Why is Amazon less Evil than Walmart? - Page 2

ZenGum · 02-28-2011, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

I really don't like shopping for books online. (yes I know you get more than books from amazon) I really loved the big Borders in the city here, but I guess they're closing their doors now, and I think that's a shame. I just get such a calm pleasure out of browsing through book stores. Pretty much any one, but there are some real corkers out there. There's this book shop a few streets away from the main shopping district in the city, and it's full of rare and awesome second hand books. Some are cheap, others are locked behind glass. Before Max came along, we used to go there sometimes as a family and spend hours just looking at the books and picking out a few to take home.

Online shopping is not something a family can do together, and it's just not the same anyway.

eta: I don't know if amazon or walmart are evil. Certainly they both serve a need in our current lifestyle, and it'll be a long time yet before consumerism changes enough to get rid of either.

Ali, if you are anywhere near Nambour, they have what claims to be Australia's biggest second-hand book store. (And Nambour being what it is, most of the books arrive completely unread, but with grease stains from being used as axle-stands, but I digress).

Don't smoke in there, though, they'll hang you up by the toenails and pummel you with an organic carrot. So the sign says.

limey · 02-28-2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

... they'll hang you up by the toenails and pummel you with an organic carrot...

Sounds like fun

!

Shawnee123 · 02-28-2011, 11:27 AM

Bookstores, like libraries, have a certain decorum, an atmosphere...like Ali said, peaceful.

Libraries, like bookstores, have had to sell out to the lowest common denominators (though I love that public libraries SERVE the public, the internet has attracted a lot of snivelling teenagers playing shooting games and shouting to each other, and some heavy breathing circus folks trying to sneak pron) in too many cases.

As our real bookstores (and libraries) go the way of the Dinah Sore (and I don't know of a mom and pop bookstore to survive in YEARS) so goes part of a semblance of class and an unspoken camaraderie among like-minded individuals.

Noticed this weekend: went to Wally World to my bank branch. There was some completely gone on some kind of drug woman jumping around the bank and hollerin' and exchanging money. On to the library, watched another woman completely gone on some kind of drug trying to get a library card (without any ID) so she could access the computers.

My guess is that 85% of the top library goers in my town did not bother to vote for the library levy in order for our library to keep providing the services they do. That levy failed, of course.

I don't really have a point, I just miss a part of the pre-internet society.

HungLikeJesus · 02-28-2011, 04:05 PM

At least you can get some things through Amazon that aren't made in China.

Shawnee123 · 02-28-2011, 04:54 PM

You can't actually smell the other Amazon patrons.

02-28-2011, 11:27 AM	#18
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Bookstores, like libraries, have a certain decorum, an atmosphere...like Ali said, peaceful. Libraries, like bookstores, have had to sell out to the lowest common denominators (though I love that public libraries SERVE the public, the internet has attracted a lot of snivelling teenagers playing shooting games and shouting to each other, and some heavy breathing circus folks trying to sneak pron) in too many cases. As our real bookstores (and libraries) go the way of the Dinah Sore (and I don't know of a mom and pop bookstore to survive in YEARS) so goes part of a semblance of class and an unspoken camaraderie among like-minded individuals. Noticed this weekend: went to Wally World to my bank branch. There was some completely gone on some kind of drug woman jumping around the bank and hollerin' and exchanging money. On to the library, watched another woman completely gone on some kind of drug trying to get a library card (without any ID) so she could access the computers. My guess is that 85% of the top library goers in my town did not bother to vote for the library levy in order for our library to keep providing the services they do. That levy failed, of course. I don't really have a point, I just miss a part of the pre-internet society. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

02-28-2011, 04:05 PM	#19
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	At least you can get some things through Amazon that aren't made in China. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

02-28-2011, 04:54 PM	#20
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	You can't actually smell the other Amazon patrons. __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

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