Why do less boys and men read?

[SouthernMaiden]

Oh you mean my feminist literature?

single btw
also tall for a shrimp
my hobbies include taking walks on the beach, crochet, independent coffee shops, and feminist literature

I dont understand this joke or if this is a joke ?

 

[JordanIda]

I'm having this argument right now on RR. The article is correct. Most men don't read.

Then again, most men who think they are reading, really aren't.

But the latter phenomenon isn't gender-specific. Most women who think they are reading aren't, either.

On the RR thread, people can't even agree on what reading is. We used to know. We know, no longer.

 

[SouthernMaiden]

Schools are factories for jobs that no longer exist. Boys are not designed to sit quietly as someone yammers away, they need motion. It's in our genetics.

But nothing is stopping men and boys from reading outside of school. You can't become a functional adult or a responsible man on youtube/videogames/sports alone.

I'm having this argument right now on RR. The article is correct. Most men don't read.

Then again, most men who think they are reading, really aren't.

But the latter phenomenon isn't gender-specific. Most women who think they are reading aren't, either.

On the RR thread, people can't even agree on what reading is. We used to know. We know, no longer.

If you're reading a story or book you're reading. Why overthink it?

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Just saw this article(below) I don't think this is just in the UK and might be even worse in the united states. Why do so few men and boys read?

While women and girls are having a cultural Renaissance with whole new genres (Romantasy for example) and reading more than ever.

Why do you think this is? Is it just as simple as social media/games/videos is just so easy ans brainless and addictive?

Men prefer action over thinking. While what I said may not be as simple as I made it to be, this is just a summary of how we behave.

However, I've also seen a lot of replies here saying that they lost interest in reading because their school tried 'indoctrinating' them rather than read. And I'd say, as an educator in this current setting, this is true.

An example is how our Social Studies class shifted from history and study of society as a whole, to just gender rights and development. And I'm not alone in this observation; students of mine (including part of LGBTQ) admit to the statement and is quite disappointed with how things are going.

(After all, they want to study about economy. About gold and silver standards, and fiat money, not gender, in their Social Studies class)

I believe that gender studies should rather be put in another of our subject (Values Education).

Personally, about reading? This is where a teacher's personal teaching tactics come in. As a technical subject teacher, I always make sure my students read, especially because many of the things I teach require prior reading of instructions to operate safely. Also, the author in me wants to invest in reading peeps, hence I encourage them by giving incentives to anything they read.

This may not work to everyone, but at least, I got some to start loving reading. An educator who always focus on hard, cold facts will rarely persuade students to read recreationally. These stuff require a seasoning of imagination and fantasy.

 

[SouthernMaiden]

Men prefer action over thinking. While what I said may not be as simple as I made it to be, this is just a summary of how we behave.

However, I've also seen a lot of replies here saying that they lost interest in reading because their school tried 'indoctrinating' them rather than read. And I'd say, as an educator in this current setting, this is true.

An example is how our Social Studies class shifted from history and study of society as a whole, to just gender and development. And I'm not alone in this observation; students of mine (including part of LGBTQ) admit to the statement.

I believe that gender studies should rather be put in another of our subject (Values Education).

Personally, about reading? This is where a teacher's personal teaching tactics come in. As a technical subject teacher, I always make sure my students read, especially because many of the things I teach require prior reading of instructions to operate safely. Also, the author in me wants to invest in reading peeps, hence I encourage them by giving incentives to anything they read.

This may not work to everyone, but at least, I got some to start loving reading. An educator who always focus on hard, cold facts will rarely persuade students to read recreationally. These stuff require a seasoning of imagination and fantasy.

This is so weird to me. When I was in school we didn't learn about gender or lgbtq things at all! Almost wish we did

Appreciate you trying to foster the love of reading in people. I truly think it is a gift that will benefit for a lifetime

 

[Nyctoria]

Men prefer action over thinking. While what I said may not be as simple as I made it to be, this is just a summary of how we behave.

