Sarabina Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 Random vent ahead: I was in class a few days ago reading a book and this cute guy started talking to me. We chatted for a while about the book I was reading, and then he started to boast that he had never read a book in his life. He continued boasting for a while, during which I completely lost interest and tuned him out. I have ignored his advances since then. Anyway, how do my fellow LoveShackers feel about people who don't read?
stepka Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 Random vent ahead: I was in class a few days ago reading a book and this cute guy started talking to me. We chatted for a while about the book I was reading, and then he started to boast that he had never read a book in his life. He continued boasting for a while, during which I completely lost interest and tuned him out. I have ignored his advances since then. Anyway, how do my fellow LoveShackers feel about people who don't read? Well I think hate is a rather strong term. I feel sorry for them and probably wouldn't date someone who hates to read, but I wouldn't hate them. I reserve that term for someone who just deliberately killed my cat or deliberately caused me to lose my job or something.
vsmini Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 I love to read and discuss books. Every guy I've ever dated has also been really interested in lit and postmodern lit. The discussions we have are interesting and it's just a really great thing to have in common. I haven't really come across a guy telling me they hate to read but I've come across a few girl friends of mine. It's one of those things - I don't understand how someone could hate reading.
SJC2008 Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 Yeah I think hate is a rather strong term too but do you feel that there is something different about people who love to read? I HATE to read but am not an idiot. I keep up with whats going on in the world and and politics in the US and am a junior in college so I've got a pretty good head on my shoulders. I have tried to get into it but I just cant. I bought a fiction novel about Russian spies and Russia trying to regain its superpower status. I am intrigued by the Soviet Union/Russia and our rivalry with them but couln't force myself to read it. I guess you're either a reader or not. If you have a conversation can you tell if they don't read without asking? Why do you not like non readers? I really don't care but it's interesting, vever heard that one before.
runner Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 i hate reading pretentious rubbish written by horribly ignorant authors.
stepka Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 i hate reading pretentious rubbish written by horribly ignorant authors. Me too but I still love to read--selectively.
Intricategirl Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 I think I would have excused myself the second he bragged he's never read a book. That's such a foreign concept to me.
Zolie Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 I am a voracious reader. I don't think less of people who don't read, but I do feel sorry for them. They probably feel sorry for me, though, because I don't watch or play sports, or play a musical instrument, or watch NASCAR, or eat sushi, or grow vegetables, or swim in the ocean... Point is, we all have different interests. Not everyone is a reader. I get what you mean, though. I feel an affinity for people who read, and sometimes don't understand the ones who don't read. It's such a solo hobby, though!
JungleLover Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 I bet you he is actually an avid reader who was pretending not to be in order to cover up his nerdiness to impress you.
runner Posted May 27, 2011 Posted May 27, 2011 I think I would have excused myself the second he bragged he's never read a book. That's such a foreign concept to me. i can imagine his pick-up line..."hey baby, wanna party like its 30,000 BC ?"
sanskrit Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I hate the voluntarily, volubly, lazily ignorant, the ease by which they are manipulated is responsible for most of the democratic world's political problems. And I mean "hate" as in "hate their f-ing guts, and wish them ill," to be crystal clear
Titania22 Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 It's rare for me to actually come across a man who reads actual books, even just the occasional book. It's kind of like meeting a guy who will dance. Although these days I think finding a man who will dance is easier then finding one who will read.
Feelin Frisky Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I'm not into reading for reading's sake. So, what I do read is almost exclusively non-fiction. I'm into writing much more and so when I do read it's usually for a purpose. When authors come close to a point I'm interested in and then miss it or flub it entirely I write in the margins. Most of the books I have are a mess of notes written all around the margins. I don't therefore criticize others for not being "readers". Intelligence isn't how many books you run through or how much "stuff" you can quote. It's really how in tune with the times you're in and what you avail yourself to in the way of media ware IMO to interpret the times in which you live and find relevance with other times lived by others (which is then discovered through reading in pursuit of objectives). A woman who reads for its own sake and puts a high premium on men who do too will probably not be a good match for me nor me for her. I would NOT go bragging that I don't read even if I didn't read at all. That's a dufus move no matter what.
