who has family and/or friends who refuse and dont like to read?

[LSK]

Are they hopeless? They complain there are too many words, its boring, they do not understand what they just read, they read too slowly, etc etc etc.

Anything I can do?

[Manifestor_of_Light]

1. I can't deal with folks who don't read.

I've met fundies without a single book in the house except you know what Ancient Hebrew History Plus Some Village Gossip.

[BrotherBuzz]

4. I, too, have been in a house that was totaly void of any reading material.

They really typified the 'Mile wide, and an inch deep' crowd. Scary.

[Lex]

2. We might have to do DNA testing on any of my family members

who didn't like to read.

That would be indicative of a mix-up at the hospital or something.

[EFerrari]

3. Both of my sons have reading problems. Both smarter than me

and both compensate like hell. The older one seems to have found a way around it and it reading now but I know it wasn't easy for him as it was for me.

[Tektonik]

5. I don't have problems reading

But I never bother reading novels ever unless required by some class.

I get dreadfully bored to the extent of me falling asleep if I read, and the worst thing that happens is sometimes I'll zone out while reading then I realize I cannot remember anything I just read for the last couple pages.

So I stick to short stories, poetry, and reading news articles, but I wouldn't be surprised if I never read another novel again.

[MonkeyFunk]

6. Why do you need to do anything?

If they don't like to read, they don't like to read.

If they didn't like the same foods, or sports, or TV shows as you, would you feel the need to "do something"? As Dorothy Parker said, you can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her read.

[WindRavenX]

7. Normally, I agree with that, however...

...I believe reading and being literate is extremely important to be a free-thinking, conscious citizen.

Heck, just even reading the newspaper to keep up on things...

[MonkeyFunk]

8. and are you

going to make sure they read the "right" things? And then make sure they draw the "right" conclusions?

I've spent my whole life with my nose shoved in a book. I think I saw my father read one book in my life. For years, I would get him books for christmas or his birthday, and then finally Mom told me to give it up, because he never read them. So I stopped.

I can't make him read books. He reads the paper every day, he's aware of current events, and has a Masters Degree. He just doesn't like to read books. he's made it 79 years old, so I doubt I'm gonna change him now.

[WindRavenX]

9. it's not about reading "right" things and coming to specific conclusions

The ability to think *critically* can only be developed if you are exposed to different things and continue to take in and examine information--both past and present. This isn't a factual issues (although that is a component) thing where if you don't know X, Y, or Z you're inept or worthless.

That's the real reason why literacy is so crucial; it isn't so much about the facts they know, but how to use facts in a manner to form their own opinions and beliefs. In general, ff you don't exercise your mind, you will lose that ability.

[MonkeyFunk]

10. You don't need to convince me of the value of literacy

but unless you're talking about your own child, I think it's rude and presumptuous to try to "make" someone do something they're not otherwise inclined to do.

[WindRavenX]

11. Well, not "make"--that's just silly. But I'm highly suspicious of those who don't read.

NT

[TZ]

13. I'm a bookworm too but...

My brother in law used to be a plain "non- reader". He had a reason though..he is dyslexic and reading is extremely challanging for him. However in the last few years he has started to read more (mostly business stuff) and ironically he makes his living now doing corporate book fairs, so I guess it would be extremely hypocritical of him not to read. But for people with LD, reading can be very unpleasant and a struggle so many avoid it as much as possible

[WindRavenX]

14. But that's different. I'm talking about people who *choose* not to read

Trust me, I have all the sympathy in the world for dyslexics and LD people--runs in family. But there's a huge difference between not reading because it's a struggle VS not reading because they elect not to.

[MonkeyFunk]

16. Similarly

people who are athletically inclined often feel the need to push those who aren't to change their ways.

There are good reasons for getting lots of exercise, but it's just not some people's cup of tea. Is it the obligation of the jocks to nag others to get outside and sweat? No... it's just as obnoxious.

[WindRavenX]

18. But no one is doing that.

I'm just saying that I don't trust people who don't read for pleasureon their own free wil. We'll leave it at that, alright?

[murielm99]

12. I grew up in a house with no books.

My parents would try to shoo me out of the house when I wanted to read.

Neither of them finished high school.

There are still no books in their house, except the Bible, and whatever their pastor tells them to read. They are easily led because of their lack of education.

My son does not read fiction. For awhile, this bothered me, but now I realize that this is fine. He has a right to his own tastes in reading.

After coming from a home with no books, I grew up to become a librarian, and then a teacher. My home is filled with books.

There are some very intelligent people with learning disabilities. They often find other ways to obtain information. There are educated people who do not like to read. I worry more about the uneducated.

One of my dad's brothers is a retired teacher and very liberal. He worries about my parents, too, and like me, he is too tempted to try to fix people. For years, he has tried to share books with my parents. Like me, he found them uninterested. The only time it ever worked for him was when he gave my dad a copy of The Greatest Generation. My dad actually called me to talk about the book.

Boys who are non-readers will almost always read Hatchet, by Gary Paulson. The only non-fiction book I got my son to read with enthusiasm was The Day they Came to Arrest the Book. Alice Walker once said that the men in her family do not read anything, even the books she has written.

I spent a lifetime trying to match people and books. It gives me joy to share them with others. But sometimes one has to accept that it cannot be done, and with some people, it is pushy to keep trying.:-(

[Kali]

15. I am a voracious reader, as is the niece I raised and one of my sons

husband reads paper and magazines (and internet) but isn't a big reader. Younger son does not read much. He is a very physical being and I worry but have never tried to force the issue as he made passing grades. Plenty of books of all types in this house and he will look occasionally but it just isn't his style - he is out with an ax chopping a huge dead tree limb right now.

[chaska]

17. Jesus, who hasn't got a family like that? I can't get anybody to read anything....

Except under penalty of disowning.

Oh, BTW, see my sig line.

[zanne]

19. My husband hates to read.

So does my sister (summacum laude at Wellesley). Go figure. I don't understand why people don't like to read.

[bleedingheart]

20. I think everyone has someone in their family that isn't a "reader"

and that is why I always point out that some of those "non-readers" are the ones they point to and say..."oh our education system is a mess"...bull...there are just folks both young and old who do not like to read period...

why?

I have no idea...I am a reader ..love books...can't imagine a world without books ,,