Are you an actual book nerd, or are you just ‘performative reading’? | Reading in public has become meme fodder online. Some longtime book lovers say the scrutiny has made their hobby come off as a performance.
Are you an actual book nerd, or are you just ‘performative reading’? | Reading in public has become meme fodder online. Some longtime book lovers say the scrutiny has made their hobby come off as a performance.
well I as a book lover don’t give a good goddamn about people “performatively” reading. Cripes
IlIIllIIIlllIlIlI on
Cringe
TrumpFucksKids_ on
Young people today (who are the ones driving this narrative) are so tik-tok brained, not to mention functionally illiterate that they get insecure both about other people not wanting to endlessly scroll their phone, and their own sixth grade reading level despite being fully grown adults that they cannot comprehend reading as a leisurely activity.
PsyferRL on
I think if you’re *genuinely* worried about random or loosely-connected people in public assuming you’re reading for “performance” then you’re probably reading for performance.
If you’re reading because you like reading, you don’t give two shits what people think when they see you reading in public, because you’re reading because you like reading.
CrunchitizeMeCaptn on
I was reading before it was cool. Everyone else is a poser
Lil_Brown_Bat on
*“If you’re on the bus or at the park or at a cafe, nobody really cares about you or what you’re doing,” said Castillo, 37.*
That’s the whole point. Nobody’s looking at you. Read or don’t read. Nobody cares.
Ok, EDIT: One caveat. If I see you reading 50 Shades of Grey, I’m gonna sit on the other side of the train.
stuffmikesees on
I didn’t read for other people. Couldn’t care less what they think about it
jawstrock on
Given that reading is collapsing I’d say even performative reading is good. What in the hell? This is a weird article. People are becoming so anxious about everything.
tachykinin on
Cringe in both directions on this one.
AwwYeahVTECKickedIn on
Possessing the apparently recessive human gene of not giving a flying shit what someone else thinks about what I choose to do, I don’t suffer from any of this.
Spoiler alert: the gene isn’t recessive at all; many people either take a long time to, or in some cases never, realize it’s a latent super power they possess. Ergo, ludicrous articles like this exist…
Optimal-Tune-2589 on
Caring at all about the possibility that a stranger on the bus might think you’re reading just to look impressive is much stranger than the idea that some people pretend to be books in an attempt to look impressive.
Ok_Pomegranate_6368 on
I love reading. I’ll read anywhere. I don’t care whether anyone thinks I’m performing or not. I’m just enjoying my book.
commencefailure on
This entire discussion is wild. People need to log off. Read if they want, don’t read if they don’t want. Why is this worth our time? oh god it’s not even worth my time writing this message ahhhhhh
ThreeDogs2022 on
Hey, if somehow this applies social pressure for people to read in public, it’s the one internet challenge I won’t ever have a problem with! Read more books!
Esc777 on
The mods deleted this thread before and might again.
I’ll say what I did the first time: giving a fuck about performative anything is a waste of time.
FlipendoSnitch on
I like to read in private. I hate the questioning people do when they see a book. Just look up the title and figure it out for yourself what it’s about.
weary_dreamer on
this is so stupid. I couldnt care less what people think of me reading a book. And I dont care if people are reading performatively or not.
what an absurd concern
entertainmentlord on
Oh look, the same pointless article being posted again for clicks
belisarius93 on
Lol nobody’s really out there performatively reading. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will be cognisant of what they’re reading in public (I probably wouldn’t read Mein Kampf on a train for example), but nobody’s out there pretending to read Ulysses on the train to look smart.
Swampcardboard on
I reject the entire premise of the article, what is the need to overthink someone reading? Trash article.
beardostein on
I’ll read an entire plane flight. I genuinely enjoy it.
Imnotsureanymore8 on
Why do people care? When I’m reading in public it has never crossed my mind what strangers might be thinking.
Frequent_Skill5723 on
Like I would actually care what clown people have to say about anything.
OatSoyLaMilk on
You can filter people out instantly by asking people their favorite part.
Lifestrider on
A big reason I went all in on reading ebooks on my phone when that became possible was I actually really hate strangers asking me what I’m reading.
