NEW MEDIA: Lit vs. Lit

January 3rd, 2008 by Susan

Good post at if:books this morning regarding creating a perfectly sustainable book.

I’ve long fought against the notion of a disposeable society starting with appliances that can’t be fixed up through age discrimination in the workplace.  It takes me maybe an average of five years to reluctantly toss some odd-shaped bit of plastic that came as part of packaging because I just knew I’d be looking for something just like it someday.  Don’t laugh.  My absolute best method of keeping the turkey stuffing in the bird and his/her legs neatly crossed at the ankles includes a couple of thin wire ‘safety pin’ thingies that I used to get at the drycleaners that held a group of five hangers together.

The writer of this post, Kim White, tried unsuccessfully to donate slightly used toys to the Salvation Army:

On principle, I try (really hard) to give away anything that is not completely worn out. But it is getting harder and harder to do. Nobody wants my old furniture or clothes or books. And they especially don’t want used children’s toys.
So, I’m hoping to stir up some interesting discussion and serious contemplation of the perfectly sustainable book: one that is constantly revised, but never needs to be reprinted (or repurchased); one that is lean and simple and doesn’t require a small server farm or a special device; one that makes an enormous impact, but leaves a teeny tiny carbon footprint; one we can live with for ever and ever without getting bored or satiated.
At the very same time, I’m trying to figure a way that I can rekindle interest in hypertext, and how to publish and for whom.  More on that at Hypercompendia later today, since it’s not a new battle I’m finding.
We’re at a crossroads here and I think something’s going to have to be done.  The conflict is here and now:  Save the earth and recycle but don’t make a drill or a refrigerator that will last over ten years.

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