I have a confession to make. Two weeks ago I bought a newspaper. I finally got around to opening it on Monday, played around with it for about five minutes, felt overwhelmed, and put it promptly in the recycle bin. I think it was the first newspaper I had bought since 2005 when I was moving house and needed to wrap my dishes. I think I missed the boat when it comes to the Romanticism of newspapers.
Newspapers are something I associate with my grandfather, along with bus tickets and peppermint lifesavers. The only purpose I clearly remember them serving me was telling me what was on television, and delivering me cartoons. By the time I was old enough to be interested in the news, I had the Internet. Online I can pick and choose what I want to read, and it doesn't take up unnecessary space in my recycle bin (I need this space for all of the empty sparkling mineral water bottles, cans of Pepsi Max and frozen meal cartons I seem to accumulate at an alarming pace). Needless to say, when the following comment popped up on Twitter, I nodded along knowingly.
Although I should point out that I do know plenty of people my age who love reading the paper. But is is something they luxuriate in, a treat. A weekend or a holiday activity. Occasionally a lunch break activity, when they have the time to leave their desk. Newspapers just cannot compete with the convenience of online content delivered straight into our workstations.
And while I just cannot seem to grasp Newspapers, I retain an unbridled passion towards books. Although I do not prioritise them as much as I should. Demands on my time are many and my habit of losing myself entirely to books holds me back all too often. A point that was certainly highlighted by the sentiment of this rather lengthy article on the lost art of reading. Books and Newspapers are good tools to try and steal some time back for yourself. But with the convenience of the Internet on my iPhone, giving me access to emails, news, blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the idea of carrying a book around in my handbag seems silly. All of that excess weight to carry around! No wonder I feel a bit lost when my Internet connection goes down.
Still, I think it is worth attempting to read more off-screen content, if only to reclaim some space for my mind to escape into fantasies and worlds that do not revolve around inappropriate people in my life. Goodness knows when it comes to that, I need all the help in the world!!
