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Debate Info

287
283
Agree Disagree
Debate Score:570
Arguments:78
Total Votes:723
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There is no place for books in modern society. Do you agree?

Agree

Side Score: 287
VS.

Disagree

Side Score: 283
10 points

The process of writing, ediiting, printing and publishing is so arduous and stretched out, that by the time such factual books are published, they are no longer eagerly anticipated. Other than the fact that digital media can publish the latest news a lot quicker, the rate at which new information is unearthed is so startling, that a book may be not anticipated by the readers even before publication. Which is more convenient as the readers could get the first hand information about the book before it is even publish.

Side: Agree
Elly(3) Disputed
1 point

The process of writing may be long and tiring but the end product never fails to satisfy a reader

For example, the book twilight, for those who read the book may agree with me!

twilight when i read the book made my imagination run wild and i was able to describe every character and scene in my head...

when the movie came out, well many people felt that it was horrible, changing of plots, different characters etc

As you can see, imagination and creativity is a basic need and foundation for every living youth and we need this so we grow up enhancing these abilities even more

Knowing the book beforehand is just ruining the imagination and suspense of the story making it predictable...BOOKS MUST STAY!!

Side: Disagree
10 points

Group 8 Speaker 2

The 1 And Only Richie a.k.a Joshua

Ordering eBooks online can spare us the trip to a physical library or bookstore.

The loss from unsuccessful sales will not weigh as much for eBooks, this is because the process of mass printing of books is skipped, and we can obtain a copy of the book straight to our digital devices, which results in the closing down of bookstores.

In addition, you can scan through comments or book reviews to check for reliability of the source (if research material) or for a brief synopsis of the story (if story book) to see if the book is worth the money.

It is evident that people prefer to buy books online nowadays. Amazon, for example, has had a consistent increase in sales throughout the year, with over 30 million eBooks sold last year.

Furthermore, eBooks take up less physical space, as we can store hundreds of books on a single tablet as opposed to keeping shelves of books that accumulate dust and silverfish over time.

Anglo-Chinese School gets their students to buy Macbooks, so while we carry numerous textbooks and files to school everyday, all the students need is their computers. Here you can see how they have implemented this system: https://sites.google.com/a/acsbr.org/sec-1-registration-2013/home/faq-to-parents-of-1a-on-1-1-learning-2011/sec-1-macbook-purchase

It is true that such storage is much more susceptible (prone/liable) to data loss. However, it is for this reason that people have invented a means for backup.

Side: Agree
9 points

Everything is about technology nowadays, people prefer reading through the net than to read from books. There are electronic books out there, or you can read the book online or on your phone. Instead of having to go out to a store or order a book online and wait, you can buy and download an e-book immediately; it will only take you a few minutes. Plus, they are so much cheaper because publishers don't have to make up the cost of manufacturing the books. Furthermore it's far easier to read when you don't need to hold book pages. Books are bulky and can often be heavy, some thick ones can really be a task carrying it around. Reading can come from a lot of many sources such as computers, smartphones, digital tablets, televisions — you name it, books are now not the only source for reading, when people can have it much conveniently, books are not consider the best option. E-books is easier to get than printed book. Also, it is environmental friendly, no waste of paper is needed. They are very easily readable, offer zoom functions, and have large or small words. The setting preferences are up to the reader. Also in a modern time like this, reading may not be most interest, people are more attracted to social media, television, video games, etc, even if they love reading, the technology these days help them to be able to read, and some may even choose e-book over books.

Side: Agree
9 points

Group 8 Speaker 3 [Alwin Lam (24)]

3. Convenience of Technology Part 2: Reliability and Easier Access to Wider Range of Information [Surfing the Web for Info]

Moving on from eBooks, the rise of technology is making books in general look obsolete (outdated)

Sharing information through personal websites, blogs and social networking websites is encouraged in the place of traditionally writing books to share one’s point of view

Expanding on this point, books have a higher tendency to be biased, showing only one side of the story. Blogs allow users to comment and discuss about matters, allowing them to share their own unique views on the matter.

Furthermore, when books become outdated on the other hand, it would be abandoned or it would provide misinformation. Subsequently, more resources will be spent to publish newer versions of the book, proving to be a big inconvenience.

Who here has never used Google Search? I’m sure everyone here already knows the power of search engines. Information that takes at least several hours to gather in libraries can be found at our fingertips by simply searching the topic the search engine of your choice, be it Yahoo, Google or even Bing (eww).

