Comments on: Why I don’t own a computer (Berry)

By: rsp

rsp — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:19:34 +0000

Edman, it is commendable that you are looking for ways to disagree with Berry’s 21 year old article, but you should actually read it carefully before you attack. In it he states his reasoning quite clearly a method for adopting new technology, and one of the major reasons is time and or money savings. Now while those of us who have grown up using computers might find it easier to type on a computer than write on paper, in actuality it is quicker, more effective (as in more accurate) to edit on paper than on a computer screen. I can probably find studies to support that if you wish, but my guess is that you are just responding to the implication that your computer is not quite as useful as y ou think. I understand, I don’t want to give up my computer either, I love all the other time wasting devices it has on it, most of which make us great at multi tasking, but poor at many other useful characteristics like writing, reading, thinking, etc.

p.s. I don’t often write in pen, I do use word, but then I print and edit by hand. Much more efficient that way, even though I sure fought against this when I was instructed to do it. It works!

By: Josh Sowin

Josh Sowin — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:21:18 +0000

I think there is truth in this quote. Obviously I own a computer and think most people should, too. (How else can they read my blog?) But computers don’t make people better writers, and in fact in can make people worse writers. (For examples of this, see the comments in popular blogs.)

I also find the quote a bit humorous, especially the “though I still will not buy one”!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 18:14:49 +0000

That was written in 1990. How much of what was written about computers in 1990 still applies today?

I love writing with a pencil too. Not because it’s more convenient (it usually isn’t) nor because it’s easier (again, it’s not), but because I like the feeling of a pencil on paper – something tangible. I don’t fault Mr. Berry for preferring to write that way, but I don’t think he’s in much of a position to criticize the use of computers. He said himself he doesn’t even own one.

Beside, everything he writes ends up typed up eventually.

By: Edman

Edman — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 17:07:58 +0000

Sounds like a case of “get off my lawn” to me. I mean, why invent the pencil when a piece of charcoal or a stick and mud would work just as readily?

Ironically enough, I don’t think Dante wrote with a pencil, either.