4 ms·

I find this romanticism of reading a little odd. When I was a kid and teenager I was a voracious fiction reader, finishing a couple fantasy or sci-fi novels a w

by mruts 7y ago

I find this romanticism of reading a little odd. When I was a kid and teenager I was a voracious fiction reader, finishing a couple fantasy or sci-fi novels a week. My parents always thought I was involved in some virtious activity that was a clear sign of how “gifted” and mature I was. In reality, all I was doing was passively consuming. Reading books like that is most certainly a vice, and while not especially bad for you, isn’t especially worthwhile either.

moate 7y ago
IDK that "reading things for fun" is a bad habit. I mean, what do you consider good habits? What IS worthwhile and fun? Why can't "doing something fun but of no benefit to the world at large" not be worthwhile? Even as someone who loves moral philosophy and everything that comes along with it, I feel like that's a pretty cynical take on reading for fun.
- walshemj 7y ago
  A very hardline protestant one (back in the day playing chess was considered sinful) and in my opinion an unhealthy view.
dawg- 7y ago
That may be how you tell yourself the story of your old reading habit, but as a fellow voracious childhood reader I would disagree completely. I think reading is a very active process of imagination, analyzing characters and plots, and forming opinions for oneself. My reading habit I picked up as a child is one of my most cherished possessions and an essential part of who I am. As vices go, reading is surely not a bad one to get caught up in :)
- Hitton 7y ago
  That's interesting point of view. We are probably different, but as as a kid and young teen I didn't really analyze characters and plots much (different education system) and although I noticed some references and allusions, I didn't think about it deeper. When I later discovered "Tv Tropes" it opened my eyes and in way sucked lot of enjoyment from reading. I started noticing various plot devices much more and realized how much of what I read is derivative. Really ignorance is bliss. I can't even say it has significantly benefited me. Most of what I read was rather trivial literature and even though it gave me good reading comprehension, I can't stop to wonder if it wouldn't have been better to for instance play sports and cultivate interpersonal skills, teamwork, discipline and hard work.
jeegsy 7y ago
Maybe the way you read scifi could be described as 'passively consuming'. Me, I engaged actively in whatever I was reading as a kid especially the genre stuff. We really could use some romanticism of some things from the past. While not always correct, I certainly prefer and enjoy those memories to this barren seeming 'reality' typical of these revisitations of the past for 'enlightened' deconstruction.

by mruts 7y ago

moate 7y ago

IDK that "reading things for fun" is a bad habit. I mean, what do you consider good habits? What IS worthwhile and fun? Why can't "doing something fun but of no benefit to the world at large" not be worthwhile? Even as someone who loves moral philosophy and everything that comes along with it, I feel like that's a pretty cynical take on reading for fun.

walshemj 7y ago
A very hardline protestant one (back in the day playing chess was considered sinful) and in my opinion an unhealthy view.

dawg- 7y ago

That may be how you tell yourself the story of your old reading habit, but as a fellow voracious childhood reader I would disagree completely. I think reading is a very active process of imagination, analyzing characters and plots, and forming opinions for oneself. My reading habit I picked up as a child is one of my most cherished possessions and an essential part of who I am. As vices go, reading is surely not a bad one to get caught up in :)

Hitton 7y ago
That's interesting point of view. We are probably different, but as as a kid and young teen I didn't really analyze characters and plots much (different education system) and although I noticed some references and allusions, I didn't think about it deeper. When I later discovered "Tv Tropes" it opened my eyes and in way sucked lot of enjoyment from reading. I started noticing various plot devices much more and realized how much of what I read is derivative. Really ignorance is bliss. I can't even say it has significantly benefited me. Most of what I read was rather trivial literature and even though it gave me good reading comprehension, I can't stop to wonder if it wouldn't have been better to for instance play sports and cultivate interpersonal skills, teamwork, discipline and hard work.

jeegsy 7y ago

Maybe the way you read scifi could be described as 'passively consuming'. Me, I engaged actively in whatever I was reading as a kid especially the genre stuff. We really could use some romanticism of some things from the past. While not always correct, I certainly prefer and enjoy those memories to this barren seeming 'reality' typical of these revisitations of the past for 'enlightened' deconstruction.