reading rots the mind

[Brian D. McCary]

As one with a completely rotted mind, I'll agree that reading can lead to
rotting.  However, it's my experience that usually it's uncritical reading
where the reader expects to be entertained that does this.  It's the state
of being passive that really hurts, no matter what field it's in.  Anyone
who reads too much will find that they aren't taking enough time to react
to what they've read.

I think that's part of the root of Pynchon's "why should it be clear?" poser
to Jules:  clear writing can lead to lazy reading, although it doesn't have
to.  For his part, I doubt Pynchon's fiction can rot anyone's mind.  If you 
try to read his stuff passively, it will get tedious and boring, because it
will be difficult to follow.  You have to think about it, feel it, and react
to it, or you will probably just put it back down and walk away.

for what it's worth, curmudgeon that I am, I think this passive entertainment
concept is dangerous in any form.  Too much TV, too much of other peoples
music, too much reading or movies or glossy/slick artwork or surfing or whatever 
is a symptom of an under-engaged mind.  Bob Dylan nailed it with the line about
letting other people get your kicks for you.  Ever notice that the only 
people on TV who seem to watch TV are Homer Simpson and Al Bundy?  (Oh, ok,
and Archie Bunker, which only proves my point) Even TV producers know what
passive entertainment results in.

End of rant
Brian McCary