Community > Movies, TV & Books

Topic: Amused, yet irritated
TriangleMac Joined Tue 01/26/10 Posts: 13	Thu 01/28/10 09:45 PM Edited by TriangleMac on Thu 01/28/10 09:48 PM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality.

Atlantis75 Joined Wed 12/03/08 Posts: 8581	Thu 01/28/10 10:05 PM
One of the most memorable for me was a book I have read back in 1990 or 1991...with the title "Jurassic Park". I had no idea who Michael Crichton was....the book was quite long and mesmerizing. I was 15 at the time..I was reading my usual 5-6 books a month, but I got this book for my B-day. At the last page there was a litte note from Steven Spielberg "I'm gonna make a movie out of this" When he finally came out with the movie, I was like "this movie completely sucks, compared to the original book". I still have the book, I'm looking at it right now and now I feel an urge to re-read it for about the 5th time. It would be perfect because I need to scrub my Hungarian after 2 English books.

polson Joined Sun 12/31/06 Posts: 28173	Thu 01/28/10 10:08 PM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality. Well, that is way out of my experience. I am a total idiot when it comes to motors of any kind. But, may I ask you if you know anything of trolling for salmon? Or how to direct aircraft on radar? The fishing is more instinct, I will give you that one. But, do you have a clue how to operate any radar unit? Do you know how to fall a boomer? That is a big tree if you don't know. And, I love primitive poetry too.

JustAGuy2112 Joined Sun 12/16/07 Posts: 18033	Thu 01/28/10 10:47 PM
Was talking to someone on instant messenger about books. I was amused at his comment regarding the amount of books I have, and read, but it irritated me, as it's something I seem to get frequently. "I just couldn't imagine reading that much, much less having all of those books" I get that most people truly don't read any more, but really, I don't say that about people's movie collections, doll collections, or anything like that. Do people like to give the impression that they love their ignorance? I jokingly and with love blame my parents for my addiction, and while I grew up knowing dad had a reading dyslexia, I also knew he bought books that he could get in and out of fairly, like nature, history, and geography. He only recently has gotten into some seriously impressive reading (for him) and it's now an ongoing joke that I can't keep up with his reading. But really, is it that big of a deal? To some people, it really IS that big a deal. I get that same kind of comment from women ALL the time. I think it might be insecurity on their part in a way. They think that a person who reads a lot is automatically " smarter " than they are.

Dragoness Joined Wed 10/17/07 Posts: 23320	Thu 01/28/10 10:54 PM
Used to read quite a bit but most of my reading is on the internet now. One of my next projects will be to find the library close to here so I can get back in the groove.

msharmony Joined Mon 08/31/09 Posts: 61041	Thu 01/28/10 10:58 PM
Was talking to someone on instant messenger about books. I was amused at his comment regarding the amount of books I have, and read, but it irritated me, as it's something I seem to get frequently. "I just couldn't imagine reading that much, much less having all of those books" I get that most people truly don't read any more, but really, I don't say that about people's movie collections, doll collections, or anything like that. Do people like to give the impression that they love their ignorance? I jokingly and with love blame my parents for my addiction, and while I grew up knowing dad had a reading dyslexia, I also knew he bought books that he could get in and out of fairly, like nature, history, and geography. He only recently has gotten into some seriously impressive reading (for him) and it's now an ongoing joke that I can't keep up with his reading. But really, is it that big of a deal? Equss, perhaps it is a compliment? "I just couldn't imagine reading that much, much less having all of those books" just as I couldnt imagine running a five mile marathon(I hate running but I think those who do it are awesome).

Ashd2001 Joined Fri 11/21/08 Posts: 45	Thu 01/28/10 11:01 PM
I LOVE to read. It's been a passion for as long as I can remember. Right now I'm not able to read as much because I am in school and have to read for classes, but during the summer I basically live in the library. Lol! Friends have commented about the number of books I read, but also how fast I read. If the book is interesting, I can pretty much get through a 500+ page book in a couple of days. Usually I get a lot of "you're already done?!" and I do have to admit it makes me feel a little freakish at times, but it's who I am.

