Re: Out-of-print math books: An Update

Bill Dubuque <wgd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:y8zfxn9arcc.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

And, seemingly, an aversion to posting replies of substance.


This has been the problem all along. You seem to unable to
apply any definition of "substance" but your own rather narrow
one. That someone else might have a notion of "substance"
that is not (scarily) utilitarian is unthinkable to you.
So as you rattle off all the nifty little _utilitarian_
advantages to e-books, the only counter-argument you would
accept is one of utility. Anything that argues for something
that is not on the subject of "utility" has no "substance".

Welcome to the Borg.

I could have bought a very fancy electric keyboard which:
1. Had action indistinguishable from a grand piano.
2. Had sound indistinguishable from a grand piano.
3. Cost 1/5 what my grand piano cost.
4. Also made other sounds, such as harpsichord, organ,
saxaphone, drums, guitar, etc.
5. Took up much less space.
6. Was WAAAAAYY easier to move.
7. Would play songs by itself.
8. Could upload my playing to my laptop and have it
typset.
9. Was immune to changes in humidity.
10. Didn't require semi-annual visits from a tuner/tech.

But, I spent 5 times the cash for a giant, unwieldy
chunk of metal and wood. The only advantage is that I can
make music when the power goes off. I know this is
unfathomable to you, but I know I made the right decision.
Why? Because my definition of "substance" includes arguments
that assume personal enjoyment is a worthwhile pursuit.
I like the look of the polished mahogany. I like the angle
the lid makes when it's propped up. I even like the fact
that I'm clever enough to move the thing with only the help
of my wife. I like chatting with my tuner guy twice a year.

None of this is "serious" to you, because personal enjoyment
can't be a factor in your utilitarian Borg-world. People
gave you several _real and serious_ reasons to prefer books.
They DO look nice lined up on a shelf. It IS satisfying
to be un-electronic for a bit. The smell IS part of the
experience.

But since you wouldn't count these things as valuable,
they must surely be specious? Some of us wouldn't agree
even in the realm of mathematical research. We went into
math because we _enjoy_ it. If your e-books make you more
efficient so that you produce 20 more papers in your
lifetime, so what? You spend your life researching and
then you die. What really counts in the end is whether
you enjoyed the life of research. On your death bed are
you going to say, "That was darned fun" or "Man, that was
efficient!"?

So I don't care how you live your life and I don't care
if you think paper books are archaic and a waste of time.
But it sure does miff me when you apply your scary
value system to my life and call it not "serious."

When I die, the kids are going to agonize over what to
do with my piano. Neither of them plays much and neither
will likely have room for it. Yet they won't want to just
sell it, because it's a beloved piece of furniture which
has been part of our lives for decades. Their heads are
full of memories of me annoying them with noise while
they were trying to watch American Idol. Of me insisting
they learn to play. Of me protecting the piano from
their roughhousing. I don't care what they do with it,
but I know it will be a problem.

If I'd have bought the keyboard, they would just toss it.

The same for my books. If I had a large collection on my
laptop, or in my account, they'd just hit delete (or more
likely, just pitch the laptop.) But the neat rows of
books on the shelf, is a way different story.

B.

--
Cheerfully resisting change since 1959.
.

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