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> things like having to look in the dictionary to learn about things and words Do you think that using a print dictionary builds character better than using On

> things like having to look in the dictionary to learn about things and words Do you think that using a print dictionary builds character better than using Onelook.com? 19,089,129 words in 1062 dictionaries indexed: http://www.onelook.com/?d=all_gen http://www.onelook.com/?d=all_gen

vorg 16y ago
Perhaps sliverstorm was talking about availability of information. Growing up in the 1970's, there was only the public library, 2 TV channels, and 2 daily newspapers. In the eighties, there was the university library, which had a lot more but the best books were always borrowed, and desk copies only. And only so many bought books were within budget. Recently, I spent a couple months at my Mum's country house without a car or internet at home, bringing only a stack of newly bought nonfiction books with me. The only entertainment was the intro cable TV package, excluding the movies and sports. I got more out of those books than I had since before the internet and wikipedia etc became widespread. It brought back memories of earlier times, when there was LESS knowledge at my fingertips than I knew what to do with, instead of FAR MORE knowledge.
- dhughes 16y ago
  Definitely reading any book is in a way like meditation, you get more out of it than googling some facts on some random website.
sliverstorm 16y ago
The dictionary offered two things: 1) I'd find lots of other cool words as I searched for the one I wanted 2) I had to work to get the answer. Sure, it wasn't a LOT of work, but I had to invest something to get something. Searching a word online requires practically no investment. Which is not to say I don't use online dictionaries, Wikipedia, Google "define:", etc.
- michaelchisari 16y ago
  1) Accidental discovery is a major virtue of the internet. 2) But you didn't have to walk fifteen miles to a small library to do it. The generation you grew up in had a major barrier to entry removed, but the effort and time was shifted elsewhere. The same thing is happening to this generation.

vorg 16y ago

Perhaps sliverstorm was talking about availability of information. Growing up in the 1970's, there was only the public library, 2 TV channels, and 2 daily newspapers. In the eighties, there was the university library, which had a lot more but the best books were always borrowed, and desk copies only. And only so many bought books were within budget. Recently, I spent a couple months at my Mum's country house without a car or internet at home, bringing only a stack of newly bought nonfiction books with me. The only entertainment was the intro cable TV package, excluding the movies and sports. I got more out of those books than I had since before the internet and wikipedia etc became widespread. It brought back memories of earlier times, when there was LESS knowledge at my fingertips than I knew what to do with, instead of FAR MORE knowledge.

dhughes 16y ago
Definitely reading any book is in a way like meditation, you get more out of it than googling some facts on some random website.

sliverstorm 16y ago

The dictionary offered two things: 1) I'd find lots of other cool words as I searched for the one I wanted 2) I had to work to get the answer. Sure, it wasn't a LOT of work, but I had to invest something to get something. Searching a word online requires practically no investment. Which is not to say I don't use online dictionaries, Wikipedia, Google "define:", etc.

michaelchisari 16y ago
1) Accidental discovery is a major virtue of the internet. 2) But you didn't have to walk fifteen miles to a small library to do it. The generation you grew up in had a major barrier to entry removed, but the effort and time was shifted elsewhere. The same thing is happening to this generation.