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

[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.