Search functions give us faster and more efficient research capabilities, also saving us the trouble of indexing documents (books) manually by genre or alphabet

By using the “find” function found or your very own web browser by typing “Ctrl+F”, we can sift out useless information from the bits we want to find and need for our research, as opposed to flipping through the countless pages in a book.

Meanwhile, those who search for books traditionally may not even be able to find the book they need in the bookstore. This may be because bookstores manage the type of books that are for sale, filtering out sensitive genres or unpopular books.

Altogether, technology gives us instant access to a wide variety of information, without even having to try searching for a book.

Side: Agree
9 points

Group 4:Increasing reliance on the Internet for information. Hectic lifestyles and shortened attention spans demand easy, quick and shallow entertainment such as handheld or iphone games, video clips.The book cannot compete when society has come to prefer aural-visual stimulation in excess over the deep cognitive, sustained activity books tend to demand.

Side: Agree
9 points

Group10: with the changing world, books are long forgotten due to the improvement in technology. Basically, technology has more infomation a book can hold. if you want to put the world wide web information, it woulf be a never ending book. besides, who would want to carry a book that is heavy compared to a light phone where information can easily be found?

Side: Agree
9 points

Some parents might think that books are waste of time. Instead of reading fiction, parents often believe that their children should spend that time studying instead, as reading fiction will not help them with their examinations. Thus books in modern society are deemed as a waste of time.

Side: Agree
9 points

Swee Min:

Here is the summary of all the ideas what my group (group 8) have.

With the arrival of smartphones and tablet PCs, books are losing their appeal. Downloading e-books online will help one to save energy and time as he or she do not need to physically go to the bookstore. Also, companies can save money as there is no need for mass production of books.

Before buying an e-book online, there are book reviews to help the buyer ensure that the book is the one he/she is looking for. Multiple books can be stored on a single tablet/Kindle and it saves space. Also, there are bias hidden in books, which may only show one side of the real story. Books that are outdated may give people misinformation.

Lastly, search engines and search functions make it easy to find information we need along with unfiltered and wide variety of information.

Side: Agree
9 points

Group 6: Nicole

The invention of Kindle and e books has made modern society about the plain old paperback, and there are many reasons why. Firstly, convenience. Downloading an ebook online is an instant process, unlike having to drive down to your local bookstore to get a copy of a book you would like to have. Next, nowadays, people prefer to save all information into their electronic gadgets, such as their iPhones, iPads and laptops. Why bring a whole stack of heavy and bulky books when everything can just be saved into one small electronic device? In addition, using electronic devices to read will result in lesser production of paperbacks, and thus saving the environment and decreasing the chances of deforestation. The invention of various electronics and apps will be able to benefit not only us, but the Mother Earth as well.

Side: Agree
8 points

Speaker one from Group 4 : As our society relies more on the internet and social media, , books have no place in our modern society. People nowadays rely on the internet for information and books cannot keep up with the modern society.

Side: Agree
8 points

Everything is about technology nowadays, people prefer reading through the net than to read from books. There are electronic books out there, or you can read the book online or on your phone. Instead of having to go out to a store or order a book online and wait, you can buy and download an e-book immediately; it will only take you a few minutes. Plus, they are so much cheaper because publishers don't have to make up the cost of manufacturing the books. Furthermore it's far easier to read when you don't need to hold book pages. Books are bulky and can often be heavy, some thick ones can really be a task carrying it around. Reading can come from a lot of many sources such as computers, smartphones, digital tablets, televisions — you name it, books are now not the only source for reading, when people can have it much conveniently, books are not consider the best option. E-books is easier to get than printed book. Also, it is environmental friendly, no waste of paper is needed. They are very easily readable, offer zoom functions, and have large or small words. The setting preferences are up to the reader. Also in a modern time like this, reading may not be most interest, people are more attracted to social media, television, video games, etc, even if they love reading, the technology these days help them to be able to read, and some may even choose e-book over books.

Side: Agree
8 points

Group10 speaker 1: we agree that books do not have a place in modern society. books have many disadvantages, firstly, people these days have lots of complain about burden of carrying heavy books around.Next, by putting books in your bag it will get crumbled and ends up in a bad condition. when you are looking for key point or answers in a book, you would usually take a longer time flipping through the whole book to find answer which is time consuming. People read books for the passion of reading, however there are other sources that we can read from, like newspapers.