Enchanted Girl Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 It's rare for me to actually come across a man who reads actual books, even just the occasional book. It's kind of like meeting a guy who will dance. Although these days I think finding a man who will dance is easier then finding one who will read. Ahahaha. I find this interesting because my boyfriend both reads and dances. I'm a lucky girl. But yea, I agree completely, they are hard to find. Well I think hate is a rather strong term. I feel sorry for them and probably wouldn't date someone who hates to read, but I wouldn't hate them. I reserve that term for someone who just deliberately killed my cat or deliberately caused me to lose my job or something. Agree completely. And its something I should take personally since I am an avid writer and its my goal to eventually make that a full time career.
Lilmisus Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Guys who don't read turn me off, but I would by no means say I hated them or say no to dating them. Especially since a majority of the books I read are sappy love stories and I don't expect guys to read along or be interested in discussing them I just believe that as long as they respect that reading is my thing, then I'll respect what their thing is - whatever it may be. But if a guy brags about "never reading a book" - which is complete BS by the way - then I'd probably ignore his advances too. That's like saying "Yeah, I flunked out of the second grade, never went back! Haha!" Highly unlikely, and makes them look like an idiot.
fortyninethousand322 Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I think I have the opposite problem, that is most women I meet are turned off by the fact that I read, or rather what I read. I'm a big non-fiction reader (just finished "The Duel" by Tariq Ali and I'm starting F.A. Hayek's "The Road to Serfdom") and more often than not people I meet (both men and women) find these types of books "boring". It's odd because even the nerdy girls are turned off by non-fiction. I don't know maybe I've just been meeting some pretty weird people.
sanskrit Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 (edited) I think I have the opposite problem, that is most women I meet are turned off by the fact that I read, or rather what I read. Same, funniest are the ones who think that I must be "into" something merely because I am reading it. "Oh look, there is a Baudelaire first edition on ebay, maybe you should start collecting them!" "Baby, I read Mein Kampf that week also, should I start collecting Nazi memorabilia?" Edited May 28, 2011 by sanskrit
Titania22 Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 "I want a reader" Reading is a bare minimum! I enjoyed, thanks for the link.
Sugarkane Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I also like it when guys read. I've only dated one that hasn't so far. One of my co workers always braggs about how she "doesn't have time/can't be bothered to read". Even though she doesn't even have children and has lots of spare time. She says she's never finished a book in her life and it shows. She says she can't sit down long enough and finds reading "a waste of time". I find this pretty sad. Reading isn't a waste of time at all. Maybe if she read occasionly she might actually learn something?
Dust Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I couldn't care less if some one reads or not. It’s rather pretentious to hate some one because they don’t enjoy reading. I want a partner who is my equal, which of course includes mind and body. That doesn’t mean they must have all the same likes and dislikes though. Fortyninethousand don’t expect a book you are reading to work like a puppy. When it works it works, just don’t expect it to. You now have me curious because of the book you mentioned what are your political views?
Stung Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Random vent ahead: I was in class a few days ago reading a book and this cute guy started talking to me. We chatted for a while about the book I was reading, and then he started to boast that he had never read a book in his life. He continued boasting for a while, during which I completely lost interest and tuned him out. I have ignored his advances since then. Anyway, how do my fellow LoveShackers feel about people who don't read? Yeah, that's a big turn-off. I might hang out with such a person, but I wouldn't date them. Too many aspects of my life, too many things that are important to me, that they just wouldn't get. I don't need someone who's as into reading as I am, but someone who boasts of never having read a book? Not interested.
Afishwithabike Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 I wouldn't give up a friendship with someone who says he hasn't read a book ( a lie!), but I can't imagine being in a long-term relationship with someone like that. I met my husband at a library so I knew he was into books too. I love the quote by Mark Twain which goes something like "The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
nothappyjan Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 Yeah i love reading too. When i look on the dating sites i see so many guys who under the reading heading write: I dont have time, or i'm not a reader or never read a book in my life. They then list the car magazines they read It does kind of turn me off a bit. I suppose when i think of my dream guy he does read occasionally.
xisnotx Posted May 28, 2011 Posted May 28, 2011 The last novel I read was Twilight ( I had to figure out what all the hype was). I don't read fiction. It seems to me to be a waste of time. I don't watch T.V./movies either. Why? Again..it's just a waste of time. I guess I'm very into "not wasting my time". I do read philosophical works..not because I want to..because I have to. But, I do enjoy them. How do I waste my time? I think. I also write. But...reading what someone else has created isn't as appealing to me as creating things (literature, philosophies etc)
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