Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by virmundi on Monday November 05, 2018 @11:27PM
(#18388369)
How did you get past the existential crisis that reading a book does nothing but while way time on a task that accomplished little when viewed over a period greater than a month? For example, rather than reading a book, you could have made something. You could have learned a new skill. Gone somewhere and improved someone’s life like taking trash out at the soup kitchen. All the while you know that there is a high likelihood you’ll forget key plot points within that same month.
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Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by Nition on Monday November 05, 2018 @11:42PM
(#18388429)
Even if you're talking about reading the most vapid genre fiction here, you still looking at things from the view that the purpose of everyone's life is to always be moving forward, progressing, building, achieving, getting better. Some people's feeling of purpose is different; look at Epicureanism for instance.
It sounds like you're stuck in the mindset that every moment not spent actively achieving something is time wasted. That can be a stressful way to live. Maybe if you're really looking to "get past the existential crisis" as you say, and you want to read books but feel like you shouldn't, it might be worth thinking about what you really want out of life as a whole. But I understand that it can be hard to rationalize, because our time on Earth is so limited.
Maybe you could compromise and only read books that teach something. Even good fiction teaches you about people and different ways of thinking.
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by greesil on Monday November 05, 2018 @11:31PM
(#18388387)
Perhaps you're stuck on a BART train, and there's nothing much better to do?
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by virmundi on Monday November 05, 2018 @11:34PM
(#18388405)
That’s fair. I do wonder if just smiling and making eye contact would be a better time. The ability to provide a modicum of human kindness might be refreshing; just a small token of humanity without the selfishness of personal media.
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by twtw on Monday November 05, 2018 @11:56PM
(#18388488)
> I do wonder if just smiling and making eye contact would be a better time
No, it would not. This is a good way to look extremely creepy and make everyone around you uncomfortable.
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by virmundi on Monday November 05, 2018 @11:58PM
(#18388495)
Just looking out the window with the occasional head nod is creepy?
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by twtw on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @12:01AM
(#18388516)
Trying to make eye contact with and smile at strangers on BART definitely is.
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by virmundi on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @12:13AM
(#18388567)
Thanks for the info. Yet another reason to not go back to California.
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by twtw on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @12:15AM
(#18388575)
I haven't been on any public transit where this would be seen as normal. I'm very curious in what region smiling at randos during a commute is typical.
Re:Learning to Read in Your 30s Profoundly Transforms the Brain
by ArrayList on Wednesday November 07, 2018 @08:31AM
(#18398952)
Yes. One should never smile - very much not a human thing to do. Thanks, twtw.