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I’ve linked to articles in the past that discuss how we read differently online – and not for the better. We skim, have shorter attention spans, and read more superficially – in comparison to the printed page. Bloggers are usually told not to write posts over 500 words if you want people to read to the end. (Yeah, right, that is usually impossible for me. Mine are typically around 1,000 words.) As a committed of a reader as I am, even I can’t read much more than 1,000 words on-line.
Recently I printed out a bunch of articles and posts from online locations. I’m working on a project and needed the material in front of me. If I really need or want to understand something, I’ve got to print it out. I need hard copies. What flabbergasted me was this:
A number of the posts I printed looked so “long” on my computer screen. But when I printed them out, each article only consumed about 1 to 2 printed pages!! That’s it! These were actually short articles, at least by the standard of the printed page.
See what all this online reading is doing to us? It limits our attention span. It makes us think a short article is long! How pathetic is that. If we can’t absorb much more than 500 – 1,000 words, that limits our ability to learn and grasp deeper content.
You’ll notice on the right side of my blog it says “I pledge to read the printed word.” If you click on it, it takes you to this statement:
We support the printed word in all its forms: newspapers, magazines, and of course books. We think reading on computers or phones or whatever is fine, but it cannot replace the experience of reading words printed on paper. We pledge to continue reading the printed word in the digital era and beyond.
Of course, I don’t think many people are abandoning print all together. Yet, I think many of us could cut back, at least some, on computer screen reading! Right?
Challenge yourself to read more of the printed word this year.
This post is under 360 words so I hope you finished it!
Enough Light 
Finished it! I agree. I don’t read well online. It’s very difficult for me to assimilate information or even remember anything in emails or posts (and heaven knows FB and Twitter were a nightmare for my brain.) I’ve noticed that when I read blog posts for a while (say, an hour), my mind is scattered. I find it difficult to concentrate on writing anything afterward. (Writing longhand helps me refocus. And I can do all kinds of nifty doodles and sidebars that I can’t on my computer. I can write sideways or diagonally or upside down! I’m certain there’s an ipad that would allow me to do it, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. It’s not nearly as much like being a little kid with an unbounded imagination and no sense of grownup sensibility. 🙂 )
I’ve never had an electronic reader, and I don’t plan to get one. I wouldn’t remember books as well as I do when I have a physical copy in my hands. I enjoy turning the pages, flipping through to find remembered quotes or important passages, getting to underline (if I own the book). I also find it a little disturbing that there’s probably, somewhere, an electronic record of all the books I might have read/borrowed/deleted on an e-reader. I’m currently reading the novel “The Circle” about a google-like company that is taking over the world, and it’s making me very wary of how much information is available online.
So . . . all that to say, I’m sticking with print books. I’d stick with scrolls, too, if that’s what was available.
Scrolls – bring back the scrolls! : ) No electronic reader for me either. People try to tell me “but you can electronically highlight stuff”, etc. No thanks. It would not be the same for me.
Reblogged this on Rescuing Jesus .
I’m a writer. I only started blogging a year ago. It’s been a big challenge but a challenge I’ve learned to appreciate.
I’ve been reading booksf or as long as I can remember. I now read both print and digital formats; but I most enjoy the feeling of paper in my hand.
My blogs tend to be longer than the 500 word recommendation, but often times those selections are my most powerful and moving parables.
I’m glad to hear about your pledge!
Enjoyed this post, thank you 🙂
-Kenzel
I’m a writer. I only started blogging a year ago. It’s been a big challenge but a challenge I’ve learned to appreciate.
I’ve been reading books for as long as I can remember. I now read both print and digital formats; but I most enjoy the feeling of paper in my hand.
My blogs tend to be longer than the 500 word recommendation, but often times those selections are my most powerful and moving parables.
I’m glad to hear about your pledge!
Enjoyed this post, thank you 🙂
-Kenzel
Thanks for stopping by kenzelsfire. Yes, it can be hard to communicate some things in less than 500 words.
That is interesting – I usually save any blog articles in my email folders so I never noticed. Sadly I agree with this article, I usually end up reading only about a chapter or less when I read a book before my mind starts to wander, I used to read a book in about 3 days! I thought it was old age. lol
Me too patty! I can no longer read a print book as long as I used to either. While a little could be age, I really think it is mostly internet use. When using the internet, we jump from place to place and this affects our brain. I saw a rather disturbing documentary on this awhile back.
thanks make sense
I’ve noticed the same thing about printing out a web page; they are a lot shorter than they look on screen. Here’s to reading the printed word, Laura!
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