HAS TECHNOLOGY EFFECTED MY READING ?
by Christine Trzyna
I'm a voracious reader. I need the intellectual stimulation and my interest are varied. I read a lot of memoirs and bios and I'm interested in cultural social histories and anthropology and archeology and so very much. I also read fiction though much less than I do non-fiction. Most of what I read isn't on the best seller list but sometimes it is. I read books that didn't come out this year, but I do head for the library New Book shelf every time I go.
Used to be that I fell to sleep most nights with a book. I read and went without a TV for years and didn't care, and possibly radio, mostly late night radio, subbed in, as I thought of myself as informed about world events and local news. For instance, I did not miss the World Trade Center falling down. I prefered to read from books, magazines, the written word, before it was all called TEXT.
I have not succumbed to reading off an e-book reader, though I want to experience it. I don't want to roll over in my sleep and over one of those though.
I find myself reading off the Internet more than ever. I read news stories on the net and rarely buy a newspaper, so I'm glad I didn't stick with the Journalism major that was heading me towards newspaper reporting.
I read blogs other than my own though I'm not particularly devoted to creating a following or proving I have a thousand close personal friends. I met a woman who claimed that her following on Facebook was going to attend her wedding in Vegas. Never Happened.
Once in a while you do make a friend over the Internet and you should cherish a real friend no matter how far away. None of these technological options should, in my opinion, replace personal interactions with other human beings who like conversation. You must realize that nothing beats a friend who is close.
I don't think that the small details of my life would be all that interesting if I Twittered them. I'm no Demi Moore, and really, how dreadfully embarrassing to do all that Mrs. Kutchner Twittering and then be publically betrayed big time by the Better Half! If I were Demi my response would be to join a convent.
(I also never watch Reality TV, though I think Andy Warhol was the pioneer of unscripted film.)
For a brief time I tried text messaging. I found there are people who prefer to hide out in text messaging or e-mails who will be unreliable and irresponsible if you try to make a plan of action with them and so it's hopeless trying to engender a real friendship with them and so why try and get personal using technology? I still think it is very rude to make and take cell phone calls while at table, especially in a restaurant; too many people trying to impress you that they are popular or important with all that interruption of conversation.
What I seem to be accommodating more than ever because of technology as a media for communication is lots of interruptions in my concentration. What I seem to have acquired is a way to ignore all advertising and dismiss all pop up and other intrusions to focus. Like deep concentration deep conversation seems to be a rare experience these days.
Over the holidays I was watching a couple movies and a friend of a friend who is a Film School Major succeeded in ruining the movies by talking over the dialog, interjecting personal comments about the script. This is what we get for taking the movies out of movie theatres into the "comfort" of our homes. Really we need to get back to the theatre.
I still adore books. I adore the way they look on shelves all around the room. I love libraries. I go to libraries frequently. I can't imagine my life without reading. Without learning.
C 2012 Christine Trzyna Writerly Life / Christine Trzyna All Rights Reserved including International and Internet Rights.
