Great! Harry Potter! It's got kids READING again! - Page 2

MarkMono · 20th August 2008, 12:45pm

As a counterpoint, I spent my entire childhood wandering around outside with a book in my hands. I'm pretty sure I was crazy and socially awkward from a very young age anyway, and as a result I find it very hard to pinpoint how much of this could've come from reading. I seem to have pretty good grounding in the politics and pop culture that have occurred throughout my life simply from being observant, rather than being interested in or involved with these things though. Maybe it was being outside so much.

Reading lots of books improved my written English and entertained me a lot, thats all I can say for certain.

Also, my imagination is better than industrial light and magic, with evocative enough writing I can see robot armies all around me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammer

She's just annoyed because Rowling's twaddle is outselling her books by a ridiculous amount.

Which is a shame in some respects, because the Female Eunuch is still a pretty important book and could do with more folks reading it.

Important? Yes. Interesting? Again, yes.

Still relevant? No, very much not. And every book she wrote off the back of it is either an opportunistic copy of it or just junk food for the brain. Fuck Germaine Greer.

XMachina · 20th August 2008, 12:48pm

The more I think about it the more I realise I'd be happier if all children today had to worry about was whether to watch a teleplay or read something.

CHUCK LIDELOL · 20th August 2008, 12:59pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimzor

I don't like the idea of reading for reading sake.

I completely disagree. I like doing stuff for its own sake.

Evapilotone · 27th August 2008, 9:30am

Never mind the kids, Harry Potter got me reading more often.

I never used to read as a kid, not even comics. I was more interested in computer games and watching cartoons. Yes, my spelling and grammar wasn't the best, but it wasn't below "average" either. To be fair, it's not like I'm reading War and Peace these days, as it holds no interest for me what so ever, and I would prob struggle to read it anyway.

The majority of my reading these days are comics, but I do enjoy books like Harry Potter, The Inheritance Cycle and various books from the Black Library (Games Workshop)...so while I'm not breaking any ground in the books I read, I'm happy in the knowledge that I'm reading more.

In terms of when I have my own kids. I'll make sure what ever they do will be done in moderation. Whether it be reading, playing computer games, watching tv etc.

MarkMono · 27th August 2008, 10:55am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

Never mind the kids, Harry Potter got me reading more often.

I never used to read as a kid, not even comics. I was more interested in computer games and watching cartoons. Yes, my spelling and grammar wasn't the best, but it wasn't below "average" either. To be fair, it's not like I'm reading War and Peace these days, as it holds no interest for me what so ever, and I would prob struggle to read it anyway.

The majority of my reading these days are comics, but I do enjoy books like Harry Potter, The Inheritance Cycle and various books from the Black Library (Games Workshop)...so while I'm not breaking any ground in the books I read, I'm happy in the knowledge that I'm reading more.

That was kind of the point of the thread, what the point of reading more if you're just reading more crap?

"Yay, Big Brothers got kids watching more reality television."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

In terms of when I have my own kids. I'll make sure what ever they do will be done in moderation. Whether it be reading, playing computer games, watching tv etc.

Breathing?

If my parents had tried to stop me reading as much, they'd've been onto fucking plums let me tell you.

Evapilotone · 27th August 2008, 11:09am

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMono

That was kind of the point of the thread, what the point of reading more if you're just reading more crap?

"Yay, Big Brothers got kids watching more reality television."

Why is it deemed as crap though. Surely with this point of view, kids should be forced to do more activities in terms of learning. I enjoy reading "crap", just like people enjoy reading about battles, religeon, quantum physics etc. Just because i'm reading about some boy who plays with magic, people deem it as crap and therefore a pointless activity as I'm gaining "nothing that will be of use".

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkMono

Breathing?

If my parents had tried to stop me reading as much, they'd've been onto fucking plums let me tell you.

Your being a little pedantic there. If I ever have kids and they want to read for days on end, fine, but I'd sure as hell try to introduce them to new things and try to get them out and about for exercise, interaction etc.

*LesMTS* · 27th August 2008, 11:15am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

Why is it deemed as crap though. Surely with this point of view, kids should be forced to do more activities in terms of learning. I enjoy reading "crap", just like people enjoy reading about battles, religeon, quantum physics etc. Just because i'm reading about some boy who plays with magic, people deem it as crap and therefore a pointless activity as I'm gaining "nothing that will be of use".

There's nothing wrong with reading crap, it's just when it's put in the context of "but, hey, at least I'm reading!!". Why do we have this piety about reading in and of itself?

MarkMono · 27th August 2008, 11:16am

No, nothing wrong with reading crap at all, but its certainly nothing to be proud of.

"Hey, I entertained myself for half an hour, aren't I great"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

Your being a little pedantic there. If I ever have kids and they want to read for days on end, fine, but I'd sure as hell try to introduce them to new things and try to get them out and about for exercise, interaction etc.

