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

[pellegrina.livejournal.com]

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No way.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I would *love* to give up the internet. I have a hate-love-hate relationship with the damn thing, and also I am sort of addicted to it. I waste sooooo much time on it, and in my heart of hearts, I don't really believe it's real. It's a horrible addictive time-eating chimera.

Sometimes I dream of going offline forever and living in a large bookshop. It's not realistic, but oh, it is a lovely dream.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

It's a totally impossible choice and I would rather not make it, but I voted for books (to give up) simply because I do really love the internet, and it seemed like a good compromise, because more and more books will be ON the internet and in my day to day life I probably use it more than I do books. But giving up books is like giving up my dogs or my friends... Urgh. But I wouldn't want to give up the internet either. Double urgh.

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

Give up the internet. No contest whatsoever.

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that is an illegal question and this journal will now be shut down

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

It seems I have to vote in my own poll before I can see the answers... I wouldn't want to give up books, but more and more books are online every year. In my X-Files years, 80% of my leisure reading was fanfic, so I'm used to curling up and relaxing with a story on screen. I think the clincher comes with the socialising power of the Internet. Without the internet, I wouldn't be in contact with a lot of people I am now in contact with.

[helflaed.livejournal.com]

I'd definitely prefer to give up the internet rather than books. I do enjoy the net, but compared to never holding a book in my hands again?

No contest.

[parrot-knight.livejournal.com]

Agonising choice. I've benefited so much from the internet. I don't think I'd have much more of a social life if it wasn't around; and LiveJournal, with its temptation of an audience, has been a great incentive to finally keep a diary.

However, thinking of all the books I could be reading; of the chances I might have to get out of the house and take more exercise; of the phone calls I might make; and even the books I could be writing; then the internet it is that goes.

[intertext.livejournal.com]

I guess some of it comes down to how much you love books as objects and not just reading. Because you can do the reading on the internet, but you'd miss holding a lovely book in your hands, and the smell. They all smell different, too - and some of my old children's books are incredibly evocative when I just take a long sniff.

[skordh.livejournal.com]

If I could get at all my books in electronic format on a hand-held reader (waterproof, for using in the bath) then I would give up printed books. Otherwise - no way! A week is enough (& judging by progress so far, could be way too much!)

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I gave up books; I kept the internet.

You can get books on the internet. So it is no contest really, as you can can get lots of other things on the internet as well.

I have previously said that I would rather give up my rubbish collection than give up my always-on broadband connection. I can always take my small amount of rubbish to the tip.

[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!

[windrunner1981.livejournal.com]

Sorry, catching up on reading/commenting again.

Checked out the results before voting and saw they were tied at 9-9, so I thought long and hard about my decision and voted...

For giving up books.

For many of the same reasons listed above: can get many texts online, and I simply couldn't make it through a day of work without email and the internet to distract me. And I like communicating with people around the world and getting news from everywhere.

Honestly, could we add tv as an option? I would give up tv easily - especially if DVDs were still permitted!