Re: Re: on stagnation continued

In a message dated 6/30/02 11:41:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
boysteve@xxxxxxxxx writes:


> You could be optimistic and consider that reading a lousy book might 
> be better than watching good tv (though "better" is a loaded word -- 
> certainly reading is more involving, less passive). 
> 

Maybe.  I have an unpopular view of teevee all around--I don't watch it, but 
I defend it to snobs as the most democratic form of mass communication (in 
that everyone can participate, while many books are far above the patience 
and comprehension of many readers --don't bother debating me on the flaws in 
this statement, I know, I know...) ;)

I used to say the same thing about books as you state above, but I'm becoming 
less glib.  Why is reading books automatically better, I have been asking 
myself, after running into so many well-read assholes, and so many 
teevee-watching near-illiterates who are kind, generous, intelligent and 
insightful?

I guess this is my way of saying I'm not optimistic.


Best,

John W


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