Ask HN: What could possibly happen so people would want to read more?
We now have IG/TikTok/YT Shorts. First it was mails instead of letter, text/fb instead of mails, then images, then videos, now shorter videos. We might also fill in for the other senses, not sure, but then that's the end of the line.
There is no reason to assume that things will change direction, unless there is some force that makes it so. I am trying to think of a scenario where people would do more of something archaic like reading in the future, than they do now.
What could that be? I can't come up with anything. Does it matter? Can we be fine without reading?
If we stopped the relentless pressure on working people in dramatically increased living costs and stagnant wages it would probably help people be far less rushed and be able to take time in their day. In my observation, everyone who uses TikTok the most has the most stress in their life, and the advantage of the platform is it can get you a little dopamine hit in those moments in between the stress.
We could also fund education, pay teachers more, and make the pathways into a good life not require every ounce of mental energy.
What makes reading archaic? Has short-form video content completely replaced reading functionally? Are there no ideas that 30 second videos can't communicate?
What about the other half of reading, writing? Surely you will also need to communicate with more than short grunts sometimes. Where will you find the words?
And what about reading just being fun? It's a nice, quiet activity away from screens. Stories are fun, and many require more than a few seconds to fully flesh out.
No, we cannot be fine without reading. That's my strong opinion.
I think AI is definitely a tool, but if we outsource all of our thinking, I think that it will become detrimental to our existence, that we certainly would not thrive from doing so.
Reading is one of the primary ways we learn, and engage our minds.
“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” -- (attributed to) Mark Twain
Global power outage from a high altitude nuclear EMP. Parts are made over seas thus prolonging the outage. Reading, drinking among other activities would be a few alternatives for some. Stock up on books and preserve them.
If we do not read, how do we store and recall knowledge ?
Give them time to read.
People who read will be better than those who don't
Once AI is capable of producing any kind of video content imaginable, it also becomes completely uninteresting. Along with all moving pictures fiction. Then people will prefer to explore their own imagination and perhaps even real life.
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