all my lovely contestants, you’ll be leaving this thread with a life time supply of Lee press on nails and your very own copy of Dr. Phil’s latest book “You don’t have to have an episiotomy to read the Iliad”