I once heard a very famous author state that he wanted nothing to do with the internet. He based this (I vaguely recall) on the idea that people would then be able to go back, digging into past comments or opinions he had posted from years ago, dragging them out and trying to judge them by some current standard. It was a prescient commentary from a science fiction author. We are now seeing what can happen when people go digging into the past, looking for any scrap of conversation made by (fill in person of choice) in years gone by. Once on the internet, out in public forever… I try to be mindful of this. Part of this past author’s comments were based around the idea that a person can learn, change and grow. The things that once were a passionate position may have been challenged and defeated. Education can happen. Changes in how a person lives, works, acts or presents themselves are common. This is true of anyone.
It’s also true that technology, truly successful technology, will find it’s way into your life. What was once edgy and new will move into the realm of the commonplace. Exceptional will become expected. Delivery methods of said technology will become streamlined and efficient. I place e-reader (Kindle specifically) in this category.
I saw that cartoon and it made me wonder how my opinions on certain things have aged. So I went digging (I am in no way known or popular enough to have people trying to dig things up on me). I was fearful that when I went to look at my posted blog comments they would contain the sort of statements that seem outlandish or desperately funny (or worse).
I was most shocked to discover that it has been 10 years since I first wrote about the Kindle. I got my first e-reader back at the end of 2010. It was a stand alone device. I remember my own hesitance toward the device. I occasionally argued against them. I didn’t like certain aspects, but the convenience very quickly won out. In the decade since the stand alone device has merged into phones and tablet tech. The e-book is ubiquitous and somehow the paperback survives. If you have a deep seeded need for nostalgia, you can check out my original post HERE and then check out the follow up a few months later HERE. The second one would definitely be a different vibe today. I don’t think most people would have any issues letting somebody peruse their book collection, but I don’t know anyone that would unlock their device and just hand it over to a coworker to check out… but that’s a topic for another day I suspect.
What’s on your bookshelf right now? Is it virtual?
I’ve got mostly paper books. I like the idea of ebooks for convenience, but for actually reading them, I prefer paper. Exceptions to this are RPG books and comics. Comics usually get read too quickly. Carrying a bunch of heavy books to someone’s house to roleplay gets old. If I were in college, I might also prefer ebooks for textbooks due to the weight. Also, I like books as a decoration. Not to brag about how (whatever) I am, but for myself. Ideally, I’d have a reading room with walls completely covered by books.
Interestingly, I actually disagree with the RPG rule books. I have an electronic copy of one, but in that instance I like the weight and feel of the actual book. Combine with that the ability to make notes in the margins and tag pages. Yes, I have done this to my RPG books. They are for playing and using, not for display or collectability (although I have some of those too).
As for other books – you and I are on the same page (see what I did there?). We have a number of shelves around our house and I find that I curate those and arrange them very carefully so they make sense to me and display well. They are as much the art of my walls as any of the pictures I have hung.