Side: Agree
JunTeng(21) Disputed
7 points

Ebooks are also books... You do not have to flip through the passage to find specific key points or answers, instead you can just use a search engine.

Side: Disagree
7 points

The invention of e-books can be considered to be a lifesaver in dwindling market for books. According to Amazon beginning on April 1st, Kindle books have sold 105 copies for every 100 printed books sold, and this even includes the print books that are not available in Kindle editions.

Side: Agree
7 points

Group 4 : Digitalization of books can make work easier and convenient. They can carry their eBook around without having the hassle of carrying many books around as the eBook can store many books in it. In addition, finding information would be much easier, convenient and faster. You can search the specific information on the internet in minutes. So why waste your time spending time on the books when you can just type it in the search engine and let it do the work for you?

Side: Agree
7 points

Group 6: Xin Yi ( Preposition

The invention of e-books can be considered to be a lifesaver in dwindling market for books. Due to the modern technological improvements, people also start to lose interest to print books, calling it dull, old and boring. E-books are also easily purchasable unlike paperback which have to be purchase at bookstores. In addition, people nowadays like to save their information in ipads and laptops, so bringing a big and thick book around can be a hassle to most. Also, in the past, when people will do their research by referring to books from the library as it was the most reliable source of information then. But now, in the recent years, the internet is most commonly used due to the ease of finding one’s required information,with just the click of the button, one can find all the information one needs for the research, bring lost of convenience.

Side: Agree
7 points

We are entering the technological era. Technology is seen to be 'easier', 'fancier', 'faster' and with new platforms such as IPad and kindle, alot of space is saved. The IPad, kindle or any other platform can have numerous books at once as compared to the book whereby you have to bring many books when you travel. Therefore, its is more convienient then travelling. Furthermore, eBooks are more environmental friendly compared to books. This is why books have lost its place in society to the internet and eBooks.

Side: Agree
7 points

As the saying goes by Albert Einstein, ‘I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.’ One can all the resources such as book in the world, however, imagination set us going. As what Albert Einstein said, knowledge is limited; therefore, we should instead broaden our perspective and let our imagination go wild.

Nowadays, the world had been obsessed with technology. Every corner of the world, there is someone holding an electronic book instead of a real story book. With technology, one can hold a thousand books at a time with the help of their gadgets.

So, in modern society, we must keep out with the fast moving pace of the world. Books limit what we perceive things. For example, during a science practical, it’s more productive for the students to do hands on practical and not just blindly read from the textbook. Additionally, books have been gradually replaced by technology in society.

Side: Agree
6 points

hello!!! i am speaker 1 from group 2 i agree to the statement that there is no place for books in modern society.I feel that the book has been lost some of its lustre as the digital bandwagon grows in steam. With exciting platforms like the Kindle and iPad outmoding the book in both form and function, some believe that the book is no longer necessary; the book, they argue, cannot offer the low environmental footprint that the digital delivery and near-unlimited storage eReaders and tablets afford.<3 <333333

Side: Agree
6 points

Digital media is dominating the evolving lifestyle of people in today's society. People are gearing to becoming more IT Savy. it is much more efficient in releasing the eBook, as we don't have to go through a hassle of printing a physical book. In the event of an unsuccessful sale, the losses of ebooks are much smaller than the physical book.

Group 8 Jolene

Side: Agree
6 points

Group10 speaker 1: we agree that books do not have a place in modern society. books have many disadvantages, firstly, people these days have lots of complain about burden of carrying heavy books around.Next, by putting books in your bag it will get crumbled and ends up in a bad condition. when you are looking for key point or answers in a book, you would usually take a longer time flipping through the whole book to find answer which is time consuming. People read books for the passion of reading, however there are other sources that we can read from, like newspapers.

Side: Agree
6 points

Not as they once were, not really. Modern society demands searchable text. Modern society demands the ability to conveniently make a backup of their library. Besides that, modern society is beginning to reject the passive nature of book reading and is starting to demand real engagement through conversation. It's becoming less and less acceptable to simply be an ideological consumer who spends a disproportionate amount of time reading, compared to writing and developing their own voice in the global arena of ideas. As far as reading fiction for pure entertainment value, this is waning because storytelling is so much more vivid through live plays and recorded videos.