Thinking hurts.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

This is so weird to me. When I was in school we didn't learn about gender or lgbtq things at all! Almost wish we did

Appreciate you trying to foster the love of reading in people. I truly think it is a gift that will benefit for a lifetime

We lost the true essence of 'Social Studies' coz our policy-makers would rather dull our future generations to other societal issues so they'd stay in power.

Yes, gender rights and development is part of the society, but it should rather be taught in our other subject, Values Formation.

Ah yeah, another issue about the lack of love for reading by many Filipinos is because of the disappearance of libraries in public schools, so we can accomodate thousands of students in classrooms designed for a few hundred students.

@Nyctoria

A good example of your image reply is when my male students would suddenly create a bloody knife-fight inside our school grounds, just because the girlfriend of Boy A said something bad about Boy B.

They immediately jumped to conclusions without thinking, hence, a knife-fight.

That's also why I know the back of our ears are hollow. Student got stabbed there; nearly died coz a few centimeters in, and the knife would cut a major artery.

 

[HungrySheep]

If they counted LitRPGs as reading material, that number would've been a lot higher.

 

[RepresentingSilence]

We're busy working and trying to survive

 

[Corty]

Just tell them if you don't read you are gay.

Problem solved, thank me later.

 

[SouthernMaiden]

Just tell them if you don't read you are gay.

Problem solved, thank me later.

Reading makes everyone gay. That's why we love it.

We're busy working and trying to survive

True. But many women are as well!

 

[JordanIda]

If you're reading a story or book you're reading. Why overthink it?

I said, people can no longer agree on what the word means. Words have meaning.

Most who say they are reading, aren't.


Many skim. And call it reading.
Many just skip around and look. And call it reading.
I can't believe how many look. And call it reading.
And I've even encountered people who listen. To audio books. And call it reading.
I know a woman who listens at triple speed. So she can "read" books three times as fast.
This same woman listens at triple speed and looks at graphical novels at the same time she is listening. And calls it reading four books in the time it takes most people to read one.

All of this? Every single behavior? Delusion. These people are not reading.

But yeah. Maybe I'm just overthinking it.

Maybe I'll just walk through a book store (if I can still find one in a major city), look at the spines, and claim that I've read every book in it.

There is a reason why the novel is dead. The essential problem is that we, on average, no longer read. The corollary: we, on average, no longer know what reading is.

 

[LuoirM]

As a boy myself, I think that reading in general, even in my native language, infuriates me. Since young I'd sweat, feel the bad of my head scrunches up, feel hard to breathe, and overall not enjoyable

I blame Skibidi Toilet

 

[unlaumy]

I think this is happening to boys globally. As someone who comes from a country that's never interested in spreading gender studies or whatsoever in classes, I would like to say the main underlying problem should be more than just that. But if we say it's propaganda in general, then why does it only affect boys but not girls?

The thing is, boys are just less interested to read than girls.

THOUGH I believe both boys and girls don't read that much in this day and age. Anything they consume is stupid and makes them stupid, this includes books. The difference between them is that boys consume stupid that-is-not-book while girls consume stupid that-is-sometimes-book. In daily life, if the optimal is '1', then girls are at 0,7 while boys are at 0,6. Seeing this we can say boys are underrepresented, which is true if we compare them, but clearly both are just not inclined in reading that much.

Men prefer action over thinking. While what I said may not be as simple as I made it to be, this is just a summary of how we behave.

I really want to know if this predisposition is nature or nurture, but whatever the reason, this is absolutely true. Otherwise, if girls are just that better at everything than boys in school, they should be not dispassionate/lazy in PE classes in general.

However, I've also seen a lot of replies here saying that they lost interest in reading because their school tried 'indoctrinating' them rather than read. And I'd say, as an educator in this current setting, this is true.

An example is how our Social Studies class shifted from history and study of society as a whole, to just gender rights and development. And I'm not alone in this observation; students of mine (including part of LGBTQ) admit to the statement and is quite disappointed with how things are going.

(After all, they want to study about economy. About gold and silver standards, and fiat money, not gender, in their Social Studies class)

I believe that gender studies should rather be put in another of our subject (Values Education).

