the rise of alliteracy

Post Reply New Topic

isnt it sad how many people these days dont read books? people who CAN read, but CHOOSE not to. we arent illiterate, but a lot of us are becoming alliterate. it makes me so sad. i love to read!

what do you think causes this? and what can we do about it?

If I had to point to anything, I'd point to the rush of new technology paired with the Selfie Culture. There's more pressure than ever to have a good public face and participate in timesinks like Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. Why spend your time alone reading something you can't reblog when easy, lighthearted entertainment is just a click away?

I have difficulties concentrating and focusing on reading books since I developed PTSD, so not that I don't like it, it is just difficult for me to do. But I do read some here and there, but pretty slowly not how i used to. I used to read a crap load all the time growing up it was pretty much my favorite activity. At least the PTSD didn't mess up my enjoyment of music.

Social custom and poor educational experiences. If it was "cool" or even just common to read, lots more people would do it, and if school didn't force us to read boring books, people might have been more motivated to read more often, thus developing better reading skills, thus making reading more pleasurable.

Maybe it has to do with the anti-intellectual climate in the country.

I remember in school listening to people read in class and the majority could barely keep a decent pace and would miss words. I have had a high school or higher reading level since 6th grade. People are ok with this and I have noticed they would rather act or be dumb then look intelligent. They fit in better. Keep in mind this was about 10 years ago so before social media exploded. It is not a "new" thing.

Another problem is that they just haven't been given a book or series they really can enjoy. Like missing out on an amazing type of ice cream. There are just so many not for you to at least really like some and they just need to be given the opportunity to find those books they can't put down.

I grew up in an era where Television was still a relatively new medium. Back then, parents controlled access to the boob tube. Many a times, mom and dad would cut the power cable to the TV and told us to go read a book. Nowadays, with the destruction of the nuclear family, no thanks to single-parent families, economic pressures forcing both parents to work more than 1 job, the discipline is no longer there.