Side: Agree
6 points

Group 4: While books can be a good source of information, It is much more convenient, with today's technology, to access information from our own mobile phones, personal computers , etc . All we need is an unlimited data plan on our personal devices and we can access information from all over the world . Books just cannot compete with this kind of technology. Plus, using this technology means less deforestation which is required to produce the paper necessary for books. Moreover, books can be very difficult to transport in bulk and some books can be very big and heavy, even when transported individually, while using a mobile phone, laptop or tablet is so much easier, as they don't take up too much space and can store infomation much more than books.

Side: Agree
6 points

Group 6

preposition

speaker 2

Due to the rise of the internet, books are losing its foothold in modern society. Ever since the internet was introduced, books have been gradually losing its popularity as it is no longer the most convenient source of information anymore. In the past, when one has to do research, he or she would normally turn to books as it was seen as the most reliable source of information. Nowadays, the internet is most commonly used due to the ease of finding one’s required information. With just the click of the button, one can find all the information one needs for the research. Gone are the days where one has to pour through hundreds of books just to find the information that they want. There has been a steep decline in the sales of books since the 21st century. Since 1995, there has been a 9% decrease in the sales of books. Therefore, books are no longer relevant in today’s society as it has no exclusive benefit that would attract readers anymore. It has been replaced by the internet.

Side: Agree
6 points

There is no place for books in modern society . End of argument .

Side: Agree
6 points

The internet nowadays is really a helpful tool in our learning and it beats using books. Social media such as YouTube, allow people to share information all over the world. While most of them may be trivial matters of peoples' lives there are some YouTube channels and videos that are for educational purposes. I personally feel that this form of education would appeal to more people, especially to future generations.

Side: Agree
4 points

Books are losing their place in the current generation. Look around you in MRT(Mass Rapid Transit) trains for example. Do you see more people reading books while waiting to reach their destination? Or are they all fiddling with their iPhones and iPads? Platforms come and go. Naturally, books will eventually join vinyl records and cassette tapes,overtakened by technological advances as the ease and convenience of digital platforms such as smartphones and tablet PCs is the way to go in the current society. As atypican has said, storytelling is much more vivid through live plays and recorded videos. Movies and plays are preferred as opposed to reading books, as they help people to visualise scenes and allows an easier understanding of the story. With the added appeal of special effects and melodious soundtracks, these prove to be the better form of entertainment. In this day and age, people are becoming more IT savvy. Yes, digital media is dominating the evolving lifestyle of people leaving little place for books in today’s society.

Side: Agree
1 point

Books have been eliminated due to further technology contradicting them -

think of all the trees used each year to print books!

If we simply loaded them onto a tablet or smartphone, which is something we can easily do, that would stand for a technological development, such as the nearly overnight fall of the telegraph to the telephone.

There is no place for books in modern society any longer, as it would be identical to using carriages and record players as opposed to automobiles and CD players in modern times. Printed books being used widely is just residing back to older technology when the world has more resource-efficient, convenient, cheaper, and simpler inventions.

Side: Agree
1 point

I don't think so, time will still comes that we will still embrace physical books. its just happen that we are on the era now where technology is almost our life patron. Digital media isn't always the solutions for everything despite of its continues evolution. Although, in some way today, life wouldn't be easy if technology remains in the future past. The article below, see how digital media works with my web-base business or elearning, that I understand it affects the use of traditional books.

Supporting Evidence: http://www.debbieirwin.com/voiceover/industry/audio/ (www.debbieirwin.com)
Side: Agree
14 points

I'm speaker two from group 5:I believe that books are important in this modern society .This is because books allows readers to read at their own pace and have easy refrence to the previous page for information or points that they miss out.It is not expensive and is readily available almost everywhere.Books also boost imaginations and creativity.It is survyed that young children who read books in their early stages tends to excel in ther academics better when they start schooling.It is also not harmful to the body as well."Books are the quitest and most constant of friends;they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors,and the most patient of teachers"-Charles.Elio

Side: Disagree
11 points

Group: 9 (Group Random Unicorns?)

Position: Opposition

Research: There's no place for books on the modern society

Point 1: The morality of a culture is the binding force that keeps the people together.

Elaboration: Without the codifications and transition of morals by books, a society may eventually lose all sense of morality and find acceptable that which only a few years ago was considered a great wrong. Books are the foundation of morals and it can be preserved for an extended length of time. It is the dividing line that distinguishes right from wrong and I feel that it is a MAJOR necessity :)

Side: Disagree
koag0223(26) Disputed
3 points

It is true that books from the past have been preserved until now and are valuable wealths of knowledge, but the motion is asking if books hold place in modern society. People have moved on from books and now communicate with voice, music, discussions, videos, etc.

