3 ms·

A joyously insulting read. The author of the memoir (Kociejowski) is the kind of person you love to skewer others, as long as you are spared from his charming w

by xpe 4y ago

A joyously insulting read. The author of the memoir (Kociejowski) is the kind of person you love to skewer others, as long as you are spared from his charming wrath.

drewcoo 4y ago
I used to manage a used book store. Maybe he seems insulting to you but he seems entirely correct to me.
- skyyler 4y ago
  Insults have the capacity for correctness.
  - xpe 4y ago
    That's when they can really hit home.
- sushid 4y ago
  Is that really true? I do love the smell of old books but I never would proclaim that out loud to a bookstore owner. I do actually purchase used books though when I visit stores. In fact went to a Bookoff and bought a book last week.
  - vba616 4y ago
    Saying "I love the smell of old books" is not compatible with my basic assumptions about a reader, like that they have been around a lot of old books. Ordinary mold/mildew is not a good smell, triggers allergies, and nobody in their right mind "loves" it. Books get stored in places that get high humidity or flooded, and the results are horrible and toxic. If you order random used books off the internet these days there's a good chance they have a trace of mold smell. On the other hand, non ordinary book odors vary widely, may be from decay, or the binding glue, (the glue decaying?) or who knows what, so how could you generically love them all even if you have arbitrarily peculiar preferences? I admit that the above is mostly not based on memories of bookstores, but of a household full of books.
    - sushid 4y ago
      To clarify, I was asking if people who say "I love the smell of old books" really are window shoppers or if they actually do buy book in the parent commenter's experience. I personal "enjoy" it in the sense that I associate it with used bookstores. I wouldn't want a candle scent of it in my room by any means.
- xpe 4y ago
  It is criticism based on life experience, delivered with English wit. Also insults and truth are not mutually exclusive.
AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
I'm sympathetic to the owner's plight, as I imagine it's frustrating when you've got a bunch of customers who frequently stop into your establishment to profess how much they love your product, while failing to ever actually purchase your product. This is something particularly common with books/reading, where it becomes more of a performative act, to demonstrate to everyone else how intellectual/educated you are.
- drewzero1 4y ago
  Recently I've realized that if I want the local businesses I love to continue to exist, I need to be willing to give them some of my money. I've definitely developed a better relationship with a few local business owners by purchasing there regularly. A lot of stuff may be listed cheaper online, but it's important to remember that customer service, atmosphere, and convenience* also factor into the price. I'd rather pay a small premium to enjoy a pleasant shop than pay for shipping from somewhere online. *Convenience cuts both ways. I don't have Prime or anything like that so a local shop is the only way to get something same-day, but I recognize that I do have to leave the house and probably drive somewhere.
  - TylerE 4y ago
    Plus once you’ve established that relationship, you can often get effectively competitive prices anyway, either in the form of the occasional freebie, or, especially in items with significant margin, like musical instruments, substantial discounts off sticker.
- vba616 4y ago
  >This is something particularly common with books/reading, where it becomes more of a performative act I want to hear about your personal experience of this. If you have to imagine what bookstores are like, I assume you formed your opinion of readers elsewhere. Libraries? I'm trying to imagine a performative reader in a library. Or school?
  - AdmiralAsshat 4y ago
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
ycombinete 4y ago
Some of this reminded me of Orwell’s _Keep the Aspidistra Flying_

by xpe 4y ago

A joyously insulting read. The author of the memoir (Kociejowski) is the kind of person you love to skewer others, as long as you are spared from his charming wrath.

drewcoo 4y ago

I used to manage a used book store. Maybe he seems insulting to you but he seems entirely correct to me.

skyyler 4y ago
Insults have the capacity for correctness.
- xpe 4y ago
  That's when they can really hit home.
sushid 4y ago
Is that really true? I do love the smell of old books but I never would proclaim that out loud to a bookstore owner. I do actually purchase used books though when I visit stores. In fact went to a Bookoff and bought a book last week.
- vba616 4y ago
  Saying "I love the smell of old books" is not compatible with my basic assumptions about a reader, like that they have been around a lot of old books. Ordinary mold/mildew is not a good smell, triggers allergies, and nobody in their right mind "loves" it. Books get stored in places that get high humidity or flooded, and the results are horrible and toxic. If you order random used books off the internet these days there's a good chance they have a trace of mold smell. On the other hand, non ordinary book odors vary widely, may be from decay, or the binding glue, (the glue decaying?) or who knows what, so how could you generically love them all even if you have arbitrarily peculiar preferences? I admit that the above is mostly not based on memories of bookstores, but of a household full of books.
  - sushid 4y ago
    To clarify, I was asking if people who say "I love the smell of old books" really are window shoppers or if they actually do buy book in the parent commenter's experience. I personal "enjoy" it in the sense that I associate it with used bookstores. I wouldn't want a candle scent of it in my room by any means.
xpe 4y ago
It is criticism based on life experience, delivered with English wit. Also insults and truth are not mutually exclusive.

AdmiralAsshat 4y ago

I'm sympathetic to the owner's plight, as I imagine it's frustrating when you've got a bunch of customers who frequently stop into your establishment to profess how much they love your product, while failing to ever actually purchase your product. This is something particularly common with books/reading, where it becomes more of a performative act, to demonstrate to everyone else how intellectual/educated you are.

drewzero1 4y ago
Recently I've realized that if I want the local businesses I love to continue to exist, I need to be willing to give them some of my money. I've definitely developed a better relationship with a few local business owners by purchasing there regularly. A lot of stuff may be listed cheaper online, but it's important to remember that customer service, atmosphere, and convenience* also factor into the price. I'd rather pay a small premium to enjoy a pleasant shop than pay for shipping from somewhere online. *Convenience cuts both ways. I don't have Prime or anything like that so a local shop is the only way to get something same-day, but I recognize that I do have to leave the house and probably drive somewhere.
- TylerE 4y ago
  Plus once you’ve established that relationship, you can often get effectively competitive prices anyway, either in the form of the occasional freebie, or, especially in items with significant margin, like musical instruments, substantial discounts off sticker.
vba616 4y ago
>This is something particularly common with books/reading, where it becomes more of a performative act I want to hear about your personal experience of this. If you have to imagine what bookstores are like, I assume you formed your opinion of readers elsewhere. Libraries? I'm trying to imagine a performative reader in a library. Or school?
- AdmiralAsshat 4y ago

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

ycombinete 4y ago

Some of this reminded me of Orwell’s _Keep the Aspidistra Flying_