> E-book readers are screens, sorry. You’re welcome to read a regular book. We have whole shelves of them.
I switched to e-books 12+ years ago, and I can't read regular books anymore. First, I need to find really good light (like direct sun light on a sunny day). Otherwise my eyes become tired quickly. Second, the book has to have a good paper quality (cheap greyish paper diminishes contrast). Third, the font should be large enough again not to strain the eyes. Fourth, regular book is heavier, I can't hold it with one hand, so end up sitting in uncomfortable positions (hello lumbar back pain, fellow readers). Fifth, I have utmost respect to paper books (parents had a library, so I grew up between books), and I have to wash my hands and dry them perfectly before I touch a paper book. I don't feel comfortable eating a croissant and read a paper book.
Not to mention that it's just not always possible to find or buy book you want, especially in a reasonable time.
Paper books are also screens in a way. Just with a user-controlled refresh rate (turn the page), and predefined images.
I understand and empathize. At the same time, we had to draw the line somewhere clear and simple. Maybe when No Screens Cafe goes out of business (as other commenters are predicting), we will open "No Screens Except E-Book Readers (And No, Your Phone is Not an E-Book Reader) Cafe".
Sorry if my comment did sound dismissive of the idea of No Screens Cafe. It's kinda opposite. I'm doing my own "no screens cafe" regularly. Just today, I left my phone and iPad at home, grabbed some snacks and water, an e-reader, and went to the forest nearby on a bike just to sit and read the book for a few hours.
The reason for me is simple – gadgets and online presence wreak havoc on an ability to focus and concentrate. I miss childhood days when I could get lost in a book for a good half a day.
So this "no e-books" policy kinda ruined the analogy for me (I would love to have such a cafe nearby, but where I can read). But I get that it's not that easy to tell if it's a tablet or an e-book, and many e-books have browsers and the internet and a full-fledged Linux box inside, so there is no easy way to draw a line.
What's the broader idea behind No Screens Cafe? The article does a good job of describing the rules but not explaining the reasoning behind them.
> Sorry if my comment did sound dismissive of the idea of No Screens Cafe
It's all good, kind stranger.
> Just today, I [...] just to sit and read the book
That sounds wonderful!
> What's the broader idea behind No Screens Cafe?
It's the same idea behind what you did today. We have this surveillance-capitalist, engagement-hacked, infinitely-scrolling, always-on infotainment economy. It delivers info-drugs which hijack our motivation and reward system. (The drugs are getting stronger: Facebook was heroin, now Tiktok is fentanyl.) With access to these, it's hard to engage in other relaxing, enriching activities like books and conversation. We can create a refuge for these other activities, but the refuge needs to exclude the info-drug delivery mechanisms (mostly screens).
When writing the post, I was thinking that Uncle Jeff (Bezos) has root access to a lot of people's e-book readers. These gadgets deliver advertising, spy on their users, and sometimes act against the users' own interest (by e.g. revoking access to paid-for books that Amazon loses their license to distribute). You can also gaze at the internet on an e-book reader, so I thought these devices probably don't belong at No Screens Cafe.
Give me a shout if you ever find yourself in Tucson AZ. It would be fun to talk.
I switched to e-books 12+ years ago, and I can't read regular books anymore. First, I need to find really good light (like direct sun light on a sunny day). Otherwise my eyes become tired quickly. Second, the book has to have a good paper quality (cheap greyish paper diminishes contrast). Third, the font should be large enough again not to strain the eyes. Fourth, regular book is heavier, I can't hold it with one hand, so end up sitting in uncomfortable positions (hello lumbar back pain, fellow readers). Fifth, I have utmost respect to paper books (parents had a library, so I grew up between books), and I have to wash my hands and dry them perfectly before I touch a paper book. I don't feel comfortable eating a croissant and read a paper book.
Not to mention that it's just not always possible to find or buy book you want, especially in a reasonable time.
Paper books are also screens in a way. Just with a user-controlled refresh rate (turn the page), and predefined images.