Does reading books make you a boring person?

[Dionysus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/bo...rtner=USERLAND

I know there's a lot of bookworms on GC, what's your opinion on this article?

[smiley21]

people who think that books make other people boring lack the intelligence to understand those people. they are just jealous. i love to read.

[cuaphi]

I don't think that article is saying that people who read are boring. It's just trying to burst the myth that everyone who likes to talk about how they read more and watch tv less than you is smarter than you.

I'd say there's an element of truth to it. There are people who read and digest a lot of information who don't have any intelligent thoughts of their own and people who sit on a moral high horse and announce "I never watch t.v." Any perceptive person can see right through that. It's like anything else.... If you have to go around telling people how smart you are, or how anything you are, you probably aren't.

However, a lot of smart people do read a lot. I personally think that intelligence comes with a certain amount of intellectual curiousity as part of the package. Those are the people who have plenty of interesting things to add or say to go along with their knowledge to back it up.

[Tom Earp]

WOW,

I certainly hope not !

How would you like to find out your local bookstore is closing and none in the area?

Spent 200.00 to get enough books to keep me busy for a long time!

Dont Read? Are You friggen nuts? Do you think that TV and Local papers keep you happy?

Do I read, how about the Paedogogus, History of LXA, Boards of GC, Bairds?

You dont read, well, just what kind of dummy dont read?

"If You Do Not Learn Something New Every Day, Just Place Lilys on your Grave"!

[valkyrie]

I don't know -- after reading the article I can't help but think -- well, duh.

People who don't think for themselves are boring whether they read or not. There's nothing worse than someone who's really into something -- be it books, movies, her kids, whatever -- and doesn't talk about anything else or have any original thought -- and being smug about anything is never appealing.

[tinydancer]

I think reading broadens your outlook and makes you able to have interesting thoughts and conversations. Most of my friends read a lot, and read a lot on varied subjects. I read all the time - but seriously, I wouldn't be a very good librarian if I did not. I have trouble understanding people who say that they don't read for pleasure, even though I know a lot of folks have to read a lot for their jobs. I try to instill reading for pleasure in the children in my school.

[Sister Havana]

I must be extremely boring then. I love reading and love discussing what I've read.

[tinydancer]

Originally posted by BobbyTheDon
screw reading. just watch TV...

and if you want to broaden your perspectives on things...get Cable

Oh believe me - I watch TV plenty!

[33girl]

This sounds like all the jagoffs that make a big deal about not letting their kids watch TV and if they do it's educational, blah blah blah. Guess what, every time they go over to a friend's house they're glued to it. Stupid.

[aphibeach]

i like to read.....sad thing is that the only thing i read during the school year are my textbooks so in the summer i like to catch up on novels that i didnt get a chance to read during the school year.

[sororitygirl2]

Yeah, basically what the article says is that being boring makes you boring. Reading and not forming your own opinions about what you've read makes you a vapid and uninteresting conversation partner. But reading in and of itself, does not make one boring. To the contrary, it exposes you to new ideas, thoughts and theories and increases your awareness and intelligence. It's all about how you process the information you get - whether it be from books, TV, whatever...

[mmcat]

no, reading is a treasure that can bring so much to you. now, what you choose to do with it determines whether you turn boring or not.

[Kevin]

Boring according to who?

It's probably because most folks can't discuss things with you on the same level if you're well read on the subject. Especially if their only exposure was from minute-thirty package they saw on CNN. I can see how this conclusion could be reached though.

[Dionysus]

I will think someone is boring if they prefer reading over socializing or working out. Same as someone who spends a lot of time on the internet, watching movies/tv, and playing video games. On the other hand, some people may not have the oppurtunity to socialize a lot, so I won't judge too harshly. I don't hang out with people who like to go out 5-6 nights a weed and play intramurals during the day, like I did when I first started college.

[RACooper]

Only if you read pulp-trash or boring books....