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> Why do you think that reading in general is good? Seriously? To quote Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary: >> You despise books; you whose lives are absorbe

> Why do you think that reading in general is good? Seriously? To quote Voltaire's Philosophical Dictionary: >> You despise books; you whose lives are absorbed in the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence; but remember that all the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books.

PurpleRamen 3y ago
Voltaire lived in a time, where education was a privilege and most books had a decent level of quality, in relation to their time. Not so true anymore for everything we have today. Books for "the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence" are pretty common today.
- cush 3y ago
  Hate to break it to you, but we still live in a time where education is a privilege. Reading is a very good activity to partake in for countless reasons. If you’re worried about people being discouraged from finding good literature, I promise that the gatekeeping attitude you’re perpetuating is way more damaging than a group of online book lovers
  - PurpleRamen 3y ago
    > Hate to break it to you, but we still live in a time where education is a privilege. Not in Voltaire's country France, or most other democratic countries. And I'm talking about the average education available to all citizen, so school, not university. And yes, there are of course exceptions even with school, but those are for other reasons. But that's the point, with any somewhat rich country, the level of education is high enough, that a generalization on the benefits of reading which Voltaire is talking about, are not valid anymore, because we now have them, and are on the point of moving on. And this is especially valid for the young generations. > I promise that the gatekeeping attitude you’re perpetuating is way more damaging than a group of online book lovers How am I gatekeeping? I'm just describing the reality and speak against the delusion of gatekeepers. Reading today is not anymore the great awesome enlightenment it was in the past.
    - metaphor 3y ago
      > But that's the point, with any somewhat rich country, the level of education is high enough, that a generalization on the benefits of reading which Voltaire is talking about, are not valid anymore, because we now have them, and are on the point of moving on. And this is especially valid for the young generations. > Reading today is not anymore the great awesome enlightenment it was in the past. I can't roll my eyes far enough to express the magnitude of unabashed, pubescent hubris underlying this perspective.

PurpleRamen 3y ago

Voltaire lived in a time, where education was a privilege and most books had a decent level of quality, in relation to their time. Not so true anymore for everything we have today. Books for "the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence" are pretty common today.

cush 3y ago
Hate to break it to you, but we still live in a time where education is a privilege. Reading is a very good activity to partake in for countless reasons. If you’re worried about people being discouraged from finding good literature, I promise that the gatekeeping attitude you’re perpetuating is way more damaging than a group of online book lovers
- PurpleRamen 3y ago
  > Hate to break it to you, but we still live in a time where education is a privilege. Not in Voltaire's country France, or most other democratic countries. And I'm talking about the average education available to all citizen, so school, not university. And yes, there are of course exceptions even with school, but those are for other reasons. But that's the point, with any somewhat rich country, the level of education is high enough, that a generalization on the benefits of reading which Voltaire is talking about, are not valid anymore, because we now have them, and are on the point of moving on. And this is especially valid for the young generations. > I promise that the gatekeeping attitude you’re perpetuating is way more damaging than a group of online book lovers How am I gatekeeping? I'm just describing the reality and speak against the delusion of gatekeepers. Reading today is not anymore the great awesome enlightenment it was in the past.
  - metaphor 3y ago
    > But that's the point, with any somewhat rich country, the level of education is high enough, that a generalization on the benefits of reading which Voltaire is talking about, are not valid anymore, because we now have them, and are on the point of moving on. And this is especially valid for the young generations. > Reading today is not anymore the great awesome enlightenment it was in the past. I can't roll my eyes far enough to express the magnitude of unabashed, pubescent hubris underlying this perspective.