You Should Stop Being so Snobby

This link is snotty, supercilious, and pretentious. Read it if you want to feel like shit for not having done anything wrong.

So apparently, if you don't read, you are stupid. I know there's a trend, but I wouldn't call myself a reader. On the other hand, I do appreciate a good plot and have a rather extensive vocabulary. I'm even decent at spelling. I wouldn't call my self a genius, but I am educated to an extent.

So I read this piece. I wouldn't call it an article, but piece suits it well. It's a piece geared towards men and written in a very Johnathon Swift air. How many of you read books? If I know my audience (all two of you) I would say there isn't one among you that doesn't. However, how many of you had to Google Johnathon Swift before you remember what he wrote? How many of you remembered what A Modest Proposal is once you saw the title as the Google result. I would like to posit, that perhaps you aren't necessarily smarter than a non-reader, just because you read.

I am not saying that trends don't exist, but this is stereotyping, as much as it is to say that Jews are good with money. Only, this stereotype is insulting to people who don't find books to be their medium of choice. Worse yet, if you say things about race or religion you will be reprimanded, while if you say things about choice of medium you will be encouraged. One of the best examples is how current media has no respect for video games. Yes, there are brutally violent video games, but there are also brutally violent movies, TV shows, radio broadcasts, and even books. There are in fact piece of literature that are far more disgusting than any game I've ever played. I play games continuously. I have dreams, pleasant subconscious symphonies, about Tetris or Mario (and sometimes both together). When I have nightmares, it's about books. One vivid memory is that caused by a line from Battle Royale. This piece of literature is disgusting. I see no redeeming value in it. Yet, I would be ridiculed for enjoying the plot of Bioshock while anyone who read this piece of trash called a book would be seen as better than me for improving themselves by reading. This is an infuriating double standard.

Finally the Government accepts video games as an art form, and the response we get is that they're using tax payer dollars (which they aren't because the art grants are privately funding) to enforce Call of Duty (which they aren't because only artful projects will be eligible for grants). The public response to banned books is to read them because "books shouldn't be censored."

The current stigma needs to be fixed. I say fixed because I think it's currently broken. Terribly grotesque books should be called out. Video games should be recognized as beneficial. Where is the justice in the current system? Oh wait, I'm once again assuming that people are smart. Well, they must be, since so many people read books. At least, this is what I'm led to believe if this piece is to be believed.