Re: You have an almost cult-like enthusiasm for e-books.
Aemon Send a noteboard - 06/09/2009 05:24:48 AM
This unhealthy need to convince others bothers me.
We're on a message board. I could post saying "I like ebooks, and you don't, and that's ok! The end." and we'd all go home happy, and have no need whatsoever for this website. I like one thing, you like the other, we extoll the virtues of our choices; that's how discussion works in a place like this. Have you LOOKED at the other posts on this board? Half the posts here are people telling other people how awesome author x is, how they're better than y, and how other people should read them. I'm not some fringe obsessee here.
And that's where you JUST DON'T GET IT. Most of the people who don't like e-books don't like e-books because part of the experience is holding the book, leafing through the pages, looking at the pictures between pages x and y, feeling the tactile sensation of the bond of paper used, smelling the fresh ink and keeping the books in a library with beautiful presentation and preservation. An e-book will never and CAN never provide that experience and that's why I do not like them and WILL not like them.
Listen. It's not me who doesn't get it. A couple years ago I was in your shoes. I'd never tried ebooks, didn't like the sound of them, owned a large book collection including some leather bound, some signed, etc. I loved books. Still do. Then I tried an ebook reader, and liked it better. It was different; I lost things like the smell of a book, the feel of the paper, and the other stuff you mentioned. But I gained a lighter, easier to read book, faster page turning (less story interruption), better fonts, etc. Plus there's a tactile element to ereaders, too. Most have nice leather covers, cool, smooth metal, etc. I understand that there are things you just can't get from readers, but there are things you can't get from readers too, and, in my opinion, the reader is a nicer experience.
The thing is, I've tried both. Extensively. If there's anyone here who JUST DOESN'T GET IT (caps are awesome!

You would have as much luck convincing people who intentionally buy vinyl records to switch to mp3s for their music. Explaining how they can carry around all their music in an ipod, or that the medium won't degrade, or that they don't have to worry about leaving their collection in a locked car on a hot day, or that they don't crack or break, means nothing.
Could I convince them? Nope. Would a lot of them convince themselves if they'd make themselves try the new method? Yep.
I don't mind people who try both and decide they're just so attached to the nostalgia of the old way that they can't make the switch. If you really like it better, fine! Don't call me out and tell me I don't understand, though, when you're the one who hasn't tried it.
I don't need to try an e-reader to know why I don't like them, just like a vinyl lover doesn't need to try an ipod. It's about much more than convenience or conveying information. It's about a philosophy, a way of life and an aesthetic preference, and there is simply no way you can compete with that. I would have thought that you had gotten enough answers from other people here to figure that out for yourself.
Most of the people responding to me in this thread said that they were willing to give ebooks a try, in spite of not liking the idea. Who knows what they'll decide, but it's not like I've gotten a bad reception.
As to your first argument. . .I mean, there's not much else I can say. I think if you asked most rational people, they'd agree that you can't be sure whether you like something better than something else until you've tried both. We're not talking a stick in the eye, here.
Me: "You won't know till you try it."
You: "Yes I will."
Me: "Why?"
You: "I just will."
If that's the way it is, I guess there's not much else to debate. /shrug
Let's Discuss: Ebooks
03/09/2009 06:19:42 PM
- 1415 Views
I don't think I could ever use Ebooks.
03/09/2009 06:51:47 PM
- 881 Views
It's not necessarily one or the other.
03/09/2009 07:32:56 PM
- 913 Views
This is so.
03/09/2009 07:53:41 PM
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You probably will be able to soon.
03/09/2009 07:58:52 PM
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You can with some of the more expensive models.
03/09/2009 11:19:01 PM
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Ideally, universities will start renting out eTextbook readers, or something. *NM*
03/09/2009 11:30:29 PM
- 464 Views
That'd be great. My school rents out standard ebook readers now, so it won't be long. *NM*
03/09/2009 11:32:27 PM
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Re: This is so.
03/09/2009 09:02:21 PM
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Regarding pricing...
03/09/2009 07:40:02 PM
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Not so
03/09/2009 09:01:32 PM
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That's a fairly horrible blog post.
03/09/2009 11:05:22 PM
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Re: Let's Discuss: Ebooks
03/09/2009 08:42:26 PM
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Now that is a clever idea.
03/09/2009 11:14:07 PM
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Amazon has actually been using that idea for a while now, in a limited sense.
03/09/2009 11:22:00 PM
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I cannot stand them.
03/09/2009 08:59:03 PM
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Regarding the "Insulting" blog...
03/09/2009 10:22:43 PM
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Re: " I have a very tactile and olfactory relationship with books."
04/09/2009 09:38:22 AM
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This. . .is quite long. I feel pretty strongly about this subject.
03/09/2009 11:14:11 PM
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No, it's a cool post.
03/09/2009 11:29:33 PM
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More than fair.
03/09/2009 11:39:29 PM
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lovely! this is what i would have wanted to say had i gotten here earlier...
04/09/2009 12:44:55 AM
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Thank you for the education. I had a completely different idea as to what e-books were.
04/09/2009 09:35:11 AM
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No problem. And thanks!
04/09/2009 03:15:14 PM
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A possible selling point for me was when you said it was lighter than a paperback
05/09/2009 12:25:18 AM
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Re: Let's Discuss: Ebooks
04/09/2009 01:39:31 AM
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I hate ebooks and everything they represent
04/09/2009 03:50:48 AM
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Hold on a moment now.
04/09/2009 06:28:09 AM
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Your logic is seriously flawed
04/09/2009 02:28:21 PM
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I see your sceneclips, and raise you a New York Times.
04/09/2009 02:59:33 PM
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You have an almost cult-like enthusiasm for e-books.
06/09/2009 12:53:04 AM
- 976 Views
Re: You have an almost cult-like enthusiasm for e-books.
06/09/2009 05:24:48 AM
- 995 Views
Perhaps you mis-read the graph.
04/09/2009 03:14:06 PM
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No, I didn't mis-read the graph.
06/09/2009 12:56:15 AM
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You must be talking percentage of the population who attend theaters? *NM*
06/09/2009 05:26:43 AM
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I don't have any fancy reasons for you.
05/09/2009 01:47:09 AM
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Craig, you're incredibly interesting
05/09/2009 01:59:27 AM
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... Are you hitting on me?
05/09/2009 03:02:06 AM
- 1379 Views