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this post was submitted on 20 May 2026
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AI, in this case, refers to LLMs, GPT technology, and anything listed as "AI" meant to increase market valuations.
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Anyone can read a physical book. Digital books are gatekept behind devices.
Edit: I honestly can’t believe the replies I’m getting. Who knew people oppose physical books that have existed for hundreds of years? This is depressing.
No. Some people were never taught to read. Books that aren't in braille are gatekept from blind people. As well as giving you access to more content, digital devices can overcome these limitations.
Ebooks are by that logic also inaccessible to the visually impaired without further software. What is this shit comparison? You can’t be serious.
Do you even pdf bro?
Go ahead, read a pdf without a screen.
You know what is usually included in most public libraries and allowed to be publicly used usually free if charge? (it can vary from library to library)
Computers. The kind that can be used to access a vast digital library
Because the library might not have a specific book you're looking for. Or the library might burn down and having non centralized rudimentary backups and archives of data, such as books, means that we can re-print and replace physical media that was damaged.
You can burn a book but if it's digitally backed up and free to access, the content within the book is unburnable.
A book is also a device, just less complex. The proliferation of digital devices is widespread and resilient enough that needing one to access a book isn't gatekeeping in itself. Especially since you don't need a digital device to access a book, digital books aren't stopping you from having physical ones. But it is a convenient, versatile and affordable way to gain access to more books than any traditional library could hold.
No it’s not. By no stretch of imagination is a book a device. Physical books don’t require any extra purchases, and the information in them is inherent.
device noun de·vice di-ˈvīs
1 : something devised or contrived: such as
a(1) : a piece of equipment or a mechanism designed to serve a special purpose or perform a special function ...
Are you honestly arguing that a book is a device like for instance a computer is? Or a mechanical lock is?
No it's a device like a book is. It's an invention people made to store text etc in a robust easily accessible form.
just go to the place that has book. Find book. read book. simple. A book isn’t a device. If i want to read something digitally, i need to have a device that is good to read.
Sure why not, just as long as you live next door to a vast library and it isn't raining today, that could be a viable option. Or just keep a huge personal library in your own home. or....
ah... there ya go
Not everyone lives in the suburbs or the US or both.
Umbrella, raincoat, your own vehicle, Uber
I wish I had a 1000 sq ft space just to keep books.
But I need to have an e-ink device for this. Reading on LED Screens is not that great for eyes. E-readers have their place when you are traveling or something but not when you're sitting at home. If you like them as your primary then great for you.
Nobody is saying digital libraries shouldn't exist. They should co-exist. And most of the times it is not going to be the primary reading medium for the majority. Open P&L of any publisher and you will see (if they categorize) physical books still account to over 80-90% of their revenues. Physical libraries are the most affordable and recognizable way to access literature and knowledge.
Let's be clear, I'm not going to argue against the worth of physical books. I love books, use my local library a lot, and don't own an e-reader. I'm only disputing the assertion that the need for reading devices means digital books are gatekept. e-readers and the like are widespread, reasonably affordable, and likely to become more so. Digital books are also accessible by other (not so ideal for reading) devices, which are even more ubiquitous.
It's like saying that physical books are gatekept by the need for a reading light.
Gatekeeping implies some exclusive access which is not generally available. Book knowledge was gatekept before the existence of public libraries, even more so before the printing press. Even now the accessiblility of physical books and libraries depends a lot on where you live. Digital information, by contrast, has become broadly available extremely quickly and will remain so.