Re:Betty Shannon, Unsung Mathematical Genius
by spyhi on Wednesday July 26, 2017 @05:59AM
(#14854868)
I doubt it's much different. Sure, the content itself is more invisible, but social dynamics are probably a more important factor to spread. I know if I notice my wife engrossed in something on her phone or computer, I'm gonna ask her what she's found just out of sheer curiosity, and that's if she doesn't bring it up first. Conversely, if I'm fascinated by something, I'm gonna tell my wife (even if she doesn't care, much to her chagrin), and I'm gonna tell 'errbody who I think might have even a passing interest. Maybe we are unique in this regard, but I suspect not, given the success of everything from StumbleUpon to Delicious to Facebook...humans are just wired to share with each other.
Nowadays for many people it would be her browser's bookmarks and history getting filled with links to investment and economics sites and articles, rather than the home library getting filled with books.
I wonder if that makes it less common for one's interests to spread to others in the house?
With books, they get left around in living areas, ready to easily enthrall others who pick them up out of idle curiosity. When put away they are probably in bookshelves shared with others.
With bookmarked links there would be less opportunity to stumble across someone else's bookmarks. Everyone's bookmark list is on their own account, or even their own device.