[Writing] will create forgetfulness in the learners’ souls, because they will not use their memories; they will trust to the external written characters and not remember of themselves. The specific which you have discovered is an aid not to memory, but to reminiscence, and you give your disciples not truth, but only the semblance of truth; they will be hearers of many things and will have learned nothing; they will appear to be omniscient and will generally know nothing; they will be tiresome company, having the show of wisdom without the reality.

A real quote by Socrates where he argues against writing.

Also...

“[It] destroys memory [and] weakens the mind, relieving it of…work that makes it strong. [It] is an inhuman thing.”

The sentiment above is from Phaedrus - Plato quoting Socrates in 500 B.C. Greece. The “it” in the quote is writing.

I haven't bought a paperback since getting Kindle. The best part is finishing a book in the middle of the night, buying the next one and starting it right away. All of that without wearing pants.

There are reasons to prefer each of those things to the others.

Actually, yes.

Is there something wrong with preferring real books?

I understand the appeal of an e-reader and I can think of a couple of situations where it would be easier to carry than a bunch of actual books, but I still prefer real books. I like filling up my bookshelves - they're like a shrine to all my favourite authors. I also think e-books are grossly overpriced. If you're not getting a physical copy of the book, why should you pay 80% of the price of the real book?

I don't look down on people who prefer e-readers, I just don't get why everyone who prefers real books gets treated like some kind of hipster.

But if I get it it's a joke, but I also think e-books are grossly overpriced.

I have a kindle. I prefer books on paper. I love my kindle, but it's just not as good as feeling the paper in my hand.

I'm dating a librarian. I'm saving this image for the day I'll use it as a comeback.

Yeah, I think people did.

Movie? Nah I prefer real life

TO OTHER COMMENTERS: THIS IS A STANDUPSHOT, A JOKE FROM A STANDUP COMEDIAN.

NOT A REQUEST FOR YOUR VIEWS ON EBOOKS VS PAPER BOOKS.

The only reason i contemplate getting a physical book is if it's unavailable in digital form or i really like it and want to keep it with me during the upcoming zombie apocalypse.

This is my favorite thing I've ever seen on this subreddit.

Idea: 5/10

Execution/Delivery: 2/10

Funny, but I do, in fact, prefer real books.

Even though I genuinely love the smell of books, this is brilliant!

I can finally read while eating, without having to hold the pages. I literally read twice as much since I have an e-reader. Plus no more awkward reading positions in bed!

Stewart Lee has a great bit where he satirizes anti-immigration sentiment in a similar structure to this. Taking it way back to point out the absurdity of the thought.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x23yv5y_stewart-lee-on-immigration-paul-nuttall-and-ukip_fun

I mean I get it it's a joke, but I like printed books for several reasons. First and foremost, I often flip back and re read things from earlier chapters if I forget something. Hard to do on a kindle. Also there seems to be some correlation between lighted devices and insomnia. I can't lend someone a book on my kindle.

I am unable to focus as well with boring subjects on a screen. With something like a manual or a spec book that I have to study to take a test on {VDOT testing for certifications} it is easier to focus and read physical copies for me.

R/noveltranslations that beings said, I read interesting things on a screen all the time.

Yes they did. And yes it's true that having the information recorded and accessible interferes with our ability to retain it. Your brain simply will not devote the resources to memorize every bit of info when it knows it's that easy to get.

Before writing all knowledge was passed down by the elders and storytellers, who memorized many different legends and other stories to pass along the collected wisdom of the tribe.

As society grew and developed writing, more and more started getting literate and were able to access the collected wisdom of thousands of of writers, philosophers, mathematicians, astronomers and so on.

As we get into an age where so much information from the beginning of human record keeping to now is available we will retain less and less of in our heads. Partially because we don't need to, but also partially because we will come across thousands times more basic information just in school than your average hunter or shepherd did a few thousand years ago.

With a kindle, you don't need new book shelves for your books that you bought in the Hollywood hills to obtain KNOWLEDGE.

Well....yes

The most real Twitter handle.

P.S.

I'm drunk, but an english major thats pretty much what happend.

they did, actually

Different definition of "real".

I just refer to paper books as codices.

Do you have a digital version, or just that codex?

How one reads and how the information is stored are two different arguments. This is how to read the information, not how to record it. And yes, I prefer flipping through real books.

I love physical books because I like being able to feel the page turning, as opposed to just touching the side of the screen with my Kobo. Plus there's that new/old book smell, which is fantastic!
On the other hand, it sure is nice not having to carry around a 900 page novel in my purse, and it has a built-in back light so there's that. I was just worried that, in buying one, it would make me spend less on physical books and lead me to pirate everything. But I've been buying the physical copy and then downloading the digital for free.

