Is reading a lost pastime?

I sometimes think reading books is a dying out pastime, people would rather watch a movie, surf the net or play computer games. Technology has taken over, people will tell you that they don’t have time to read but they always have time for their favourite t.v shows. So it’s not really about having the time, it’s more that they don’t really want to read.

Take my other half for example he says reading it boring. I think I stared at him open mouthed when he first told me that. Boring? How can reading be boring? He’d rather watch the film, I’ll sit and pick it apart and decide that the book was much better. When I watch a film I don’t just watch the film, I chat or do something else and never completely lose myself into it. Reading though is a complete escape for me – a chance to turn my mind off from everything that is happening in the world and lose myself in someone else’s world.

Then he told me only old men read, I mean what is that all about? Is it true? I don’t know the reading habits of men my own age so I have no idea if they read or not? Do they? Or is it really only old men?!

I think the internet and pc’s in general have a lot to answer for. We have become so accustomed to  scanning pages to find out what we need. Using CTRL + F to locate key words in documents. Has this all rendered people incapable of processing large quantities of writing, to actually read an entire chapter without scanning the pages and picking out the parts where the drama happens.

I find it quite sad that people are reading less and less, will our grandchildren even have a book shelf in their house? Or will it all be done online? I think reading it very important and I love reading to Joshua already even though he doesn’t understand and just wants to take the book from me. I really want to encourage him to read though, he won’t be having a tv and a computer in his room. He can read at bedtime not watch tele when he is older. Even know he has his hard back books and he loves to play with them. I’m hoping this is a good sign.

What are your thoughts?