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Post by sue5000 on Feb 28, 2014 23:51:57 GMT -5
Thank you for explaining all that Arid. I just can't see burning books. Pony, please take your unwanted books to your nearest library, not the bonfire!
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Post by razy on Mar 1, 2014 0:28:48 GMT -5
I don't want to side track this thread away from Pony's fabulous work but I need to wade in here about the books. When I finished looking at this thread last night, I was thinking about the books. I have wanted to burn books (writing that feels like admitting to a dirty secret ) It got me thinking about why we treat books with so much reverence without thinking about their content. We seem to be quite happy to burn or dispose of any number of magazines (again, regardless of content) but will not burn a book. The magazines could contain anything from porn (of all types) through to scientific criticism or high art. So could books. For some reason the way they are bound makes the difference. Why is that? There is so many books in the world. There are so many bad books! Some books were never meant to be kept for ever. (I want to be clear, I am not advocating book burning as a form of censorship.) I cannot see the harm in disposing of a few. Can I suggest, in Pony's situation, we extend our principle of amnesty to cover books. She is making such fantastic process, she has identified some books as clutter that is holding her back and she has also identified the books would be of little value to others. Often it is the perceived value to others which slows down or stops the de-cluttering process. I say burn everything that stands in the way of freedom!
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Post by Arid on Mar 1, 2014 5:22:42 GMT -5
Certainly, razy!
That's why I started out my post by saying that I wasn't presuming to tell ponygirl what to do with her books. Her progress is amazing, and I wouldn't want to do anything to deter it.
My point, though, was that she was incorrect in thinking that the only purpose of library book sales is to declutter books. It *is* one purpose, but not the *ONLY* purpose.
We hold the sales at our library to 1)declutter library books, 2)raise money for the library to augment its budget, and 3)get books--at an affordable price--into the hands of people who wish to have them.
Arid
P. S. I forgot one other important "role" of library book sales--entertainment!! A lot of folks really, really enjoy coming to them. As well as finding desirable books, friends, neighbors, and relatives have the chance to visit with one another there. Also, many people just enjoy "the hunt" aspect of it all! We get everyone from book dealers to little old ladies trying to make a buck or two off eBay from re-selling the books they buy from us! A.
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Post by dtesposito on Mar 1, 2014 10:21:46 GMT -5
Okay, since this thread has turned to books, there's no way I can not comment, being the book queen and all...
Growing up I was taught a reverence for books--partly because I think they were more expensive then, but also because of what they represented--knowledge of just about anything in the world--and remember, this was before the internet could bring you anywhere you wanted to go in an instant.
So as an adult book lover, it was hard for me to get rid of a book, even one that had been damaged or that I had no interest in. I would get rid of that kind of book, but there was always a twinge of guilt or regret.
Several years ago I started volunteering at a resale store that benefits a clinic that treats low-income people. The store is in a neighborhood that is somewhat upscale, or at least intellectual--so they get a lot of book donations. My job (along with several other volunteers) is to sort through books and decide which ones will sell and which ones are to be discarded or recycled (we can only recycle paperbacks here, not hardcovers). There is only a certain amount of space on the store's bookshelves, and only a certain amount of space in the small area designated for books. When I first started, and it was explained to me that we get way more books than we had room to put out, it was very difficult for me to start recycling/discarding books. But over the years, when I started to see how many came in--it has become easier, and I've realized that even though in my mind every book is valuable, that isn't true in the real world. Obviously we discard anything moldy, musty, stained, or torn, but I've also had to discard books that were old but not unusual, (collections of works of various authors, which are available anywhere) old and out of date (advice about investments, medical issues, political subjects) or that we get way too many copies of (there are certain authors and titles which are donated multiple times a week, and the market is so saturated that no one else wants them). It has helped me, especially when I used to volunteer there more than once a week, to fill the shelves and then come back and see what was left there, week after week--the people shopping there didn't want certain books, and since a wide variety of people come to this shop, it's probably representative of what the general population wants.
The store experience has widened my view of the world of books, and has confirmed what I've learned about my own hoarding experience--maybe certain things might be valued by some one person somewhere in the country, but it's not possible to find that person easily and my efforts to search will take away from my cleaning up my home. Maybe some of the books the store discards might be used by someone somewhere--but it's a non-profit, the time they spend searching for homes for books is time taken away from their mission. My library used to have book sales, and the books there were always recent ones in nice condition--I doubt if they could sell what we get rid of either.
