tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post8982000557516754748..comments2024-03-20T19:40:58.078-05:00Comments on The OF Blog: ReflectionsLarry Nolenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16001420558511460998noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-43592863549823268412007-02-09T09:29:00.000-06:002007-02-09T09:29:00.000-06:00My First reaction is that you just don't get it. O...My First reaction is that you just don't get it. Of course, I neither think that is fair or true. I a lot of ways it comes down to two not so complicated issues - the definition of escapism and your being a very passionate person.<BR/><BR/>The way I define escapism is really not inconsistent with what you say - I define it very broadly. Just because I call my main reason for reading 'escapism' doesn't mean that I don't gain anything from or bring anything back with me. A book without any lasting impact beyond the final page is a poor form of escapism IMO. I would suspect that most people tend to lump the various positive emotions and experiences (including entertainment) from reading into a broad category and call it something like escapism. <BR/><BR/>I think it's probably a rather small amount of people who would fall into some 'extreme' escapism. I would doubt that this would a form of shirking responsiblity - but more of emotional coping mechanism. It's a bit harsh for you to be so critical of it without knowing an idividual situation - they could be 'escaping' from something as horrible (or more) than some of the children you mention or at least coming to terms with some 'inner demon'. Someone really needs to be able to help themselves before they are ready to help others.<BR/><BR/>You also come about pretty preachy in general - I undertand that you are passionate about social justice (don't know if that's the best phrase, but it'll do). But really who are you to accuse in the way you come across? Not everybody is a passionate as you are, and most of us can do more - but I'd argue that most of us do something. Generally readers are much more educated that the general population and much more aware of social injustices - I'd bet they do more. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I'm sure you didn't always read the same type of books as you do now. Reading is journey (and I'm not talking about just reading a single book) - my tastes are always evolving, waxing and waning. You arguments could easily help someone along in their reading journey - it could just as easily set someone back. I guess I'm saying that helping someone along on that journey is good, but being too preachy is bad - and I think your walking a very fine line at the moment.<BR/><BR/>I can certainly empathize with your view of the world and all too often sad state of much of this nation and world (espcially the education system). I'll take the optimistic view that reading is good - any reading (though I suppose some is better than others). Encourage and nudge those that are reading, but chastizing someone for reading for escapism is the wrong battle to fight. <BR/><BR/>Oh well, this went on much longer (and less coherent) than I intended. I agree, an issue to continue thinking about.Nethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16963540055415924510noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8068873.post-29488252788720760672007-02-08T22:42:00.000-06:002007-02-08T22:42:00.000-06:00I just wonder if one dwells too deep in these issu...I just wonder if one dwells too deep in these issues, as you and some others seem to be doing, do you still enjoy these fantasy and fictional books as much as you once used to. <BR/><BR/>Many of us, myself included, read just for the value of entertainment and not any form of "escapism." I don't dwell too much and read too closely on the prose merits or the worldbuilding merits of a book. Ultimately the story is what matters to me, and if I like it and it moves me in some way, then to hell with what Harrison or someone have to say. <BR/><BR/>Does this mean that I do not care about the actual global events, the reality? Not at all, you have to be able to separate certain issues and not compact them all into one. But since civilization began, entertainment has been part of our lives and that's all I'm looking for sometimes and one form is reading books, not to study the merits of the writing style of some authors. I'll just leave that to obsessed people and critics that like to do that for whatever reason. As for the real world, I would rather take actions than read books about it, but entertainment I will always seek because the world is a much more pleasant place when combined with all kinds of aspects of activities and doings not just looking at it in one way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com