3 ms·

The rule was: no computers for the trip. Just books Five hundred years ago, one family went on a trip. The rule was: no printed books. Just scrolls.

• stcredzero 17y ago
  It seems like you're trying to make some clever point. It's either too subtle, or there's been a mistake made on the "clever" part. Books can be used to ignore someone. But they don't bring you realtime updates of your tweets and emails. They don't have long stretches between save points, and you don't need headphones for the soundtrack. In other words: He has functional reasons, and wasn't just being a Luddite.
  • ph0rque 17y ago
    I was just pointing out that he had an arbitrary cutoff line for the technology allowed. In the future, I suppose I will say things to my daughters such as: No immersive-reality goggles for this trip. Just laptops/e-books.
    • jodrellblank 17y ago
      It's not an arbitrary line, it's a line between instant/realtime updates and not. Between short attention span distractions and long ones. Yes you can read a book and ignore your surroundings, but you can't talk to someone and dip into a book for a few seconds every couple of minutes like you can with a phone or email. You have to give attention to a book, it can't clamour for it or ring. Hey, maybe that's a good idea... books you like and want to read but keep not getting round to - make them ring and text you to call you back to them.
    • deleted 17y ago
      [deleted]
    • saturdayplace 17y ago
      I don't think the cutoff was arbitrary. Rather, it had to do with the differences in the interruption quotient of those technologies. Books don't vie as aggressively for your attention as the newer tech he's frustrated with. Especially if you're already talking with someone else.
    • stcredzero 17y ago
      I was just pointing out that he had an arbitrary cutoff line for the technology allowed. I pointed out 3 functional differences in the grandparent post. The cutoff line is not arbitrary -- it's at interactivity, which is about as fundamental as you can get. As a cutoff, it's continental-shelf sized. Five hundred years ago, one family went on a trip. The rule was: no printed books. Just scrolls. No functional difference for the reader between writing on papyrus and printing on paper. Where's the cleverness? (Yeah, you hold it differently -- that's pretty silly, though.)
    • tokenadult 17y ago
      It's the line between paying attention to the live human beings you are with in the same place and not paying attention.