the having vs. the getting in regard to out-of-print books

[wasabi_poptart]

One of my pre-Internet obsessions hobbies was collecting everything by Tanith Lee I could get my hands on. This was a challenge, owing to her carefully-maintained status as perpetually out-of-print cult author, and I would spend hours poking through used bookstores and yard sales and library sales and such to see what I could find. I managed to amass quite a collection, too.

This weekend, while I was at Fluid Movement practice, Maggie got bored (and maybe a titch resentful) and ate the copy of Cyrion I'd foolishly left within her reach on my nightstand.

When I found it at Haslam's in St. Pete eight years ago, it made my whole fucking week. However, on the Alibris website, there are 31 available copies. You can order one, or all 31, in less time than it takes to grab a naughty dog by the collar and haul her out to the backyard.

Don't get me wrong. I think the access to and availability of goods and services provided by the Internet is a miraculous, wonderous thing. But there's a definite trade-off.

Thanks to sites like Alibris, anybody who wants a copy of Cyrion can have it, but there's no fun in the getting anymore.

Comments

[mystril.livejournal.com]

I just pretend that Alibris doesn't exist in terms of looking for things until I need something desperately.

[geekpixie.livejournal.com]

i also, will not look for something on alibris unless I am totally desperate. I prefer to walk through dusty piles of books and make my allergies flare up ;)

[daybook.livejournal.com]

It's true. My records, my comics, my books and my clothes used to be hard to find prizes of triumph when I was a teen.

Now it's all at your fingertips. There are still surprises out there, but not of the hunting down variety.

[tyldak.livejournal.com]

It could be considered a good thing, it terms of shedding materialism and attachment. No need to obsess over, hunt for, or horde material things, even rare things. Should you need it, you can get it. Knowing something is out there, somewhere, readily available, takes away that sense of urgency or missing out in not having it. Without that emotional-material attachment pulling at you, you're faced with the reality of whether you really want it or need it. I was obsessed for awhile with Big Track, a toy truck I had as a kid. I sporadically searched eBay for it for a few months and finally it showed up - one in mint condition. I could have easily afforded it, but I just smiled, admired it, and walked away. I realized I didn't want to own one again -- I just wanted to know that I could own one again if I really, really wanted one. Knowing that I could, I was able to shrug off that desire to have one easily.

- Tyldak

[weegoddess.livejournal.com]

Go go go!! And an Amen!! There is a difference between 'want' and 'need'.

Funny, all I could think of while reading the original post was: "Caligula". Pleasure/excess are no fun anymore when they are too easily accessible.

[sarahmarvelous.livejournal.com]

I feel this way about concerts: I used to try very hard as an early teen to get a copy of the City Paper (preferably the D.C. CP) and scan all the upcoming shows for my favorite bands' next apperance in town. Now, all I have to do is go online and I can find out their entire tour for the year! And finding obscure or out of print cds is super easy, no more rooting through Goldmine for cool posters that no one else has.