This. Though my country is only obsessed with drowning the kids with nationalism. Curiously enough, other than mainstream books, kids these days seem to knowingly or unknowingly lean toward books that are subversive to the government here. The only few classic authors (in 'literature' or not) that kids bother to read are those who have history like 'imprisoned by the colonial authority' or 'exiled by the government to an island'.

The education system is also NOT that good. Propaganda and this can translate into 'this is unappealing to me personally', but in general, it just makes kids not enjoy anything. And it seeps into daily life.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I think this is happening to boys globally. As someone who comes from a country that's never interested in spreading gender studies or whatsoever in classes, I would like to say the main underlying problem should be more than just that. But if we say it's propaganda in general, then why does it only affect boys but not girls?

The thing is, boys are just less interested to read than girls.

THOUGH I believe both boys and girls don't read that much in this day and age. Anything they consume is stupid and makes them stupid, this includes books. The difference between them is that boys consume stupid that-is-not-book while girls consume stupid that-is-sometimes-book. In daily life, if the optimal is '1', then girls are at 0,7 while boys are at 0,6. Seeing this we can say boys are underrepresented, which is true if we compare them, but clearly both are just not inclined in reading that much.


I really want to know if this predisposition is nature or nurture, but whatever the reason, this is absolutely true. Otherwise, if girls are just that better at everything than boys in school, they should be not dispassionate/lazy in PE classes in general.

On the issue of nature vs nurture, this is actually a combination of nurture and nature. For example, as I said, men often prefer action over thinking it through, which is "wired" to us. (Nature)

However, I raised by my mother, who always emphasized "Hans, think before you act". (Nurture)

Hence, I became a combo of nature and nurture.

This. Though my country is only obsessed with drowning the kids with nationalism. Curiously enough, other than mainstream books, kids these days seem to knowingly or unknowingly leaning toward books that are subversive to the government. The only few famous authors (in 'literature' or not) that kids bother to read are those who have history like 'imprisoned by the colonial authority' or 'exiled by the government to an island'.

The education system is also NOT that good. Propaganda and this can translate into 'this is unappealing to me personally', but in general, it just makes kids not enjoy anything. And it seeps into daily life.

I will say this, even though I'm part of it. Public-funded education, and educational policy (decided by a government, even if the school is private) are just state-sponsored propaganda machines designed to mold its citizens to reach its national goals.

It may not sound good, but it is how it is, even in the old times.

Noble education in the middle ages to early modern eras are expected to mold nobility in the service of their liege, and later, the state.

Industrial-era mass education is designed to educate citizens so they can operate machinery, which can be done via written manuals.

As a boy myself, I think that reading in general, even in my native language, infuriates me. Since young I'd sweat, feel the bad of my head scrunches up, feel hard to breathe, and overall not enjoyable

I blame Skibidi Toilet

Thou is a femboy, in service of @Iamnotabot .

 

[Author_Riceball]

Just saw this article(below) I don't think this is just in the UK and might be even worse in the united states. Why do so few men and boys read?

While women and girls are having a cultural Renaissance with whole new genres (Romantasy for example) and reading more than ever.

Why do you think this is? Is it just as simple as social media/games/videos is just so easy ans brainless and addictive?

because literature is general is just feminized so males get a bad impression and men are shamed for reading what they naturally gravitate towards violent fantasy books where the heroes slaughter goblins and whatever

 

[onehunter]

It's also hard to find something that's a good fit. I've re-read most of my favorite light novels because I haven't found something new that catches my attention. I'm on round 3 with spirit chronicles and the eminence in shadow.

