The O-town Scene

Living Long and Prospering |by Sam Spokony Bookstores are not the anti-Christ as 'Slate' columnist claims I read something pretty disturbing last week. Something that had nothing to do with global warming, the Eurozone crisis or the Republican primaries. It was about bookstores. Specifically, it was a piece by Farhad Manjoo, a tech col- umnist for the online magazine Slate, titled — in all apparent seriousness — "Don't Support Your Local Bookstore." And if that weren't enough to get you to stop and look at the thing, he (or his editor) threw a subheadline on it: "Buying books on Amazon is better for authors, better for the economy, and better for you." So, of course the guy really went to town with this. Along with letting his readers know (several times … in case they'd never heard of the Internet) that Amazon sells books for real cheap and recommends new titles for you every time you log in, Manjoo decided to absolutely lam- baste the whole nature of independent bookstores and the people who love them. The article is just jam-packed with quotes that would make local lit buffs want to string him up by his thumbs. I won't do that. But it's only because I think I know why he wrote this piece, or at least why someone fi- nally wrote something like it. Let's look at the language. First, Majoo's initial — and centrally important — criticism of independent bookstores: that they're "some of the least efficient, least user- friendly, and most mistakenly mythologized local establish- ments you can find." The last third of that statement is stupid, impossible-to-back-up columnist blabber (because I should know), but the first two are actually very interesting. Why, we need to wonder, is he referring to bookstores as if they're pieces of technology? When we say something isn't efficient or user-friendly enough, we're usually talking about software or websites. So think about that. Then there's the part in the middle where he tries to let us know that it's nothing personal, and that, even though he's writing an article about why he thinks bookstores should all be ground into dust, he doesn't mind those few sensibly pre- tentious people who still patronize them but don't enjoy it too much. "In the same way that I sometimes wander into Whole Foods for the luxurious experience of buying fancy food," Manjoo writes, "I don't begrudge bookstore devotees spend- ing extra to get an experience they fancy." And this is where we've got to think a little deeper. That comparison to Whole Foods, it's kind of weird, right? Yes. It's very weird. Because it doesn't make much sense. The thing is, when you go to Whole Foods, you are enjoying the luxurious experience of buying fancy food. But the fact that you're get- ting up off the couch, walking down the street and actually choosing (with no direct prodding or help) from a physically displayed selection of food — that remains the same whether 4 O-Town Scene Dec. 22, 2011 you've gone to Whole Foods, Shop Rite, or the crappiest of convenience stores. The technological advances that have allowed us to leave be- hind physical books and bookstores — as well as, of course, music stores and the like — are so socially different than this that they can't be placed in a witty analogy alongside organic food. They're actually kind of special. In this case, a very bad kind of special. Which brings me to my point. (By the way, the rest of Man- Even though he's writing an article about why he thinks bookstores should all be ground into dust, he doesn't mind those few sensibly pretentious people who still patronize them but don't enjoy it too much. joo's article is complete crap because he doesn't provide a shred of evidence for what are most likely idiotic economic claims, and that's why I'm not mentioning them. And, just for the record, I've given large amounts of book-related cash to both Amazon and the Green Toad Bookstore). This is a columnist — a pretty well-established one, who's published a book of cultural criticism — who, with absolutely no hint of irony or sarcasm, has written a piece in which he's utterly failed to understand the simple fact that it's okay for independent bookstores to have some inherent cultural value for other humans, regardless of any lack of efficiency. With- out knowing any bet- ter, he's treated them as if they were a failed algorithm, or an out- dated web browser. He's equated the physi- cal act of entering a bookstore and talking to booksellers with pur- chasing a slightly more expensive type of food. An obvious problem with all of this is his- torical reference; Manjoo might need to be reminded that the concept of a world wide web or online retailers or online social networks would never have existed if not for the real, human interactions that gave rise to them over thousands of years. If he really understood that, then maybe he wouldn't pick strange, mindless fights with bookstores instead of allow- ing them to run their natural evolutionary course. But the real problem is that the end is near. I'm serious. Amidst all the instant gratification, what's the only nagging worry been when it comes to technology? I'll tell you in case you've been busy checking your Facebook. It's the fact that digital communication might actually replace real communi- cation. That we might actually forget what it was like to enjoy the real company of other real people who share our interests. That we might actually prefer to have the computers to choose and deliver our pleasure for us, rather than finding some good reason to do it ourselves. Farhad Manjoo, in one pointless rant, has summed up just about everything that absolutely and dangerously sucks about technology. The problem is that he's on the wrong side. And we're all next. Sam Spokony is a senior majoring in music industry and English at SUNY Oneonta. Trust Me, I'm a Counselor|by Lisa Ryther Apply yourself If you're strapped for cash and have some free time, maybe it's time to get a part-time job. Here are some tips to get started: Write a resume Even if the jobs you are interested in don't require a resume, going through the process of putting one together can help prepare you for an interview. In addition, having a written record of your academic and work history will make filling out the application a lot easier. *Tip: Get a second opinion, have a professional review your resume before you submit it to ensure the format is correct, there are no spelling errors and no important details or skills are missing. Call for information If you see a job you are interested and want more infor- mation, give the employer a call. Ask about the application process, what documents are needed and where they should be submitted (on paper or online). *Tip: If there is a place you want to get a job, give them a call and ask if they have any positions open. You may be first in line for a job that just became available. *Tip: Find out information about the business will help you construct your cover letter. By including details about the organi- zation in your cover letter, you show the potential employer that you are detailed orientated. First impressions last a lifetime. Get some references Most if not all of the job applications will require at minimum one to three references. Depending on the position, the em- ployer may ask for personal, professional, and/or academic references. Professors, former employers and former cowork- ers are great to use for references. *Tip: Don't use your family members for references! After you apply Let the games begin. You have gone through the steps above and now it's time to wait for that call. If you find yourself waiting and wondering where you stand, give the employer at least a week and then give a follow-up call. *Tip: It is important to maintain your profes- sional presence before you get that coveted interview. For follow up, call to ask if the em- ployer received everything that was needed. That's my advice. Take it, or leave it. Lisa Ryther is a counselor in the College As- sistance Migrant Program at SUNY Oneonta.

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