Booksmart

By hfksorws - This FML is from back in 2010 but it's good stuff

Today, I was at Barnes and Noble with my dad, where he refused to buy me a book because I "already read too much." FML
I agree, your life sucks 31 805
You deserved it 6 159

Top comments

What? That's like taking a kid to a toy store, looking around, then leaving because the kid has too many toys. Why bother going in the first place? I'll never understand parents these days...

I'm sorry, but.....excuse me? In order of your points, sir or madam: 1) Excessive reading damages your eyesight .....Only if the light you're reading by is bad. 2) Reading does NOT increase your intelligence, it makes you better at reading and nothing else. Compare this to the fact that recent studies have shown that playing computer games will improve your coordination and reaction skills. What's a better improvement? This depends to a certain degree on the book, but certainly there are boatloads of volumes out there that can teach you valuable skills of various types, from cooking to astro-physics, and those that fall under the heading of 'novel' can produce interesting questions of various kinds, such as the nature of good and evil or how a person fits into their society. Older books give us windows into the past, modern ones give insight into our current mindset. As for the coordination provided by video games, honestly, what are the odds that a person will ever be really able to put that to use as a working force in their lives? Sure it's nice to be able to catch a thrown object or something that fell off a table, but barring the precious few people who make it in the word of sports you cannot make a living that way. The one possible exception is that of surgeons who perform laproscopic procedures, which require them to be able to coordinate their hands and the laproscope. Guess how I knew that? I read medical journals amongst other things. Oh the irony is rich tonight. 3) Choosing to read instead of socializing will simply make you dumber and more depressed over time. Socializing works your brain like nothing else, and is the most important factor in long term happiness. GET OUT MORE. Well then why is it that the acknowledged queen of socializing, the cheerleader, is dumb as a sack of hammers and is likely to achieve precious little while the geek hiding in the corner with the book might win the next Nobel Peace Prize? The fact of the matter is that socializing is good, but reading trumps it by a long shot.

Comments

JoshTheMaggot 8

Boo hoo you didn't get a book. FYL. some people can't even read. now be happy with what you have.

He's probably right! Reading is great but if its consuming your life and you're not getting out of the house maybe you should put the book down.

Shookitup 0

That's so...genuine of him -.-

psuboy 0

you clearly need more friends if you spend that much time alone reading

I agree with the first one. Seriously, you are complaining because your daddy refused to buy a book, whilst maybe, just maybe, you should have bought it with your own money. Yes, books are expensive, I know, don't talk me about that, but that's why I always buy second-hand books. Very cheap. YDI for thinking the money grows on your dad's back.

that sucks. I love reading. I love it so much that I BUY MY OWN BOOKS. fyl though :)

theian01 3

STOP READING! DON't YOU ******* READ THIS COMMENT EITHER! Anyways, support your local library! *sparkles*

Agree with most of the comments here, your dad is probably right. Contrary to popular belief, reading is NOT good for you. It is a nice hobby to have, that's all 1) Excessive reading damages your eyesight 2) Reading does NOT increase your intelligence, it makes you better at reading and nothing else. Compare this to the fact that recent studies have shown that playing computer games will improve your coordination and reaction skills. What's a better improvement? 3) Choosing to read instead of socializing will simply make you dumber and more depressed over time. Socializing works your brain like nothing else, and is the most important factor in long term happiness. GET OUT MORE.

