The value in the printed word is that it can’t be easily modified. The knowledge and ideas are preserved in a sense, as long as it remains intact. On the internet things can be changed after the fact easily, and it’s much harder to verify what was changed later. Living in the age of misinformation has given me new reason to hang on to my books and even old dvds and cds etc. I recognize what you’re saying too - if you’re just reading for entertainment and moving on it makes sense to pay a minimum and move on when you’re done. I just also find myself clutching to 1984 where it describes making the changes I’m talking about, and holding on to Fahrenheit 451 as it begins to look like book banning and eventually burning is on the rise.

Edit: Ive even changed this comment. It was just spelling.

[–] Michal@programming.dev 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You're right, but I only read fiction so i don't care if a book was updated. Corrections are expected.

For everything else, the internet archive does a good job of archiving internet contents.

[–] Broken_Monitor@lemmy.world 4 points 1 month ago

I believe the internet archive is under threat as well, some kind of copyright protection thing.

I suppose I worry about the fiction too because sometimes it’s a commentary on real life concerns, and the pearl clutchers will want to erase perceived insults. Anyway, to each their own. I need to be selective about what I keep because there just isn’t enough space to save them all. Digital certainly has the advantage there.