But most important...I hate when people say that they don't like my kindle but they have not been asked !!

this is sort of an adaption of an old Dane Cook joke.

Hey a stand up shot that actually made me LOL (slightly chuckle)

Both hand printed by monk and by machine are printed on paper. Reading from a screen strains the eyes more than from paper. You can get a paper-like experience with some of the kindles but not all.

Interestingly enough, when written words started to become more common Plato did complain that they would lead to the destruction of social interaction. Sound familiar?

fwiw i liked this standup shot and i like paper books. this place has turned into /r/sitdownarguments

I just like how paper books smell. Anyone else?

I'm waiting for the day when Kindles are so prevalent, that they're used for fire kindling.

Nothing is more annoying than wanting to read but you cant because your book is dead.

Funny thing, my grandma used to read books daily. Like literally finish multiple books each day.

She didn't care for collecting books and donated most after she finished, but when she got her Kindle she literally emptied the bookshelf picked a few that were her favorites, and then left the Kindle on an empty shelf. Huge bookshelf mind you too.

Danny Vega! You magnificent son of a bitch! Great joke dude

In all fairness the Kindle will not last the rough treatment I place upon my items like a book would. It is convenient to keep many books at once in one small device true, but god forbid I drop a Kindle in the water or leave it behind a dusty mildewy shelf for months or years at a time. Plus I don't have to connect a book to a power source in order to read it.

Change is always difficult. https://youtu.be/pQHX-SjgQvQ

Nah I just don't remember things I read on a screen as well as a page. I can always remember where I physically saw a line within a physical book and return to it, which doesn't happen when everything looks and feels the same on a little lightweighted electric rectangle. I like the smells of paper and ink too. And I don't have to recharge books.

Not an actual pro-con of the products themselves, just the reasons I stick with em.

Not really the same. A book is more comfortable to hold, and even though LED technology has improved it still causes more eye strain than light on paper.

I like knowing I can read my books during an extended power outage.

Well I like my kindle but now that you mention it listening to the tales of some elders sounds kinda interesting.

Written word luddites?

I love my kindle, but If I really enjoy the book, I'll still buy a hard copy so I can put it on my bookshelf like a little trophy.

I can't hide a flask in a Kindle.

There seems to be a few people commenting who don't know much about Kindles. Prefer the feel and smell of paper? That's fine. Like having a library? Have at it.

With that said, it doesn't have LED so it won't hurt your eyes, a charge lasts weeks, and if someone steals it yes you have to buy a new one but you don't have to rebuy the books. There are reasons for both, but some reasons are pretty shitty.

We know though that reading text on screen uses different parts of the brain, with the areas used suggesting that retention may be lower from screen reading. Also when tracking eye movement patterns of both actual books and text on a screen, the onscreen patterns were often F shaped and suggested a greater tendency to skim and skip content.

I am not suggesting that people eschew screen reading all together, but that people actually practice both. It concerns me when I see people unable to keep their concentration with a regular book because they are not being overstimulated by a screen coupled and it being more difficult because they haven't worked those parts of the brain, so they get tired, bored, and so forth very easy.

[deleted]

It's a useful shorthand. I read almost exclusively on my Kindle but I still refer to paper books as "real" books. It's just easier.

As a computer programmer, I don't miss having a house full of 2 inch thick computer books. I will never go back to real books. The only paper books I buy are ones where the presentation is important (coffee table books, or books with full colour photos). I love my Kindle for everything else.

The #1 downside of the Kindle is that it's just WAY too easy to buy books. Hear of the book, connect to wireless, own the book. That's not always a good thing...

You know you've got a good joke when you can make a lot of people get really defensive about it.

This isn't comedy he's just stating historical facts.

I will admit that there is something distinct and memorable about the smell and feel of an old tome in your hands, but I hate book snobs.

*edit: e was missing

next time sprinkle in a little humor

Of course they did. I would too. Who the fuck wouldn't want some amazing papyrus-decked out book covered in the most amazing handwriting ever seen? And that shit's valuable, and rare, and won't have any typos because they'd cut off their hands.

Also, you just know elders would give you the fucking best tales.

ITT: People really touchy about their (and others) reading preferences and reading way to much into other people's comments.

Like you're sitting in a coffee shop obsessively sniffing the pages of your Kindle. Feel the texture of the pages on the screen, inspect the cover's high-quality binding...you can really see the craftsmanship of those Chinese kids.