At 09:23 PM 5/17/96 -0400, Alan Horowitz wrote:

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Now that's progress, don't you think?

Yes, I do! Because these activities don't just happen by themselves, they take the place of other activities which were formerly done in their

place.

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The trivial example of sending letters has been replaced by email.

E-mail is cool. E-mail is lovely. I use it enthusiatically. It is not the same thing as sitting down with a fountain pen and and some fine stationary. I feel sorry for your significant other if your loveletters go by e-mail.

So you've found one specific instance where you don't think it's appropriate to send email. Big deal! Try again.

Yes, let's get people away from reading books. Hey, there's computer games to play, burn that library down, will you?

Want people to read books? Okay, first put the hurdle in front of them that they must go to the library. (This is particularly a hurdle for children, when not in school, because they can't drive.) Then, if the book(s) they want to read is already checked out, make them wait 1+ months until it returns. Make them come back to the library to get it, and make them return it the same way. See why some people DON'T read books?

Quantity of life is not the same as quality of life.

You're misrepresenting form over substance. Information is no more valuable or trustworthy on paper than on electrons. Jim Bell jimbell@pacifier.com