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No Spanish reading crisis?

commonreader.co.uk

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Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#31

Post by paulryanrogers »

world2vec wrote: post #20
paulryanrogers wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The article doesn't distinguish reading books from reading anything else. Though it's pretty short and light on details. The article it cites strongly implies the reading is only books. All that said, [I find] reading books is overrated. They're often outdated, low effort slop, and even more so in this AI era.

How could fiction books become outdated? That is an absolutely alien opinion for me! -edit- I said "non-fiction" when I meant "fiction". Of course non-fiction books become obsolete quite fast sometimes.

I was mostly speaking of nonfiction. Though I find most fiction doesn't age well in any medium. Appreciating it often requires social context I don't really have time to learn. And many fictional works from the past are chock full of racism, sexism, irrational social phobias, etc.

For those who put in the work, there isn't even a cultural bond to enjoy since most of the people who originally consumed those works are themselves dead and buried. (Modern niches and widely studied "classics" notwithstanding.)

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#32

Post by ddoolin »

paulryanrogers wrote: post #17
world2vec wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO screens and audio don't count as reading books.

The article doesn't distinguish reading books from reading anything else. Though it's pretty short and light on details. The article it cites strongly implies the reading is only books. All that said, [I find] reading books is overrated. They're often outdated, low effort slop, and even more so in this AI era.

"Reading books is overrated" -- what an HN take. You've gotta be kidding me.

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#33

Post by esseph »

rupertdev wrote: post #23
world2vec wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO screens and audio don't count as reading books.

I personally think that though the medium is different, audiobooks are at least _similar_ to reading a book. Screens however, are you including something like an eReader as _not_ reading books?

> I personally think that though the medium is different, audiobooks are at least _similar_ to reading a book.

Very different brain processes. They're the same in that they are both forms of entertainment based on a written story, I guess.

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#34

Post by brainwad »

amanaplanacanal wrote: post #30
erelong wrote: post #11

I think from seeing articles like this a few times, that there's a lack of definition from people as what counts as "real reading" and about what materials "count as real reading" (since I think probably people are reading these days more than ever - it just may be on forums like HN, social media, and AI output, etc.) so if you just define that specifically then we could just promote it on social media, people readin…

I've seen many of these types of articles, and usually they are taking about long form reading, meaning books.

What's a book, though? I suppose people would at least count a traditional e-book. Does long-form fanfic count? How about a book-length website? What about one that was originally published as a book and then republished online?

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#35

Post by otherme123 »

toolslive wrote: post #14

> Democracy is safe in Spain! iirc, The Prince from Machiavelli is required reading during secondary education. That will surely awaken their political awareness.

> The Prince from Machiavelli is required

In Spain? Never heard of that, and would not make sense. An italian author writting about politics in Florence?

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#37

Post by esseph »

KaiserPro wrote: post #15
world2vec wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO screens and audio don't count as reading books.

Could you expand on the audiobook part? Im assuming that screens dont count because its not novels/literature but audio books are the same content but delivered by a different medium, I am genuinely curious as to your opinion on is not counting

> but audio books are the same content but delivered by a different medium, I am genuinely curious as to your opinion on is not counting

Audio books are passive content. It's not reading. Not remotely the same brain process.

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#38

Post by another-dave »

erelong wrote: post #11

I think from seeing articles like this a few times, that there's a lack of definition from people as what counts as "real reading" and about what materials "count as real reading" (since I think probably people are reading these days more than ever - it just may be on forums like HN, social media, and AI output, etc.) so if you just define that specifically then we could just promote it on social media, people readin…

I think most people would consider it something published alright, as other definitions start to become a bit absurd (e.g. reading the menu at a restaurant or the match day programme probably aren't what people consider as 'reading for pleasure').

Outside of that, I don't think we should gatekeep it too much though - the biggest benefits come from reading anything at all.

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#39

Post by watwut »

KaiserPro wrote: post #15
world2vec wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IMHO screens and audio don't count as reading books.

Could you expand on the audiobook part? Im assuming that screens dont count because its not novels/literature but audio books are the same content but delivered by a different medium, I am genuinely curious as to your opinion on is not counting

Imo, audio books are perfectly comparable to listening to podcasts. Calling it reading is absurd. It is not reading, it is listening.

And reading on screen is reading.

Re: No Spanish reading crisis?

#40

Post by harperlee »

brainwad wrote: post #34
amanaplanacanal wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've seen many of these types of articles, and usually they are taking about long form reading, meaning books.

What's a book, though? I suppose people would at least count a traditional e-book. Does long-form fanfic count? How about a book-length website? What about one that was originally published as a book and then republished online?

I'm sure the general population being asked whether they read books have a very clear idea of what a book is.
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