what do you prefer, internet or books?

Question

as source of info that is, and pls give explanation

Answer 1

Books. Not only can you read something that totally interests you, but you can do it anywhere. In the sunshine under a tree, on the beach, on a plane flying to visit someone, in the car when you are bored (and not the driver) during a rainstorm curled up on the couch, or in the hospital when you are recuperating from a procedure. There is something about the joy you can get from reading an actual book that you can't get from a computer screen. I find it a very enjoyable and comforting thing to do. To me there is nothing better than a book (or magazines) a couple of hours alone, and just reading with no disturbances.

Answer 2

I live in transit, moving and working in different countries so I live with electronic text for the sake of weight and size. But had I my druthers and lived permanently in a house, I would have everything in print.

> When you read from a computer screen, you have to lean in.
> I like to lean back. Therefore, I prefer a hard copy.

- Gil Grissom, "CSI" Season 5


Paper and microfiche have permanency, a sense of "they printed it, so it was accurate" and it never changes. Electronic text leaves open an ability to rewrite history that Stalin could only dream of.

For example, look at wikipedia. Articles can be altered so easily and the words presented as "facts" easily changed and written with bias by the "official" editors, never mind vandals. You may say, "It's easily corrected", but read up on what has happened to the article on evolution. It has been targeted repeatedly by religious loons who corrupt the pages or delete the article completely. If enough hatemongers get together (as cretinists - oops, creationists - do) then facts can be silenced through tyranny of the majority.

It's harder for the tyrannical to silence something that was in print and widely distributed. I still have an original copy of Philip Agee's "CIA Diary", a book which has been banned in many countries, and trying to buy one today is near impossible. I may not agree with the book's content, but try replacing it if I need to read it again....


Additional:

"BONNI" is right about the feel of reading a book under a tree or anywhere (with a cup of cocoa and a blanket under a lamp, etc.). There's nothing like the warmth of paper.

Portability is one area, though, where e-text is better. I can take half a dozen e-text novels, non-fiction books, dictionary and text-only encyclopedia on my PDA when I travel (along with games and MP3s). As well, the text size can be adjusted as can the backlight of the screen.

Being able to turn pages with a thumb button (no moving the hand or the "book") makes it easier to keep your place, plus paper has no "search" function. ^_^


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Answer 3

Hmm, as a source of info, the internet for sure, nothing is as fast and who can survive without a search engine that takes you right to the point instead of scanning material that may not have the specific info in the first place? Websites give links to various sources wheareas a library would be limiting.

Answer 4

Books, for sure.

The problem with the net is that it's very easy for anyone to publish unsubstantiated claims, as well as grossly incorrect info.

Although this can happen with books as well, it is much more unlikely, since research is typically done by the author - not to mention that the content has to be of enough interest for a publisher to agree to do so.

Developing a site is much easier work than actually getting a book published, that's what I mean...

But of course, the net can be a wonderful tool for finding out just about anything - just make sure you're dealing with a reliable site.

Answer 5

As much as I love Books..probably the internet because all the information I need is on one computer...I just need to type what I want to find..I don't need to search through gigantic libraries just to find that the book that I need is already out...now that I think about it the internet is much better...

Answer 6

Internet, because there's so much more you can find online, and the internet is one source in itself. With books, you have to look through many of them. Online, you can just go to different websites, it's much easier.

Answer 7

Internet. More up to date, More information available.

Answer 8

When i'm awake and during the day i prefer internet.
During my way to go to sleep, i prefer books or magazine.

Answer 9

That's a tough one to answer really.

I love reading books but I also like surfing the net.

Though I guess books are better.

Answer 10

the internet =]

because the internet is like a vurtual library of books basiclly.. kinda =]