# What kind of psycho writes in a library book? (lame? I don't know!) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 21, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339 "2004-09-21T16:06:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![stringy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@stringy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stringy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339/41 "2004-09-23T05:41:31Z")
I used to find handwritten notes in books annoying, until I read H.L. Jackson’s _Marginalia_. She explains the history of making notes in books and why it fell out of favour, becoming nearly taboo. It’s a great book, some of you might be interested in reading it. I tried making a few notes in pencil in some of my own books (I’d never do it in a library book), and it’s a great way to make sure you’re reading a text thoroughly… I don’t see how you could do it in a fiction book though, unless you weren’t enjoying the story. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339/42 "2004-09-23T08:26:56Z")
I work in a library and I’ll never forgot the day that someone returned a copy of the movie The House of Yes with the words “INCEST RELATIONSHIP” scrawled on the cover and inside the case and the words “DISGUSTING FILTH” in silver marker on the tape. I whited out the marks on the paper case and it’s become a running joke to see the whiteout slowly chipping away over the years to reveal “INCEST RELATIONSHIP” once more. I never had any desire to borrow House of Yes, but after seeing that little note I almost wanted to see what the fuss was about. Maybe someday… ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339/43 "2004-09-23T09:26:21Z")
I pinched a book from a library once. I have felt guilty about it since 1985. If I ever go back to Melbourne I promise to take it back. I feel (a tensy bit better) after confessing. It was ‘Blue Highways’, a bloody good read about a journey across America. I apologise to any Melbournians who didn’t get to read it. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339/44 "2004-09-23T12:23:59Z")
Bloody hell, **calm kiwi** , you just reminded me of the copy of Aristophanes’ Lysistrata that I borrowed from Merton College Library in 1979, which is now sitting on a bookshelf in Hong Kong. I shudder to think what the fine will be for late return. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339/45 "2004-09-23T12:35:23Z")
> [@calm kiwi](#): > > I pinched a book from a library once. I have felt guilty about it since 1985. If I ever go back to Melbourne I promise to take it back. > > I feel (a tensy bit better) after confessing. > > It was ‘Blue Highways’, a bloody good read about a journey across America. I apologise to any Melbournians who didn’t get to read it. ☹ Do you have any fucking idea how long I have had that book on reserve, awaiting its return? Apologies are NOT ENOUGH. 😃 I ended up reading “Bowling Alone”, which was a jolly good read itself. ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2004, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339/46 "2004-09-23T15:12:07Z")
> [@pokey](#): > > Twice in the last month I have checked out a book from the library only to find it ruined by some asshole’s insipid observations and comments penciled in the margins. In both cases the comments were obnoxious and snotty and gave me the impression that the writer thought he or she was being pretty clever and incisive. Annoying yes, but not as gross as those dirty bastards that press their boogers all over the pages. Press a flower, by all means, but **not** your nasal droppings. :mad: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-psycho-writes-in-a-library-book-lame-i-dont-know/265339.md?page=2)