A typewriting traditionalist comes to terms with change

The article this week delves into the debate about e-books...are they the same as the original? Is it the same sensation as holding and reading from a printed book?  We have had endless class discussions about the nostalgia and inherent power of reading "real," paper books. I think most people in our class, even the most tech-forward and digital-savvy, would agree that there is something special about holding a book in your hand and feeling the turn of the page.  There is no argument there.

But the part of this article that stood out to me was the section where the author commented on the ever-changing nature of preferred mediums of media.  The passage references a writer who still uses a typewriter- and feels it is an act of defiance to the new, speedy preferred technology of the computer.  However, the author points out that even though the man feels he is being "traditional" and "really" writing in a true sense of the word, he is still unknowingly just a cog in the digital machine. His typewriter is electric, which was a byproduct of the mechanical typewriter which was a byproduct of...guess what? Writing by hand! "Mechanical writing deprives the hand of its rank in the realm of writing and degrades the word to a means of communication." It goes on to say that it deprives the reader of the unique personality of handwriting style, making everything look bland and uniform- much of the criticism sounding shockingly similar to that of e-books.  "Bland, lifeless, without personality." But how many of us prefer to write everything by hand? How many of us still prefer to type on a typewriter? Does our writing mean any less? Do our words hold less clout because they are digitized onto a screen.

I can attest, as I have a typewriter which I love and use, it is definitely not practical and took some getting used to.  I use it when I am in the mood to leisurely write and stretch my fingers, but honestly...I prefer typing on a computer.  And I even prefer typing on a computer to writing by hand, as I feel my ideas can flow from my head to the keys even more quickly.  I never had a laptop growing up to learn to type on...but now I prefer it.

Will everyone always prefer reading words on a page rather than a screen?  Some will (ie: trust me, I still use my typewriter).  But most will not.  Our preferences change and evolve. But technology is changing even quicker. So, we often think that because our current preferences haven't caught up, that they never will.  We say, "we ALL with ALWAYS want paper in our hands as we read."  We always think that the old way is the better way...And maybe it is? But I am starting to think it might all just be a matter of preference.