tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post112444901681731774..comments2024-03-26T15:57:13.443+00:00Comments on On An Overgrown Path: The bookless Mrs BeckhamUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124813550960126372005-08-23T17:12:00.000+01:002005-08-23T17:12:00.000+01:00I think that Laura Bush might have once read a boo...I think that Laura Bush might have once read a book, but I can't be certain. I am sure that Jenna and Barbara Bush may have been required to read a book at school. Their father, however, probably couldn't understand why they were doing it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124812178262153752005-08-23T16:49:00.000+01:002005-08-23T16:49:00.000+01:00I cannot remember a time in my life when I looked ...I cannot remember a time in my life when I looked up to or idolized someone because they read a book, and yet, I've always been a reader. I'm a reader because of the influence of my parents, and because I enjoy it. I did not realize until I was older that most houses' walls were not lined with books as ours was.<BR/>I guess I'm not one to jump on the "oh my God society is on the decline" bandwagon, because I think there have always been literacy issues, awareness issues, and less-than-stellar idols. I am not surprised at Ms. Beckham's popularity, nor do I think she's the worst example one could give.<BR/>Although I am thrilled at the popularity of Harry Potter, and I'm excited about the ready availability of information via radio, TV, and the Internet, I think literacy and awareness are only part of the goal. Unfortunately, the skill that is rarely learned is critical thinking. The ready availability of so much information, and the ability to read it means that a lot of data gets in, but sadly, not much is processed in a useful way.<BR/>If people were thinking critically, surely they wouldn't be all that excited about Posh (or Scary, Sporty, or Baby for that matter). Nor would they have voted for George Bush (who doesn't read either). <BR/>I don't think this lack of critical thinking has gotten worse, I just think that the constant barrage of information makes it more likely that people don't get a chance to make solid decisions or learn from what they've read, heard, or seen. <BR/>So, here's to more Blogs like yours that ask these questions, and encourage readers to find their own answers.Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15919482125714217004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124807452798035792005-08-23T15:30:00.000+01:002005-08-23T15:30:00.000+01:00Regarding the decline of reading (if not literatur...Regarding the decline of reading (if not literature itself in the uk)<BR/><BR/>Now our culture is becoming oral like all the Mediterranean countries who read far, far less than us and possibly as a result have a stronger community and family tie. Our past shows that we used to be very excitable and the Venetians say in the 16th Century we were a highly emotional and excitable bunch. Stiff upper lip? Not a bit of it. <BR/>We're becoming more obsessed with sex and open about it. Moral barriers are shifting. And Lasagne is the new No1 dish in the uk<BR/><BR/>Ohmigod we're all turning into Italians. We've got to stop the rot, WW2 etc. etc. rant etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124559454013201222005-08-20T18:37:00.000+01:002005-08-20T18:37:00.000+01:00This post coincides with my looking casually at th...This post coincides with my looking casually at the August issue of Harper's Magazine, which as a feature article on the 2004 election called "None Dare Call it Stolen" (see link to excerpt http://www.harpers.org/ExcerptNoneDare.html). While a main thrust of the piece is the data that has been uncovered about the political wheelings and dealings in Ohio, central to the piece is the role of media in trivializing the important and raising the relevance of the trivial. America is so market-driven in every aspect of its life that understanding any issue comes down to "does it make a buck?" and this is the height of aspirations in our culture. Some of the dot-com bust stems from the realization that these start-ups weren't making any money; technology that enriches in the form of lining pockets triumphs over technology that truly enriches. <BR/><BR/>Paradoxically, this measuring stick for what one aspires to can backfire. In my community there is a controversy over demolishing a historical mill building at a prime site on the waterfront area to make way for a Home Depot. The "selling" point that people can hear is Home Depot hires people and in a severely economically depressed area, this is all we need to know. What people are uncomfortable with or wish to debate are detailed analyses and reports that categorically show that a big box retailer like Home Depot ultimately promotes further economic decline by eroding the wage base (people cannot afford to live on the wages on offer) and the tax base (whatever gains in some taxing you get are offset by increased expense to the community by job loss in smaller businesses that cannot compete with aggressive discounters, heavy traffic patterns, pollution, and increased need for safety personnel in the form of police and firemen). But what our advocacy group hears is "don't confuse us with the facts!" "Don't make us think!"<BR/><BR/>Is it really that Paris Hilton's recently publicized tantrum in the restaurant is because she couldn't bear the burden of reading, or perhaps the fear that if she looked, she couldn't have what she wanted, despite her millions?<BR/><BR/>Blogging and other technology-created communities will most likely do just that, create communities that are not bounded physically but where one's mind wishes to go. Could they result in masses of "echo chambers" rather than engaged dialogue? I honestly don't know. It is hard to see outside the culture in which I myself am immersed, where there is less tolerance to "agree to disagree" resulting in being christened a pariah, no one of significance in the mind of the mob. <BR/><BR/>In turn it could have a dampening effect on literacy and exploring ideas, our severe co-dependence on thinking alike so we too can feel like the pop culture icons and fool ourselves into thinking we have achieved 'great things'.<BR/><BR/>My goodness, what did I just eat for lunch?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124556334237035132005-08-20T17:45:00.000+01:002005-08-20T17:45:00.000+01:00Awesome post. The internet promises to open up ev...Awesome post. The internet promises to open up everyone's life who has access to it, but I often wonder how much internet time is spent in "trivial pursuits" (Bulletin Boards/Chat Rooms/er... "erotic image searches") versus "serious research" like good blogging. IMO, the "lowest common denominator" factor will always be present in human endeavor (As it always has been), and the altruistic will exist on the margins (Again, as always). The REALLY COOL THING about the net is that altruistically like-minded individuals can find each other, versus living in relatave isolation.Hucbaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17111826753868595100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124460820003911742005-08-19T15:13:00.000+01:002005-08-19T15:13:00.000+01:00And a wonderful link by at Clive DavisAnd a wonderful link by at <A HREF="http://clivedavis.blogs.com/clive/2005/08/the_poverty_of_.html " REL="nofollow">Clive Davis</A>Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8060605.post-1124457648400189702005-08-19T14:20:00.000+01:002005-08-19T14:20:00.000+01:00The empowerment that blogging delivers is shown by...The empowerment that blogging delivers is shown by the fact that within hours of uploading this post it is being mirrored round the world by high profile sites such as <A HREF="http://netnewmusic.net/reblog/archives/2005/08/the_bookless_mr.html" REL="nofollow">New Music ReBlog</A>Pliablehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10616598845886342325noreply@blogger.com