 

[TinaMigarlo]

women are as guilty of stereotyping men, as anything.
the only difference is:
When men stereotype women... men get a lecture, and told "not all women are like that"
When women stereotype men, they have articles to reinforce it, society yells "yah, you slay queen, woo hoo!"
and its all so tiresome

I can go down through this whole thread, and list the stereotypes, clear propaganda, bullshit, illogical thinking/reasoning...
practically post by post
we *do* live in quite an advanced state of active anti-intellectualism
for the first time in history....
the smarter you are, the more you pay socially for it

1) "I don't read books!" (its a flex. you brag about it.)
2) "men who read books are feminine!" (100% bullshit)
3) "women are smarter than men!" (100% bullshit)

the list goes on

before this gets political (which it well might)
I'm going to stick my knife into one sacred cow and move on.
you hear a lot of "women are smarter than men!" propaganda.
the truth is? it was a cherrypicking.
they chose the *perfect* grade to show a preconceived notion. (the exact opposite of science)
there's a certain grade level, yes, boys are fidgety and most have trouble sitting still and paying attention at that age.
*that* is when they administered the so called test.

here's another
reading is feminine! smart men are sissies! everyone knows this!
yes. a tall muscular aggressive man, is a scary intimidating proposition.
make it life or death though, and take away all rules and regulations on it.
you know... survival of the fittest.

intelligence is very useful to survival of the fittest. or? it wouldnt exist today.
as a cave man hunter gatherer, yeah the *giant* dumb guy "seems" the scariest thing around.
but is he really.
the (perhaps smaller, perhaps not) more intelligent caveman...
can simply come up *behind* the giant tough guy, and run him through with his spear.
push him over a cliff.
bash him over the head with a rock and be done with him.
the more intelligent hunter...
can come up with advanced organization and strategies for hunting more effectively
he can also come up with the more advanced strategies for WAR, which are necessary
design better weapons.
if being intelligent was a liability? mother mature would have bred it out a long time ago

if you talk to *real* fighters.
not drunken idiots in the bar.
*real* warriors? are intimidated by high intelligence.
its scary to go up against someone who can think and plan several steps ahead.
a-n-y-o-n-e can be tall, strong, lift weights, train to be a fighter, shoot well, etc etc
but being really smart is a genetic gift, like being born 6'6" with thick muscles.
and its *just* as dangerous

to wit:
take a short thin child. perhaps 6 or 7 years old.
and a full grown adult. make it "Thor" the giant biker, I don't care.
in a life or death struggle. with no rules. who will win?
the adult?
not if you let me coach that child and they listen to me.

1) child? run around, no matter what. that adult can't catch you. tire them out.
2) no matter *what* that big guy threatens you with? stay away.
3) if he quits chasing you? tease him. taunt him. throw rocks at him until he chases you again.
4) give him NO REST. keep it up. you have more energy than him.
5) when the adult can barely *stand*, its time to kill
6) stand HERE, child. DARE him to come and fight you.
7) Adult falls into the PIT with SHARP SPIKES we put sticks and leaves over.
8) child just stands on the far side of it, taunting the adult, but not running anymore

now tell me again, how intelligence/reading... is feminine.
its very dangerous.

I *always* write my MC/hero to be crafty and intelligent.
they're *way* scarier like that.

 

[Alski]

Just saw this article(below) I don't think this is just in the UK and might be even worse in the united states. Why do so few men and boys read?

While women and girls are having a cultural Renaissance with whole new genres (Romantasy for example) and reading more than ever.

Why do you think this is? Is it just as simple as social media/games/videos is just so easy ans brainless and addictive?

Do you have data for females age 14-16 from the same source? or did you jsut get baited by clickbait

 

[TinaMigarlo]

A good example of your image reply is when my male students would suddenly create a bloody knife-fight inside our school grounds, just because the girlfriend of Boy A said something bad about Boy B.

They immediately jumped to conclusions without thinking, hence, a knife-fight.

That's also why I know the back of our ears are hollow. Student got stabbed there; nearly died coz a few centimeters in, and the knife would cut a major artery.

yes. if you analyze where the brain rests in a human being.
you can use a sharpened *stick* on the eyes, nose, ears...
to easily pierce the brain and cause instantaneous death.
look at a skull. there are openings on that thick hard sphere of bone.
shooting or stabbing into the medulla oblongata, is light switch off.

stiff finger into an eye socket will kill, if you don't get squeamish and stop.
you just have to push hard enough.
there exists a book, titled "101 ways to kill with a number two pencil".
its an interesting read.