Books or the internet?

[ladyofastolat]

skordh's heroic endeavours have reminded me of a recent semi-drunken debate Pellinor and I had - viz. what would we rather give up for life: books or the internet.


1. In both cases, books/internet access essential to work or study are allowed, up to a reasonable limit. You are not allowed to cheat by opting to give up books, then getting a job as an editor at a publisher that specialises in your favourite genre. (As a librarian, I would probably have to give up my job if I opted for the book ban.) You are also not allowed to embark on a constant stream of voluntary study merely in order to circumvent the ban.

2. "The Internet" includes email. You will not be allowed do anything at all that involves your computer - or any computer that you are using - connecting to the outside world. This also includes online gaming. I'll allow you LAN gaming, though. See how kind I am!

3. "Books" include physical, printed books. I will be harsh and also make you give up newspapers and magazines - pretty much any example of the printed, written word that runs to more than a few pages. (I wouldn't want to deprive you of the pleasure of reading junk mail, you see.) However, you are allowed to read newspapers online, or read the full text of any novel that happens to have found its way online, whether legally or illegally.

EDIT: Okay, if it makes it easier, what about limiting the question to a choice between giving up books for six months, or giving up the internet for six months. That might make it less traumatic.

[Poll #863274]

Feel free to add your reasonings in comments.

Comments

[evilmissbecky.livejournal.com]

*hugs her computer with all her strength*

Take my books, please!

Okay, serious reasons.

First, as much as I love reading a book, if forced to choose, I can always read them online. So I wouldn't be deprived of the material. I would just have to adjust how I approached the material.

Second, my writing. I need feedback on it. I couldn't write something on the computer and then not be able to share it, even if that sharing is only done with one or two friends. I would go crazy. And yes, I know I could print it out and mail it snail mail...but that would take days or weeks and I couldn't wait that long for a response. I'm a product of the instant gratification generation, after all.

Third, my e-mail. I'm pretty sad and pathetic in that I don't really have any friends here in town. They're all online. So if I were to lose those friends I would be heartbroken.

So yeah. Take my books, please!

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

I used similar reasoning. Much as I love my books, the Internet can give me most of the things I get from books - not as well or as satisfyingly, but it can still give me them. I would still be able to read fiction, and I would still be able to find out about non-fiction subjects. However, if I lost the Internet, books would never be able to replace the people aspect of the Internet - feedback on writing, email, LJ etc. I feel completely cut off from the world if I lose Internet access for a day, but I don't think I'd feel the same stress if I lost access to all my books for a day.

[chainmailmaiden]

Those are very similar to my thoughts about the two, working and commuting such long hours, most of my life is planned via the internet. If I had to buy train tickets, or shop for things in person, I'd have even less free time. I simply couldn't imagine my life without them now.

The thing I'd miss the most about never having books again would be looking at my recipe books. Novels I could get on the internet and while I know you can get recipes on the internet too, it just isn't the same. I love to curl up on the sofa and flick through the pages drooling over the glossy pictures. It's one of my favorite things to do to relax. I suppose if I had enough money to retire to a cottage, where I could live as a hermit, didn't have to work for someone else and be could be self sufficient, I would probably give up the internet instead. However that's not likely to happen and I would really miss email, as I hate phones, they're far more intrusive.