I’m reading niche popcorn fantasy or science fiction and please don’t make me explain it 😂
Ok_Field_5701 on
People here are really underestimating what others will do for attention. Yes, there are genuinely people out there who will read in crowded spaces performatively. Is it common? No. Are there people trying to look smart and interesting at Starbucks with a physical copy of Infinite Jest? Yes.
Interesting-Quit-847 on
Have I occasionally read a book, mostly in my callow youth, because I thought it might impress people? Of course. Be honest, hasn’t everyone done that? Is that we’re talking about? Never did make it through any Joyce though.
SeeBadd on
Are you a short form video nerd or do you just watch TikTok in public performatively?”
This dumb as shit.
Crown_Ctrl on
Seriously, who gives a f. Just do your thing. If someone thinks you’re performing that’s on them. Whether you are performing or not.
rainsong2023 on
Why is this being posted again? Didn’t the mods take it down last week?
Anyway, who cares? It’s a silly thing to fuss about.
Rhellic on
I read way too little as it is so if I have a bit of time and actually being myself to open a book again why would I care if someone I’ll never meet thinks it’s performative?
For that matter, even if it were… So? Nobody else’s business.
cherryultrasuedetups on
Day 3,833 of sitting with a book in front of her house until she asks me what I’m reading. (It’s I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action (the autobiography of Jackie Chan by Jackie Chan (with Help from Jeff Yang))).
EquivalentTrouble253 on
No. I literally don’t care what people think of what I am reading and why. Why are we trying to gatekeep reading?
IPaintBricks on
“I fear not the man who has read 10,000 pages once, but I fear the man who has read one page 10,000 times”
Bruce Reads
abbyzeeble on
Don’t give a shit I love reading and love seeing others read
Niftydog1163 on
I do not care what others think.
ctruemane on
Who even cares if it is performative? If that’s what gets them through the day, let them have it. Most of human activity is performative to some degree or another.
Infinitely nested matroiska dolls of gatekeeping and judgement doesnt serve anyone.
Except the rage baiting online “news” I guess.
Farwaters on
What a strange phenomenon. That amount of social anxiety isn’t healthy.
Might I just suggest that… most of us are going to be a little bit annoying, to certain people, no matter what, and it’s best to accept that. And whether that annoyance comes from some strangers thinking you’re reading performatively, or from your explaining to other strangers that you’re definitely not doing that – well, that’s a choice that you get to make.
OnTheMidnightRun on
This stupid fucking story has been spammed to this sub. This is at least the third time in two weeks, and that’s the times I’ve seen it.
[ETA: four days. It’s been four days since the last time.]
Academy_Fight_Song on
This article would make more sense published in a high school newspaper.
41 Comments
Dawg what
well I as a book lover don’t give a good goddamn about people “performatively” reading. Cripes
Cringe
Young people today (who are the ones driving this narrative) are so tik-tok brained, not to mention functionally illiterate that they get insecure both about other people not wanting to endlessly scroll their phone, and their own sixth grade reading level despite being fully grown adults that they cannot comprehend reading as a leisurely activity.
I think if you’re *genuinely* worried about random or loosely-connected people in public assuming you’re reading for “performance” then you’re probably reading for performance.
If you’re reading because you like reading, you don’t give two shits what people think when they see you reading in public, because you’re reading because you like reading.
I was reading before it was cool. Everyone else is a poser
*“If you’re on the bus or at the park or at a cafe, nobody really cares about you or what you’re doing,” said Castillo, 37.*
That’s the whole point. Nobody’s looking at you. Read or don’t read. Nobody cares.
Ok, EDIT: One caveat. If I see you reading 50 Shades of Grey, I’m gonna sit on the other side of the train.
I didn’t read for other people. Couldn’t care less what they think about it
Given that reading is collapsing I’d say even performative reading is good. What in the hell? This is a weird article. People are becoming so anxious about everything.
Cringe in both directions on this one.
Possessing the apparently recessive human gene of not giving a flying shit what someone else thinks about what I choose to do, I don’t suffer from any of this.
