It’s funny how calm libraries are when you consider that all the books there have conflicting ideas and beliefs, so it should instead be a really big, loud place full of arguments instead of the quiet.
Libraries are quiet because 90% of the patrons (rightly) view them, and the ideas the books within them contain, as dangerous to the certainty born of ignorance that makes society function. The remainder are fearful of being seen as any more strange and different than they already are. The idea that maybe society would function better if more people thought recreationally hasn’t found much traction.
I have invented the ‘Dinner Party Organisational System’ for the books in my library. Books are arranged according to which authors would like to sit next to each other at a dinner party, so Quentin Crisp goes next to Jean Genet and Stephen King sits next to Edgar Allan Poe. Now I have to work out what to feed them.
December 30, 2008
It’s funny how calm libraries are when you consider that all the books there have conflicting ideas and beliefs, so it should instead be a really big, loud place full of arguments instead of the quiet.
May 25, 2009
hu, now that you mention it there really should be more arguments in libraries. I think I’ll start discussion at my next trip to the library.
August 8, 2009
Libraries are quiet because 90% of the patrons (rightly) view them, and the ideas the books within them contain, as dangerous to the certainty born of ignorance that makes society function. The remainder are fearful of being seen as any more strange and different than they already are. The idea that maybe society would function better if more people thought recreationally hasn’t found much traction.
August 20, 2009
I find it amusing the Emperor of Monkeys is so eloquent
October 2, 2009
I must agree with Carol.
October 4, 2009
Libraries: free books! What else is there to say? FREE BOOKS!
(nice touch on the Lewis Carrol zombie)
December 26, 2009
@Carol
all the same, the phrase: “the Emperor of Monkeys is so eloquent” sounds deep too…
November 18, 2010
Did gyre and gimble in the… brains…
April 4, 2011
I have invented the ‘Dinner Party Organisational System’ for the books in my library. Books are arranged according to which authors would like to sit next to each other at a dinner party, so Quentin Crisp goes next to Jean Genet and Stephen King sits next to Edgar Allan Poe. Now I have to work out what to feed them.