#stop gatekeeping books

[revginapond]

Dear Americans: My Library doesn't work that way...

I see so many posts by well-meaning Americans saying "Go to your public library and check out books because it's free and it pays authors, and you can get ebooks, and and and..."

And, hey, that's quite true. In the United States. (Canada, too, and maybe a few other countries.)

Elsewhere? Not so much.

Here in Zurich, Switzerland, where I live, there's the University Library (ETH) which gives you a free library card and you can check out books for free, which is great. The city library, though, where they hold the kid's programs and stuff like that? You need to pay about 60 CHF/ year for a library card (about $63/year). Sure, that's not horrible, but it's not FREE.

Then there's the fact that not every book will be available for me here, either, since most of the books are German language books and rightly so (right now my German isn't so good that I can read adult books yet). So, my selection at my local library (for the moment) is relatively small.

All those library apps you lovingly tout? Geoblocked. Can't access them.

But I'm privileged: I have money to buy the books I want from Amazon and other ebook retailers.

But let's think outside the US box, shall we? I read a comment from a person one of these library usage posts the other day where they pointed out that they are from a 3rd world country. They have a library, but it's tiny because the library can't buy a lot of books. Then there's the added problem that most books don't get translated into their language. So, yes, they'd like to use their library, but it's limited, and they have very limted money to buy or subscribe to anything online (they make 3rd world country wages, which, compared to the dollar, are maybe a $100-300/mo. Don't entirely quote me on it, but the point is that they don't make a lot of money in US terms.) And again, most library apps are region locked/geoblocked. Not everyone can afford to use a VPN (or wants to).

And this person got shit on for saying that sometimes the only way they can get a book is to pirate it.

You know what? As an author, I'm ok with that. I'd rather they get to read my book than not. Personally, I'll provide anyone with a copy if they ping me and ask. If you have the cash to buy it, I'd appreciate that, but if you really want to read my book, just ping me and ask.

And Americans, stop being jerks about this. Be greatful that you have free libraries and utilize them, but don't shit on other people who don't have that option. America's systems aren't the rest of the world's systems, no matter how much you think they should be.

(tl;dr: Americans, it's not all about you, so stop being moralistic and shitty to people in other countries who don't have access to the same privileges you do.)

[xycolia]

Every time “Lolita” by Vladimir Nabokov is sexualised an angel loses its wings

[electricmaimer]

"i dont care if people who havent read the books get spoiled for the show" <- words of a person i now want to bite and yell at

[batfamfixation]

Actually? Fuck all of the people trying to gatekeep comic book characters that exist in other media. Acting like people can only form opinions about characters based on the comics is bullshit. If someone likes the Teen Titans because of the TV show instead of taking the time to read the thousands of comics "required" to be a "real fan" of those characters, good for them. If someone likes the Young Justice or Justice League cartoons and wants to talk about their love of those characters, they should. If Batman from Batman the Animated Series is a person's favorite version of Batman and their comfort character, GOOD FOR THEM.

This need to gatekeep comic book characters that appear in other media is fucking gross. If someone loves Batman and says he's a great guy because of how he's depicted outside of modern comics, then they're not a "fake" Batman fan, they just love a version of Batman that you don't care about. The same goes for all of the other DC shows and movies. People are allowed to love versions of characters that exist outside of comics and call themselves a fan of that character.

Stop. Gatekeeping. Fictional. Characters

[batemanofficial]

hello upper middle class northern usamerican tumblr user. i want to play a game. you will notice that you are in a super america convenience store in rural kentucky - you have three minutes to purchase a snack and drink of your choice and make normal small talk with the cashier. however, if you use the word "cryptid" or generally make reference to appalachia and its inhabitants as "wild", uncivilized, or lacking restraint around alcoholic beverages during your time here, i will personally tie you to the chassis of a four wheeler and tip it into the river. live or die. make your choice

[hppjmxrgosg]

theres nothing more punk rock than the rejection of all agendas, INCLUDING the punk agenda.

you can like harry styles, the clash, and good charlotte all at the same time. its okay. combat boots come in glitter for a reason.

[beatheprincess]

No one should have to feel like they're rejecting their own race bcus they have a preference and prefer to date outside of it, I'm not sure why the ppl I have gone to school w/kno have so much hate towards white people 😭😭 I dont hate anyone for the color or wtf - omg it rlly makes me think will I be judged for dating a white guy?? I want to be surrounded by ppl who are gna support my happiness not shatter it.