I don't think I'm being pedantic at all, even as a child I could see flaws in the axiom "Everything in Moderation"

What about success, healthy food, education etc etc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

Why is it deemed as crap though. Surely with this point of view, kids should be forced to do more activities in terms of learning. I enjoy reading "crap", just like people enjoy reading about battles, religeon, quantum physics etc. Just because i'm reading about some boy who plays with magic, people deem it as crap and therefore a pointless activity as I'm gaining "nothing that will be of use".

Its unoriginal, unintelligent and dumbed-down even for the already childish genre it exists within. Of course its crap, the only possible reason for saying it isn't is that lots of adults read it. Which seems like a double standard, I mean, most adults who watch River City are quite happy to accept that they're enjoying crap.

StuntGirl · 27th August 2008, 11:18am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

Your being a little pedantic there. If I ever have kids and they want to read for days on end, fine, but I'd sure as hell try to introduce them to new things and try to get them out and about for exercise, interaction etc.

I thnk as achild I would have stabbed my mum if she had tried to make me stop reading to the extent that I did, it's certainly one of the things I grew to detest about my dad.

I'm also quite interested in the whole "Fopp sells books for show, not for reading". The gems i've picked up for 3 quid which have entertained and educated me are grin worthy, to say the least. Although I know that just because I do something doesn't mean everyone, or even the majority, do the same. I guess I've never really considered that people would buy books and not read them, just to make themselves seem more intellectually astute. But then, I suppose that's because my mates ridicule the shit out of me for the stuff I read.

MarkMono · 27th August 2008, 11:22am

Being fair, I know a lot of people (A few on here) who buy books for the graphic design of their spines.

It pisses me off a little, as it seems like a waste of literature, but mostly its Christopher Brookmyre and Mark Haddon and books like that. Don't see why Fopp is targeted as an offender for this though, they definitely tend toward the trendy, but all bookstores do now, and I have at least picked up the odd modern classic for pennies from Fopp.

Gadafti Inc. · 27th August 2008, 11:23am

Books are generally a lot better than film adaptations.

3 that buck the trend are the LOTR movies. Much better than the books, which really are a bit of a drawn out linguistic wank

Greer is full of it - reading is a great aid to kids intelectual development. The more they read the more they can understand and the broader their vocabulary becomes. The most prevelant reader I know is also the most intelligent person I know - so maybe I'm a wee bit biased.

If I had spent a little more time reading I'd have done far better academically. When I hit high school I was barely literate. Took a bit of time to catch up. Got there eventually, but it was struggle.

Evapilotone · 27th August 2008, 11:29am

I'm not sure if I know anyone that has bought a book to look "cool", but I know for a fact, the few books I own (forgetting the cupboard full of comics I own) have been bought and read. Which is prob why I could carry all the books I own in one go.

Where do you draw the line? Do you stop your child from reading so much, risking them being socially inept (and I'm not calling avid readers inept in any way), even though they are reading titles that aren't deemed "crap"?
Using myself as an example again. I'm no genius, I got sub par grades at school (for what they're worth), but I do take pride in myself for having common sense (not that I show it most of the time I must admit). I know a few people with all the grades and skills a job could ask for, but when it comes to getting the job, they fall at the interview as a couple of people have mentioned.

*LesMTS* · 27th August 2008, 11:34am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

Where do you draw the line? Do you stop your child from reading so much, risking them being socially inept (and I'm not calling avid readers inept in any way), even though they are reading titles that aren't deemed "crap"?

Noone's arguing that there's anything wrong with enjoying reading 'crap'.

MarkMono · 27th August 2008, 11:35am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Evapilotone

I'm not sure if I know anyone that has bought a book to look "cool", but I know for a fact, the few books I own (forgetting the cupboard full of comics I own) have been bought and read. Which is prob why I could carry all the books I own in one go.

Where do you draw the line? Do you stop your child from reading so much, risking them being socially inept (and I'm not calling avid readers inept in any way), even though they are reading titles that aren't deemed "crap"?
Using myself as an example again. I'm no genius, I got sub par grades at school (for what they're worth), but I do take pride in myself for having common sense (not that I show it most of the time I must admit). I know a few people with all the grades and skills a job could ask for, but when it comes to getting the job, they fall at the interview as a couple of people have mentioned.

What line?

No-one said reading crap is harmful (Well, Germaine Greer did, but she's a horsefaced retard.) the argument is that it doesn't do them any good.

Think you've lost your thread a little.

Bunnylingus · 27th August 2008, 11:38am

I cant date men who aren't well read (Read: have read more than 5 books in their life, which are not comics or autobigraphies of wrestlers); they just turn out to be thick as pig shit or boring. Maybe its just the people I've met. I know very few bright people who dont read a lot.

Maybe its just because I love reading so much, and I cant see why anyine else wouldn't.

But reading a book IS better than tv, and LOTR books are WAY better than the films, imo. Without your imagination, where would you be?

A week of tv in hospital and I wanted to gouge my eyes out.