Why are We Still Gatekeeping Reading?
Please let readers read what they want
How often do you come across opinions about what it means to be a “real” or “serious” reader?
I come across these opinions often as I engage in various online book communities. I can’t help rolling my eyes each time I see it.
I got the idea for this article when I read such an article here on Medium because I am so sick and tired of seeing posts that try and tell readers how they should read and collect books.
The article highlighted five behaviors that the author believes serious readers should not engage in. The five behaviors were:
- Only buy classics from second-hand bookstores
- Don’t buy science books from second-hand bookstores
- Don’t read translated books
- Don’t buy books you won’t read immediately
- Don’t read fiction books quickly
The entire time I was reading that article I was thinking about how many assumptions the author was making about the lives of readers. Take the advice to only buy classics from a second-hand bookstore. I do not live near a second-hand bookstore, so I could not follow this advice even if I wanted to.
This author is by far not the only one I have seen with condescending opinions about what constitutes a serious reader. If you spend any amount of time in online book communities you will find that many people have opinions about what readers should and should not do.
Some gatekeeping opinions I have seen online are:
- Audiobooks don’t count as reading
- Graphic novels and comics don’t count as reading
- People should read books meant for their age group
- Reading romance isn’t as good as reading literary fiction
- Keep books in good condition vs beating them up
- What people use as a bookmark
- Are people reading to critically or not critically enough
- Shopping at chains vs secondhand stores vs independent stores
- Should we shop on Amazon?
- Should people pirate books?
I just do not understand the mentality that readers have to behave a certain way in order to be considered a “real” or “serious” reader. Shouldn’t we just be happy that people are reading in a society where reading is not valued?
We should celebrate the fact that people are reading. Why are people trying to add rules to a hobby many use to escape their everyday lives? Adding rules to reading takes the enjoyment out of it.
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, ‘’ said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” — George R.R. Martin
“Reading changes your life. Reading unlocks worlds unknown or forgotten, taking travelers around the world and through time. Reading helps you escape the confines of school and pursue your own education.” — Donalyn Miller
Why do some readers want to rob others of the feelings described in these quotes? Telling others how they should or not read and collect books discourages people from reading at all. As a community we should want people to encourage people to read, not discourage it.
The beauty of reading as a hobby is that you can tailor it to your life. Buy books wherever you want. Read whatever you want. Read whatever format you want. Read however you want. If you can’t afford to purchase books, look into libraries in your area before pirating.
So, please just let people read what they want however they want.