Spoiler alert: the gene isn’t recessive at all; many people either take a long time to, or in some cases never, realize it’s a latent super power they possess. Ergo, ludicrous articles like this exist…
Caring at all about the possibility that a stranger on the bus might think you’re reading just to look impressive is much stranger than the idea that some people pretend to be books in an attempt to look impressive.
I love reading. I’ll read anywhere. I don’t care whether anyone thinks I’m performing or not. I’m just enjoying my book.
This entire discussion is wild. People need to log off. Read if they want, don’t read if they don’t want. Why is this worth our time? oh god it’s not even worth my time writing this message ahhhhhh
Hey, if somehow this applies social pressure for people to read in public, it’s the one internet challenge I won’t ever have a problem with! Read more books!
The mods deleted this thread before and might again.
I’ll say what I did the first time: giving a fuck about performative anything is a waste of time.
I like to read in private. I hate the questioning people do when they see a book. Just look up the title and figure it out for yourself what it’s about.
this is so stupid. I couldnt care less what people think of me reading a book. And I dont care if people are reading performatively or not.
what an absurd concern
Oh look, the same pointless article being posted again for clicks
Lol nobody’s really out there performatively reading. I’m sure there are plenty of people who will be cognisant of what they’re reading in public (I probably wouldn’t read Mein Kampf on a train for example), but nobody’s out there pretending to read Ulysses on the train to look smart.
I reject the entire premise of the article, what is the need to overthink someone reading? Trash article.
I’ll read an entire plane flight. I genuinely enjoy it.
Why do people care? When I’m reading in public it has never crossed my mind what strangers might be thinking.
Like I would actually care what clown people have to say about anything.
You can filter people out instantly by asking people their favorite part.
A big reason I went all in on reading ebooks on my phone when that became possible was I actually really hate strangers asking me what I’m reading.
I’m reading niche popcorn fantasy or science fiction and please don’t make me explain it 😂
People here are really underestimating what others will do for attention. Yes, there are genuinely people out there who will read in crowded spaces performatively. Is it common? No. Are there people trying to look smart and interesting at Starbucks with a physical copy of Infinite Jest? Yes.
Have I occasionally read a book, mostly in my callow youth, because I thought it might impress people? Of course. Be honest, hasn’t everyone done that? Is that we’re talking about? Never did make it through any Joyce though.
Are you a short form video nerd or do you just watch TikTok in public performatively?”
This dumb as shit.
Seriously, who gives a f. Just do your thing. If someone thinks you’re performing that’s on them. Whether you are performing or not.
Why is this being posted again? Didn’t the mods take it down last week?
Anyway, who cares? It’s a silly thing to fuss about.
I read way too little as it is so if I have a bit of time and actually being myself to open a book again why would I care if someone I’ll never meet thinks it’s performative?
For that matter, even if it were… So? Nobody else’s business.
Day 3,833 of sitting with a book in front of her house until she asks me what I’m reading. (It’s I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action (the autobiography of Jackie Chan by Jackie Chan (with Help from Jeff Yang))).
No. I literally don’t care what people think of what I am reading and why. Why are we trying to gatekeep reading?
“I fear not the man who has read 10,000 pages once, but I fear the man who has read one page 10,000 times”
Bruce Reads
Don’t give a shit I love reading and love seeing others read
I do not care what others think.
Who even cares if it is performative? If that’s what gets them through the day, let them have it. Most of human activity is performative to some degree or another.
Infinitely nested matroiska dolls of gatekeeping and judgement doesnt serve anyone.
Except the rage baiting online “news” I guess.
What a strange phenomenon. That amount of social anxiety isn’t healthy.
Might I just suggest that… most of us are going to be a little bit annoying, to certain people, no matter what, and it’s best to accept that. And whether that annoyance comes from some strangers thinking you’re reading performatively, or from your explaining to other strangers that you’re definitely not doing that – well, that’s a choice that you get to make.
This stupid fucking story has been spammed to this sub. This is at least the third time in two weeks, and that’s the times I’ve seen it.
[ETA: four days. It’s been four days since the last time.]
This article would make more sense published in a high school newspaper.