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Has the internet killed your ability to read?

johnjohn320

johnjohn320

Diamond Member
I used to read quite a lot for pleasure; these days I only get thorugh a few books a year at most that I don't have to read for school/work. Even then, those books aren't usually particularly deep or heavy- just some sort of political satire, a short novel, simplistic biographies, etc. The reading that I have to do (I'm in grad school) feels like drudgery and seems to take forever. Even when the material's interesting, my attention wanders continuously.

I once read (ironic, no?) an article that speculated that the internet has killed many of our attention spans for reading. The author's logic was that the internet has delivered such a plethora of information that's so easy to find, that we've become accustomed to "getting to the good stuff" right away. No buildup, no searching, no real commitment is required; only a passing fancy at wanting to know something is needed for us to get the information we desire in 30 seconds or less.

So what do you think? Any validity to this?

edit-and yes, I'm aware that someone will make the joke "I tried to read your post but spaced out halfway through..."
 
I actually find I read probably 10 times faster than I used to. It's almost speed reading. I do agree with your premise regarding attention spans and patience, it's all "gimme now!".
 
In the last two years I have started reading again. Probably twenty books per year. What did I change? I went back to reading (mostly) books that I enjoy, instead of trying to exclusively read books that were considered "exceptional" by the literary establishment.
 
I fall asleep when I tried to read books but I can read the internet all day.😕 I bought 3 books last year and have yet to read them.
 
The internet has not killed my ability to read, however, reading what some people post has been known to cause my head to explode from time to time. 🙂
 
The internet has not done anything to my reading ability. I read good books when they are good... When I find something terribly boring to read I will space off. :-/ The internet has not done this; the author has.
 
I read quite a bit, but not as much as I used to. I don't think the intraweb has anything to do with it, but rather getting older means more responsibilities and as such less time for pleasures.
 
I only read things on the web... I don't read books, never have. I barely even read magazines unless my wife is hogging my computer... and that doesn't even happen much.
 
Nope, I will love books. I refuse to read anything longer than a page or two online. I just can't concentrate while reading online.

I tend to go through reading marathons where I'll do nothing but read for a while, and then otherwise I'll go through periods where I just can't concentrate. The intarweb has no doubt introduced a level of ADD to my day.
 
Originally posted by: rh71
I only read things on the web... I don't read books, never have. I barely even read magazines unless my wife is hogging my computer... and that doesn't even happen much.
Click to expand...

Why not? It's fun!
 
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