Are books really the single dividing line that distinguish right from wrong? Have you never watched videos or listened to music that have thought you valuable lessons and morals? (Anime!!) With this in mind, books isn't the only means to inculcate values into people.

More importantly, don't morals come from our parent's teachings and naggings? Which part of that involves books?

P.S. Benz repeated part of yr points :x

Side: Agree
9 points

The morality of a culture is the binding force that keeps the people together. Without the codifications and transmition of morals by books, a society may eventually lose all sense of morality and find acceptable that which only a few years ago was considered a great wrong.Books are a necessary part of any functioning civilization. They transmit history, teach morals, keeps laws, maintain a stable language, codify religion and philosophy, and spread ideas. There is no end to the importance of the tool we call the book.

Side: Disagree
9 points

Group 3 Wave Speaker 4

JiaXian

I feel that books allow us to escape from real life. When we read a book, we will be so engrossed by it that we are mentally transported to a different and different place where all of our worries are put aside and for a short time forgotten. With books, one is constantly exposed to different disciplines, types and formats of information. It is precisely the rummaging through books that allow us to gains and process that knowledge. And, with the increasing need for multi-disciplinary critical thinking in this society, books can be the source of all these information. Some may argue that there are many other ways of using Google to sieve out information of different disciplines and gain knowledge from them. If it is possible to diversify our knowledge inputs, then why would critical thinking not be developed then? The answer is painfully obvious – critical thinking would never be developed by spoon-fed, pre-processed information that never give a chance to the student to think. It is just like cooking out of cans with a microwave – as one would duly learn how to cook. Therefore, books should have a place in modern society due to all the benefits they bring about.

Side: Disagree
8 points

Books are the foundation of education and a necessity for gathering infomation. Books are published from recognised publishers, proving its reliability. Compared to infomation gathered from the internet, books are more thurstworthy due to the various publishers and websites and on the internet, it may be not be true as anyone can write.

Side: Disagree
koag0223(26) Disputed
3 points

There are books from various publishers and companies too. If you're really looking for reliable information, you will have to choose from specific authors who are recognised for their reliability. But doesn't that make books no better than the internet? There are reliable and recognised websites too you know?

Books on controversial topics will most likely carry a bias towards one side. However, if you read up on the same topics on the web, you'll be able to have a clearer and more balanced view on the topic. This is because sourcing information on the web with search engines gives us information from multiple authors. This provides us with multiple viewpoints, allowing us to do a cross-reference to sift out information that has a higher likelihood of being false. You can't do the same for books, unless you go read up the book reviews on Amazon or source for books from different authors which proves to be more troublesome and time consuming as opposed to simply browsing the web. This supports my view that books are inferior in modern society.

P.S. Just elaborating on a point from my own post

Side: Agree
8 points

I disagree because I feel that books still have a place in modern society. I think that people do still read paperback ans hardback books as they can easily establish connections through the touch and feel of it. A book includes the texture of words and images impressed upon itself, and that is something online books or technology can never replace

Side: Disagree
8 points

Books are necessary platforms for the impartment of knowledge and skills to the masses. For instance, self-help books have been increasingly well-received by the public, especially the employed who wish to upgrade themselves in order to maintain a level of competitiveness in the society.

Side: Disagree
7 points

Books are a great importance in our society because we can gain knowledge from those books and people learn from them. They will always be useful.

Side: Disagree
Berrystar(159) Disputed
1 point

Society can acquire just as much knowledge from an e-reader book as one printed. If you are acknowledging the false belief that old books must remain printed, you're wrong. If an aged book can be read, it is capable of being copied into a modernized equivalent of the former printed book.

Side: Agree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1fDLsEhj5k
Side: Disagree
JosephRien(8) Disputed
8 points

We are talking about books used for information and knowledge or learning. NOT toilet paper... XD

Side: Agree

My bad. ;)

Side: Agree
1 point

thus i rest my case. ;)

Side: Disagree
7 points

Nearly all of the world's knowledge is still written in books.

