Topic For Debate:

[smibbo]

I used to read all the time. I mean ALL the time. Now, I read LJ. Do you think that is a bad trade-off or a good one? I've got an unformed opinion but I want to know what other people think.

Discuss please.

Comments

[candicide.livejournal.com]

I don't know that LJ is a better trade-off...I tend to be more relaxed, and I lose myself in reading books. LJ, reading my friends problems, opinions, battles....it's not quite as comforting.

Then again, I do not read like I used to, either. I try to find a few moments each day to keep up with whatever book I'm reading...but I used to go through an entire novel in a few days, sometimes a few hours if I had the time (I'm a speedreader). With a baby, I only get the chance to read LJ at work.

I like to promise myself that I will have the time to read and write again in the future. You're a mom...will I?

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

the only difference is that you will have to conciously MAKE time. Time to do things no longer simply shows up conveniantly when you're a mom... time runs away and you run after it trying to catch up. heh heh

[danorsong.livejournal.com]

I try to make time for books, triming a few people I read out of duty not interest etc. Sadly I have a relly big chatting problem and that is what is keeping my books away.

I think the best thing to do is to limit LJ time Like, for me t's pre shower (ie about 30 minutes if I wake up on time) and then evenings. And sometimes if my friends don't post enough fast enough.. I read inbetween LJ'ings.

[wolven.livejournal.com]

Well, when any new medium enters, there will be a redistribution of time, and efforts. Not necessarily good or Bad, but you could always cut back on LJ, and read more books.

It's all information, the difference being the medium thereof.

books v lj

[aaronthemad.livejournal.com]

I usually feel a lot better, mentally and physically, after spending an hour reading a book than spending an hour reading anything on the internet. That might just be because I don't have good computer posture. If I could get LJ on my PDA and read it in the bath like I do with books from Project Gutenberg, who knows, maybe I'd like it better.

In general, the writing quality's going to be better in books, since they're designed to be permanent. They're also usually deeper, and can give you more abstract things to think about. LJ, on the other hand, combines social interaction with reading, and it's also gonna have its finger closer to the pulse of the world. So it's really a matter of personal taste.

On the whole, though, I think people are better off spending less time on the internet. There's been some studies that show that, while the Internet makes it possible to keep contact with more people, it also creates a greater sense of isolation than real-life contact.

Re: books v lj

[not-hothead-yet.livejournal.com]

considering that in my job I am in constant contact with people... that might not be a bad thing. It would also explain why I'm more inclined (these days) to sit in front of the internet than go out socializing after working. On the internet I don't have to pretend that happy to have someone expecting me to serve them.