Wednesday, February 9, 2011

What If the World Had NO Electricity

Sarcastically Delicious (aka boyfriend) posed this scenario to me the other day when I was musing about what e-books I wanted to buy with my Barnes & Noble gift card.

"Paper is better," he said.
"Why? I enjoy reading on my Nook so much more."
"Well, what are you going to do when the Barnes and Noble database crashes?"
"No problem. I've got my Nook books saved on my computer AND on my Nook."
"Well, what if there's no electricity and you can't charge your Nook anymore?"
"I'll print my Nook books out on paper then." I don't know if you can actually do this, but I threw it out as an arguing point because I hate it when Sarcastically Delicious wins.
"There's no electricity. How are you going to print things out?"

Oh, snap. He's right.

What if it's the future and the world has completely switched over to e-readers. Paper books are antiquated like the papyrus is to us now. And then, what if, there's some kind of power grid virus, and the world loses all electricity. No one would ever be able to read again, amongst the other problems they'd be dealing with from lack of power.

Yes, these are the weird things that Sarcastically Delicious and I talk about.

5 comments:

  1. You should own one of those 30 dollar solar chargers that recharge cell phones and small electronics. Then you can read on the nook until the sun dies. With no electricity, eventually you'll have to burn paper books for warmth.

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  2. Anita,

    I think we'll get into the process of making fire and reinventing electricity. Books then may no longer take the priority they have in our lives right now:-)

    Best,
    Suma.

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  3. Delusion that is an excellent idea. And Suma, even if I was reinventing electricity, I'd still need to read, even if it was just decomposing product wrappers.

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  4. I love my printed books and will continue to buy them from brick and mortar stores. I love reading in a hot bath, on the beach, in the pool, etc.
    I love writing in the margins. I like being able to loan them and share them and give them as a tangible gift.

    But, I respect that other's have fallen in love with their e-readers.

    But when the power grid shuts down, I've got my arsenal of books to read by candle light. :)

    Husband and I have these conversation all the time too. Often they involve zombie apocalypse and other humorous what-ifs. For the record, he's an e-reader. So we're the flip-side of you two.

    I'm your newest follower. Nice to meet you. :)
    ~Lola

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  5. Hi Lola! Thanks for dropping by and commenting and becoming a follower! I have to admit that I do miss being able to loan books to friends.

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