I'm sorry, but.....excuse me? In order of your points, sir or madam: 1) Excessive reading damages your eyesight .....Only if the light you're reading by is bad. 2) Reading does NOT increase your intelligence, it makes you better at reading and nothing else. Compare this to the fact that recent studies have shown that playing computer games will improve your coordination and reaction skills. What's a better improvement? This depends to a certain degree on the book, but certainly there are boatloads of volumes out there that can teach you valuable skills of various types, from cooking to astro-physics, and those that fall under the heading of 'novel' can produce interesting questions of various kinds, such as the nature of good and evil or how a person fits into their society. Older books give us windows into the past, modern ones give insight into our current mindset. As for the coordination provided by video games, honestly, what are the odds that a person will ever be really able to put that to use as a working force in their lives? Sure it's nice to be able to catch a thrown object or something that fell off a table, but barring the precious few people who make it in the word of sports you cannot make a living that way. The one possible exception is that of surgeons who perform laproscopic procedures, which require them to be able to coordinate their hands and the laproscope. Guess how I knew that? I read medical journals amongst other things. Oh the irony is rich tonight. 3) Choosing to read instead of socializing will simply make you dumber and more depressed over time. Socializing works your brain like nothing else, and is the most important factor in long term happiness. GET OUT MORE. Well then why is it that the acknowledged queen of socializing, the cheerleader, is dumb as a sack of hammers and is likely to achieve precious little while the geek hiding in the corner with the book might win the next Nobel Peace Prize? The fact of the matter is that socializing is good, but reading trumps it by a long shot.

TwoZeroOZ, you are dumb! AristocratAdler, I agree. OP, your dad is a retard who doesn't value the benefits of reading. Move out of that family the first chance you get.

TwoZeroOZ -- intelligence generally can't be increased anyway -- put simply, intelligence is pretty much the capacity to learn. Reading won't increase your intelligence, but neither will any other habit. It WILL increase your knowledge, which is a very good thing. Reading a lot and having a social life are not mutually exclusive. I'm an avid reader; it's a huge part of my life. That doesn't mean I spend every hour of the day reading, or that I don't have friends.

the_sodomizer 0

no reading does not "trump" socializing. not at all

I often neglect to directly read the username before the comments; I kind of absorb it through my peripheral vision. Based on comment content, I mistook TwoZeroOZ to be Trollz. That should tell you something about your argument, Two. O.o

Get a job. Mow lawns or babysit (if you aren't old enough) or save up your allowance (if you get any.) Go to the library. Go to used book stores instead of buying them at overpriced places like Borders and Barnes and Nobles. (Pst... this is not an FML.)

Littleshunt 0

#53 and #1 FYL it wasn't like this person asked for a new car. Maybe they are more serious about their education then having a job. That being the case they also could be under their state's legal working age. Sometimes owning the book is better than renting from the library. Geez, lighten up.

destinycalls 0

I love reading it doesn't mean I hav no friends it just means I am smart

laxbro182 1

Reading novels does not increase your knowledge!! It's just like watching tv, pointless entertainment! But reading encyclopedias and things like that will increase your knowledge

91- Maybe if you picked up a book you'd realize everything you said is wrong. A person can never read too much nor is it ever harmful to yourself. It is good to socialize as well but Reading is awesome!

FFML_314 11

Get a job and buy it yourself. :D

Good luck to OP with that. There aren't any jobs. Just the other day a friend informed me that even Walmart has rejected their application.

JoshTheMaggot 8

She should get a job. but like someone else said, she can just go to a library and borrow the book most likely.

Maybe your friend is un-hirable. There are jobs.

You have to keep trying! It's true the job market is still shitty right now, but there are jobs, you have to be persistent and don't give up on the hunt. Cheesy wording, I know... but it's true.

Books aren't expensive. OP can mow the lawn.

shibainu519 0

there seriously needs to be a "nobody gives a shit" button.

denvan 0

Then go check out a book at the library. Simple as that

psuboy 0

your pic is perfect for this fml haha

sourgirl101 28

I had to zoom in to get a closer look. Pretty cool!

KayBizz 0

try giving the books u already read to charity or something. then you'd actually deserve some new books

aadk 0

Well apparently he doesn't know you have a lot of other activities aside from reading too. You also like spending your time complaining to people you don't know over the Internet. You should get out more

rtm11745 0

Yeah cuz reading and commenting on said complaints is so much better

rtm11745 0

Yeah cuz reading and commenting on said complaints is so much better

iSexxxy 0

Buy a book full of pictures! :D

littlemissdqgirl 8

Time to grow up hunny and buy it yourself.

Stop being a bureaucratic nerd and get more practical.