I am anachronistic, but I am conflicted.
I like old-fashioned things. I enjoy seemingly outdated methods and styles of writing. Let me visit a Victorian house lit up by candles or gaslight, and I would feel entranced. I am also, though, quite taken by technology. It remains a mystery to me in that I am not particularly learned regarding the workings of such devices, but I am very interested in such developments and how they may enhance humans as a species. Transhumanism is something to which I deeply subscribe.
How does all of this manage to stay in the crucible and not spill over? I am not sure. Maybe some of it does. I think more that it is all merely choices of an ever-growing buffet. Something new does not necessarily mean the prior options are replaced.
I love to write, and I love to read. Electronically formatted books are strong and becoming stronger. Some might think this means an impending end to printed books. I do not. I realize the ‘market share’, as it were, may shrink, but there really is no reason or requirement why one should completely displace the other.
I prefer printed books. You might also see such an expression in my music collection. I still listen to cd’s. I still buy them. My mp3 collection consists of four albums. I don’t think this is some sort of Luddite attitude as much as I just like the physical object. Maybe this does indicate some underlying resistance to the digital age, but I feel like I am excited for that future.
So, electronic books … they’re great. They have afforded an opportunity to so many independent authors who might have never been able to share their work beyond a select few. You can now carry around an impressive library with you wherever you go. Amazing stuff. I still prefer print, but digital holds some wonderful potential and options.
There’s no reason we can’t have both in our buffet. And even more …
Dance of the Butterfly 