[jackstheprinceofhearts]

edit: i would also like to note that i found caraval because of booktok so it can be good sometimes :) (i also do not have tiktok myself because who needs the toxicity but i see a lot of tiktok on pinterest)

alright this is random but PSA about all books:

i know i make theories about acftl often and reply to them in asks but i would like everyone to remember:

at the end of the day it is, in fact, a silly little book and is not that deep and making theories is fun but there is no need for people to argue a ton about it imo because the reason you make theories is for FUN correcting people is fine but idk weirds me out when people will get so mad about book theories like YOU'RE MEANT TO BE HAVING FUN if it's not fun for you and you're taking it way too serious and going around being rude to people then are you actually having fun??? it's also ok to not agree with a theory or like a theory too :) the entire point of reading (especially the YA genre) is for fun.

another thing: STOP BEING SO CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING ON BOOKTOK. i have seen way too many things of people getting mad because they see teenagers with aesthetic book shelves or people who spend a lot of money on books and it's so weird to me because their only argument is "they're making it about the aesthetic"AND ITS THE SAME WITH DARK ACADEMIA i saw a post of somebody gatekeeping dark academia and saying you can't like it if you don't read poetry or classics 😐 LIKE ITS AN AESTHETIC NOT A CULTURE??? HELLO???? it's literally just liking dark academia stuff and how it looks and the style. i have never read a poetry book yet i still love the dark academia aesthetic so why are we gatekeeping 🤨 if it gets people excited about books that's a good thing.

i don't care if this is controversial or makes people mad because it's my opinion and i think people need to stop gatekeeping books or saying shit like "you're not a real reader if you haven't read ____!!!" i don't like booktok or tiktok at all and i think tiktok can ruin things sometimes sure but like why are you hating on people for liking the aesthetic of books 😐 reading is a personal thing to the individual imo. some people like classics, some people like YA, some people like adult fantasy, some people like non-fiction, some people go to the library a lot, some people just buy books, some people listen to audio books, some don't. it's all a personal thing and it's meant to just be entertaining and interesting.

thank you for coming to my tedtalk.

(also i would like to mention that i got inspired to make this post by this video and it's super interesting please check it out if you haven't:) )

[bitstitchbitch]

I am currently getting my master’s degree in electrical engineering and work in software development.

I read feminist and political theories and try to educate myself about racial injustices and environmentalism.

my fun books mostly center around feminist, anti-colonial, or philosophical themes and frequently center lgbtq+ and/or PoC characters. I make an effort to read own-voices authors.

I donate to abortion funds and other political causes and I try to make my lifestyle a sustainable one.

I also read kids books and obsess over Taylor Swift. Not everything has to be deep and meaningful. Sometimes it’s enough to be a good story, even if doesn’t delve into social issues, even if it isn’t “intellectual”. Sometimes you need a break from the world. Sometimes you need to just enjoy things today so that you can get back to improving the world tomorrow.

[yourtwistedlies]

NEW CITY SPIES BOOK COMING OUT FEBRUARY 6TH 2024 AHHH ITS CALLED MISSION MANHATTAN I LITERALLY CANNOT WAIT.

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[pizzaboat]

God the people getting shitty over new Percy Jackson fans are literally toddlers

That's right, they haven't read the books. Why? They haven't heard of it or just haven't had the time. You're not special for reading the books. You're not an extra special fan. You just like the books.

Grow up.

[thisisaname-whatahappyname]

no one knew other than penelope no one was talking elloise doesnt want to risk her fanily penelope just took away a elloises first love all for pen's own selfish gain what the fuck.

[leyyvi]

sorry but the entitlement for people expecting jp fans to leak the pages when theyre talking about the book is absolutely insane. it's one thing to want leaks it's another to be getting angry at fans who don't want to leak what they paid for bruh like...

[drachen-katze]

Just returned to tumblr after hiding after mcu namor drop and  1. love that exactly what i said would happen, did in fact happen. MCU Namor fans are looking at the comics for Namor content and getting upset when he’s not at all the same as the MCU version but still continuing to take over all tags and resources related to the character.  2. apparently namor and shuri is the big MCU ship and ??? hey what the fuck? 

you fucking weirdos. 

[livvyofthelake]

i sounded mean just there. oh well. stop saying stupid things about stuff i keep telling you all i’m not normal about then.

[supposethismatters]

I think it’s important to note that he has accurately described a certain type of person, but his interpretation of these people being boring or annoying is subjective. Some people get along with certain kinds of people and others don’t. Also, all of these traits can be endearing on a person who is excited to share and welcome to new ideas but abhorrent on someone smugly superior and eager to gatekeep.

Roger Ebert just destroying some specific kind of nerd(s).