Add to this the fact that many of us who hoard do not keep things in good condition. Books that are donated to the store in huge boxes by relatives of deceased people (a common donation) almost always have been stored is someone's garage or basement, and we know right away that they will be musty smelling or moldy or water damaged. So even books that might be old and interesting, or once may have been valuable, are often ruined by people who want to keep them, but don't have room to keep them in good condition.
So this long message is to say that Ponygirl should burn her books. And this is coming from the book queen!
Diane
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Post by razy on Mar 1, 2014 17:18:44 GMT -5
Can I suggest if we want to discuss books we start another thread, so we don't distract from Pony's amazing work.
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Post by RoadRunner on Mar 1, 2014 17:53:40 GMT -5
Often it is the perceived value to others which slows down or stops the de-cluttering process. WOW razy thanks for that it speaks to me on such a deep and personal level. ponygirl your words here are so inspiring, I am not at a point that I can tackle my garage full force (taxes first) but I have been popping by and reading every couple of days which is helping me build my motivation level and is helping to easy the anxiety of facing not the clutter but the decisions on what to do with the clutter. Good Work pony Good Work.
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Post by RoadRunner on Mar 1, 2014 18:00:16 GMT -5
Here's my plan: To remove and reduce as much as possible, as quickly as possible. I believe that is the only way I'm going to get some progress of reduction going. Yes attack that clutter Ponygirl you are making awesome progress!!!!!
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Post by GuitarStrings on Mar 1, 2014 18:26:33 GMT -5
Ponygirl, I am looking forward (as I'm sure many others are) to reading the next installment in your amazing journey. Cheering you on as I work on my own clutter!!! Go Ponygirl! Burn baby burn! Or toss, donate, whatever it takes...
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Post by Serendipity on Mar 1, 2014 18:34:01 GMT -5
Hi ponygirl. Thinking of you!
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Post by dtesposito on Mar 1, 2014 18:38:30 GMT -5
Can I suggest if we want to discuss books we start another thread, so we don't distract from Pony's amazing work
I think Ponygirl is sharing her story so that other people can have hope that they can reach the action stage, just like she's doing. Since burning books is hard for many people to accept, I think it's appropriate to think out the various ways people react to the idea. It's one more step in changing our thinking.
Ponygirl, I'm very impressed that you can take that step, and want to make sure that you hear positive reactions to the idea as well as negative ones. We have to take the kinds of amnesty that we need.
Diane
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Post by sophie hatter on Mar 4, 2014 17:14:46 GMT -5
I loved your post, ponygirl, about why we dont need our clutter. I really needed this thread at the moment so i'd like to say a big thankyou As for clutter and weight being associated, i joined a gym, but after a while realised i needed to fix my house before myself and ended up on this site. I like the evil eyeing rooms idea. And as for books, i vote amnesty if they are holding you back, if we have amnesty at all it should extend to anything we need it for.
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Post by OnTheMend on Mar 4, 2014 17:30:59 GMT -5
You have an official amnesty about books from a student of literature Books are just a vehicle, it's the stories that matter.
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Post by GuitarStrings on Mar 4, 2014 18:25:52 GMT -5
You have an official amnesty about books from a student of literature Books are just a vehicle, it's the stories that matter. Anyway, the Google Books project (not sure if that is its official name) is digitizing millions of books...so it's not like any one book will be lost forever if Ponygirl or anyone else tosses books. There are more hard copies, and in all likelihood, a digital copy as well. Just something to keep in mind if anyone feels bad about throwing out books.
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Post by creativechaos on Mar 5, 2014 5:35:20 GMT -5
hi Ponygirl; i hope you did something special for Mardi Gras. Bon temps! now it is officially "lent." i seem to be giving up sleeping. . i hope things are going well and wonderfully for you. luv, cc
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Post by angela on Mar 5, 2014 17:03:34 GMT -5
Ponygirl, I have LOVED this thread! You have really kicked my butt in a good way. You are so brave!! I can see that corner myself. I too use burn piles. Haven't burned household goods yet but lots of punky wood and LOTS of paper. Have another batch to go up in flames soon. I am starting to understand what you mean about mental tending. I notice when my thoughts muddy, or get defensive, or go off into fantasy...I am in denial about how much stuff I have and how much I think about it and how unwilling I have been up to now to let it go. This is a good cue for me.. SO when my thoughts are clear, peaceful, unencumbered...I am moving in the right direction.
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