Я совсем не прошусь к вам в постель, мне вот только казалось - нам есть, что поведать друг другу...(с)
causal argument well, if we intend to answer this question, we have to find the reasons why people read at all. Writing has always been an honorable work and those people who could write and read were considered to be the keepers of wisdom. The system of writing was invented to pass or save information and today it still has the same function. Now we possess a great treasury of scientific researches, chronicles and data. And the true brilliant is literature. It is the only kind of writing that not just tell the message but also share emotions. Novels, poetry, essays are the threads able to connect people spiritually. Is not it wonderful?
So, when we take a book or a newspaper, have a look at sites and headlines, we want to get some information, or a kind of emotional experience, or both.
Unfortunately, people tend to read less. The statistics of 2010 says that about 40% of adults and 26% of teenagers don't read books, when in 1999 these figures were twice lesser. The data vary in a minor way in different countries, but the trend is evident. If you doubt whether it's true just interview your friends, colleges and relatives. Should we be afraid of these facts?
Today it’s hardly to imagine our existence without typical features of a civilized community like TV, newspapers, mobile phones, computers and The Internet. All of them play the role of transmitting data, and the last one is the greatest because of being able to cope with all types of information. Started as a military project, The Internet was aimed at holding all important facts and files for all departments connected with national security. Then it was developed and now we could get pleasure of the most convenient way of receiving information and entertainment.
As we see all the advantages of the Internet and TV we could easily understand why people tend to read less. If we want to feel smt new we prefer to watch a film that easily could be find on sites. If we have to write an essay or a report we are able to load anything we need just after a quick surfing. If we feel lonely there’s no problem to find a company. It is so easy to be entertained now.
But books have one more plus that the Internet don’t possess. Reading a novel we become aware of other people’s inner world, different visions of one world and learn how to understand others ‘points of view. Moreover, books teach imagination and creativity, curiosity and – the most important – thinking. We intend to understand the deeds of the favorite hero and we trace the story of his life, connecting the smallest significant pieces of his biography. Was he right or wrong doing something? We become acquainted of the conceptions of good and evil and try to pick up sides.
Despite all the benefits of spiritual enrichment, books are put off. There are plenty of side reasons like high usability of the Internet, or time-consuming search of information in a book, etc. The essential one is the following – people has become too lazy to think. Trusting the Internet we forget to sort out the information, analyze and check it. It is far too convenient to believe the given data. As the result we lose the skill to see the essence of the message, our memory is wearing loose because, having the access to the necessary site we don’t bother our brains to remember a particular piece of information. And brains need giving a good training.
As the result we have difficulties even if try to read something classical. Well, and that’s why classical books are believed to be too sophisticated and pompous. Surely, people read novels of famous modern writers, but these books could hardly be called creations of art, being too beggar in language and emotions.
It is the problem of our consumer society. We pay attention on things that we could chaw. And we choose the information more slim to digest. Interesting and wise advices are pulled apart for posh quotations in our life journals. Have we thought them over?
In the conclusion I want to give an example of famous scandal cartoon Mr. Freeman. The main character says:“ Imagine that you have a flesh cart with formula of gunpowder and oil, information how to get electricity and how to build a car or a plane. And you appeared somewhere in Medieval Europe. You are the holder of secrets of life, all kings want you to share your wisdom! But there’s a problem – how to get the information from the cart without a computer?.. You know how to make an e-mail box, how to load an report or to sign in a chat, but all this knowledge is nothing. You will be hanged.”
We don’t know anything about the world and how things are going. People tend to read less. And as far as intellectual abilities differentiate people from animals… Do we tend to be less human?..