Mikebert4 Joined Wed 01/27/10 Posts: 164	Fri 01/29/10 07:55 AM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality. hey, kudos for standing up and saying it - I'll never be able to do half the stuff you say, and I'm guilty of putting across a feeling of "if you don't read lots, you're not as smart as you could be". However, reading is just one of those things that makes or breaks my life - if I'm reading a great book I'll read it every second I get and I'll be in paraxisms about it for weeks. Hands up who's gone to bed with a -really- good book and been interrupted my the alarm going off in the morning? I guess we could include people who started and finished a book in the same night :p

IntelligentDesigner Joined Thu 07/16/09 Posts: 281	Fri 01/29/10 08:01 AM
Recently watched a documentary on Netflix called "Stupidity" in which they did a bit of exploring into how our society is proud of and even promotes stupidity and ignorance. I think we should promote intelligence and learning a bit more, but as for people like that, we don't really have much of a choice but to let them fall victims to society. As for their rude comments such as that trying to make you seem like a nerd for reading, I'd just blow them off as ignorance and possibly unacceptance.

AGoodGuy1026 Joined Wed 04/22/09 Posts: 1333	Fri 01/29/10 08:08 AM
OP: I find this interesting. My parents consistently read to me as a child, something I continue to do for myself today (and throughout most of my life..)... For me? I think smart people read, ignorant ones do not... "they" may have been projecting their insecurity about not reading on to you... F**K em! Read all you want!! :)... $.02

Quietman_2009 Joined Wed 07/29/09 Posts: 7430	Fri 01/29/10 08:10 AM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality. you're just talking about a different taste in reading material you can't learn engineering without reading about it

AGoodGuy1026 Joined Wed 04/22/09 Posts: 1333	Fri 01/29/10 08:10 AM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality. ah, your own statements betray you -- you obviously read "technical articles or patents"... were you born with this knowledge or did you read to gain this knowledge... people who can read and write are enlightened to facts beyond what they can direcly observe for themselves... I do not think this can be disputed... As far as reading for entertainment - some enjoye it, some do not... $.02

singmesweet Joined Mon 07/28/08 Posts: 26661	Fri 01/29/10 08:27 AM
Whilst we're on the topic, am I the only one who's not a fan of the little e-book readers? I mean, if I'm reading I feel I -have- to have the paper volume actually in my hands. How conservative does one have to be Anyway, I've had many people respond 'yeah, ok, but I just don't like reading' - unfortunately most of the stuff I come out with ends up being a (mis)quote from some book or another. I imagine to a lot of these people I make very little sense How people cope with the world without running away into a book of an evening I've no idea. It's interesting that people get pissed off when you call them on their incredulity about your library - I'm not going to say people who don't read much aren't intelligent (well, I'll try not to ) - though you have to ask if they find comfort in their appearing ignorant. Which leads me onto a lovely quote (actually not from a book, but shussh!): "If ignorance is bliss, then wipe the smile off my face" M Nope I have no interest in the Kindles or other versions of the ebooks. I've politely returned the 2 that family has tried gifting me. I want the feel and smell of the book, thank you very much. I totally agree with you on relaxing in the evening with a good book. Heck, any excuse to be lazy and relax involves a book for me. LOL! I have no interest in ebooks either. I'd much rather read a real book.

Tomorrow22 Joined Wed 10/15/08 Posts: 319	Fri 01/29/10 02:47 PM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality. hey, kudos for standing up and saying it - I'll never be able to do half the stuff you say, and I'm guilty of putting across a feeling of "if you don't read lots, you're not as smart as you could be". However, reading is just one of those things that makes or breaks my life - if I'm reading a great book I'll read it every second I get and I'll be in paraxisms about it for weeks. Hands up who's gone to bed with a -really- good book and been interrupted my the alarm going off in the morning? I guess we could include people who started and finished a book in the same night :p Puts hand up in the air

sparkey01 Joined Sun 12/06/09 Posts: 1877	Fri 01/29/10 02:54 PM
I also love to read, I find it relaxing. I find it amusing that my oldest is now a teacher and her daughter / age 19 months has enough books for her own library! Every time I visit she brings me a book to read to her. But then my youngest can't stand books??

