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Ode to libraries (the book ones)

sibervepunk.com

41–50 of 65 posts

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#41

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

I thought you were a bit harsh by calling it entitled, but then I saw “Then rent an office or subscribe to a co-working space? What? I get paid to work, not to pay for it.” Right afterwards, so I’m included to agree that there is definitely some kind of entitlement going on. The irony is that even as this person complains about “paying to work”, libraries are often immensely expensive and he pays for that library wit…

Who is “he”? The author is a woman.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#42

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

Sure, but a coffee cup is not exactly expensive or difficult to make. The reason why companies tried so hard to make it inviting or 'third space' or whatever corporate types call it these days is that it helps sell severely overpriced sugar drinks of added caffeine. This is not a shot at Starbucks. I love me some creme brulee, but it is important to recognize it for what it is. Similarly, if it indeed is user entitle…

There’s a difference between providing a third space and providing a free office space for the cost of one coffrr

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#43
post #34

Great write up and I share very similar ideas. But I wish there was something a little more than a library where people with similar interests can actually socialize and build a sense of community.

I need that too! Especially when working remotely, I don't have the office to see my co-workers to socialize. Or back when I was in college, I don't have my classmates to chat about stuff. I wish "clubs" or communities in that sense were more common outside of college

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#44

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

I have chosen not to buy this coffee.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#45

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

I thought you were a bit harsh by calling it entitled, but then I saw “Then rent an office or subscribe to a co-working space? What? I get paid to work, not to pay for it.” Right afterwards, so I’m included to agree that there is definitely some kind of entitlement going on. The irony is that even as this person complains about “paying to work”, libraries are often immensely expensive and he pays for that library wit…

   Leaving your warm bed, rising before the sun in the morning (and I’m a morning person believe it or not), getting ready, commuting, traffic, thinking about what to eat in the office, commuting again, leaving you no time to live your life.
Indeed there is some entitlement in there.

But then again, I am thankful that the author has decided to share her thoughts on the subject. It's fascinating. The idea that waking up before dawn or commuting etc... is not living - well, what is it, then?

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#47

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

I thought you were a bit harsh by calling it entitled, but then I saw “Then rent an office or subscribe to a co-working space? What? I get paid to work, not to pay for it.” Right afterwards, so I’m included to agree that there is definitely some kind of entitlement going on. The irony is that even as this person complains about “paying to work”, libraries are often immensely expensive and he pays for that library wit…

The logic doesn’t follow. If you already pay for something with taxes, why would you want to pay for it again?

Maybe something like a toll road so you can get there faster; or another private service that is better than the public one.

By your logic we’d be entitled for wanting to drive on public roads for free.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#48
> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days.

I used to work from coffee shops until I realized how annoying it is to have a café full of people working on their laptops. A once lively place that was supposed to be an escape to relax, meet friends or read a book has turned into a soulless office environment. I want to go to a café to escape work, not to be reminded of it by constant keyboard sounds or video calls.

> You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly .

> Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to drink a nice cup of burnt coffe.

How entitled can you be to think that you can occupy a table for the whole day and expect to only buy one coffee?

> Then rent an office or subscribe to a co-working space? What? I get paid to work, not to pay for it.

Yes, that is exactly you are supposed to do. If you are working remotely and can´t afford a co-working space you are probably underpaid. Your salary should either include that expense or your employer should cover that for you.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#49

> So what to do? Go to nearest coffee shop. You’re lucky if they don’t play tasteless trendy music. You’re lucky if a waiter doesn’t keep asking if you need anything, isn’t intrusive, and doesn’t subtly let you know when it’s time to leave by checking on you constantly . You’re lucky if no teenagers talking loudly about their-whatever-teens-talk-about-these-days. Oh, by the way, pay a lot of money to be here and to d…

> Astonishingly entitled. The point of a coffee shop isn't to provide you with a nice space to work but to sell coffee.

How is this entitled? The author is just stating, accurately, that coffee shops are not conducive to working all day there. The author did not demand that coffee shops change to accommodate; to the contrary, the author simply chose a different venue.

Re: Ode to libraries (the book ones)

#50
post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought you were a bit harsh by calling it entitled, but then I saw “Then rent an office or subscribe to a co-working space? What? I get paid to work, not to pay for it.” Right afterwards, so I’m included to agree that there is definitely some kind of entitlement going on. The irony is that even as this person complains about “paying to work”, libraries are often immensely expensive and he pays for that library wit…

Leaving your warm bed, rising before the sun in the morning (and I’m a morning person believe it or not), getting ready, commuting, traffic, thinking about what to eat in the office, commuting again, leaving you no time to live your life. Indeed there is some entitlement in there. But then again, I am thankful that the author has decided to share her thoughts on the subject. It's fascinating. The idea that waking up…

I belive it's fairly obvious that I mean life outside the work by "living your life". It's a pretty simple math that if you don't commute, spend time in traffic you have more time to do your stuff (whatever is your stuff). I still don't get how not liking traffic or liking decent amount of sleep is "entitlement"
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