Aries151 Joined Fri 02/20/09 Posts: 1077	Fri 01/29/10 03:04 PM
Was talking to someone on instant messenger about books. I was amused at his comment regarding the amount of books I have, and read, but it irritated me, as it's something I seem to get frequently. "I just couldn't imagine reading that much, much less having all of those books" I get that most people truly don't read any more, but really, I don't say that about people's movie collections, doll collections, or anything like that. Do people like to give the impression that they love their ignorance? I find it amusing that you took offense to that comment really. It seems more like a personal statement rather than a jab at your hobby / collection.

EquusDancer Joined Sun 04/05/09 Posts: 6281	Sat 01/30/10 10:14 AM
I love reading! I tend to reread books. And I am a big fan of ebooks! I need to keep my shelf space confined.... I still have books still in the moving boxes from a year ago. Yeah, I'm updating my book list as I write this, and I have 31 54-57 Qt plastic containers with books in them, along with another 500 books up on my bookcases right now. It bugs me no end that I can't get at the books in the cases any time I want, (thankful for plastic containers, however). The books I have in collection have been read at least twice, and many of them numerous times. Ones I don't have usually weren't enough to grab me through the first read.

EquusDancer Joined Sun 04/05/09 Posts: 6281	Sat 01/30/10 10:18 AM
I love to read just about anything and started my children early.. When the youngest was 3, she learned to print her name so she could get books at the city childrens library and the oldest daughter wasn't old enough to sign books out of the adult library (she had read everything in the childrens dept.), I had to do it for her.. She would read 15-20 books every 2 wks...All 4 children were very good students.. We didn't have much when they were young but they always got a good book for Xmas and birthday and they still have those books to this day... Damm, I had the wrong parents! I was gonna say, Mike, didn't your folks teach you? Mine read to us right from the start. We learned to read fairly early on. Actually my folks still have all of our children's books, and it's kinda humourous going back through them. (Marmaduke rocks!) LOL! When I babysat my brother, my payoff was Nancy Drew books. And my folks didn't stint on getting us books. Because of so much reading, I was way ahead of schoolmates, and mom was letting me into far more mature content with the warning not to discuss it at school.

Ruth34611 Joined Sat 08/02/08 Posts: 32402	Sat 01/30/10 10:19 AM
I prefer to read paper and books. I have a very hard time reading long posts or articles on the internet. I usually print them out if I really want to read something.

EquusDancer Joined Sun 04/05/09 Posts: 6281	Sat 01/30/10 10:22 AM
I guess I will be the lone dissenter. Sitting down to read just is of zero interest to me. I'm busy. If I've got some free time I would rather do something outside my school work, or my garage/business. Most of the reading I do is technical articles or patents. So in my free time I would much rather go have fun in the race car I just built, or go to a baseball game, go snowboarding, go see my old college roommate, ride my motorcycle, see a play, et al. I actually resent the implication that if I don't read for leisure that I couldn't be as smart as you book worms. I guarantee that's not the case. I would challenge anyone in this thread explain and do the engineering of a wankel rotary engine, a laminar flow air to water intercooler, correctly size a turbo - compressor wheel, turbine wheel, a housing A/R for both sides to turn a 180bhp bhp hyundai engine to a 600 hp engine. Then apply that which you just read to make it work in reality. No, no! I meant reading in general! Regular books and technical books! The person I was talking to doesn't even read a newspaper, much less a regular novel or even the technical stuff. Certain technical books I can do just fine with, like dad's carpentry books, but I fully admit I'm lost with car, or mechanical stuff.