Side: Disagree
6 points

Group 3

Wave Speaker 2

Books are tough and can withsatnd damage when dropped on the floor, there will not be any severe damge inflicted upon the book instantaneously. Although in the long run, the books may be old and tattered unlike electronice books, also kniown as e-books, they can still serve their purpose well as they can still be read. In addition, e-books that are stored in a mobile devices are very fragile. Once dropped or damaged in the slightest way may cause severe damage it. Moreover, it will be more costly to repair a mobile devices than buying a new book.

Side: Disagree
6 points

Without books, man would have no way to "set in stone" the rules and laws with which to govern. Before the era of written consitiutions and laws, government opperated directly by words of the tyrant. With no objective set of guidlines written down, the tyrants had full and inordinate control of the government. This uncheck tyrant is at natural odds with humanity. To add gravity, rules and laws can be made online, but it can also be change easily. Thus, laws can be different by each day. As a result, this clearly show how books can make peace in the world, and the ability to govern the world, making it significant in the society.

Side: Disagree
JunTeng(21) Disputed
7 points

So are you saying the large amounts of books that exist at present help to keep peace? Why are they still so much injustice in the world? Why are there still so much wars waged....

Side: Disagree
6 points

Group 5 - Speaker 1 : There should be a place for books in modern society. Books still play an important part in our lives. Some people still prefer reading books than using Ebooks or other technology due to several main reasons. Firstly, books are important to the development for a child's journey in school as it aids them in grasping the knowledge of almost all subjects. Theoretically speaking, books too do not damage our eyesights easily as compared to other technological devices which emits radio wave. So, books do have a place in modern society now, and indefinitely in the future.

Side: Disagree
6 points

Books should have a place in modern society since they are more reliable than most other forms of media. On the internet, the information can be posted by anyone, and whether they really know what they are saying is usually unknown to the readers. Books also are more reliable as they cannot ‘crash’ but computers can.

Side: Disagree
6 points

Books are the foundation of all. Reading is one of the first essentials we pick up whilst germinating into successful citizens of the world. Reading is knowledge which by extension is power. Without the knowledge obtained from books, we would not be as inspired, as motivated or have the drive to write stories of our own! Stories that develop into little thoughts that develop into ideas that further develop in action and effort! Yes it is no doubt that technology has managed to possess similar benefits of the average book but that gives it no reason to completely overwrite its foundation, the book. THE FREAKING BOOK. Books are the glue that hold our morals together. It is the one of so little things that have the ability to emotionally connect to its readers and IT!!! DESERVES!!! A!!! PLACE!!! IN!!! SOCIETY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Side: Disagree
JosephRien(8) Disputed
2 points

Vinesa, take a look at this analogy. If you were to choose to take a gun, or a bow and arrow to war, which would you take? The gun right? It doesn't mean that nobody would use the bow and arrow. The gun would just replace the bow and arrow in modern warfare. It's similar for books and the internet. The internet would replace books as information it possesses or it can possess, would be overwhelmingly more than books can ever possess. Plus, it would be faster and more convenient to use.

Side: Agree
6 points

Books still remain as something valuable as compared to soft-copies of e-books. Similarly, people would rather go to the cinema to catch a movie, as compared to watching movies at home.

And look at those hipsters out there. Why are more of them preferring polaroid cameras?

Side: Disagree
6 points

As evidence of anything, we always use hardcopy, not softcopy, a lot of people will download illegally instead of supporting the real author by buying. Preventing people from illegally downloading of virtual books, we should support real hardcopy books.

Side: Disagree
6 points

Books spread ideas. books not only keep everything recorded for posterity, but spread them to masses of people. It is primary purpose of books, to spread their contents. Ideas are contigent on their own spreading, because the more people who hear and think about them, the more they will be critiqued. We can see how unthinkable modern society would be without books. Imagine the world as an immeasurably dark ignorance without communication, thought, or god. This is a world without books.

Side: Disagree
6 points

The use of technology now is advanced and efficient , however there ought to be viruses that could destroy one's work or hijacks one's creation. On the other hand, books would be a solid evidence of one's work and inventions, and also protected by the author's rights therefore to be recognized for it.

Side: Disagree
6 points

I am Ezekiel, speaker 3 from group 5. I believe that even with modern technology, books are still important. Unlike the things one reads on the internet, books provide complete information in great detail, rather than small fragments of it that one can find by googling something. Books tell the whole story from a single source, while on the internet, the same information may be repeated in webpages from many sources, which may make it difficult to find what you actually want to know. Therefore, it would be easier in some cases to simply have the dicipline to sit down and read an entire book. This brings us to my next point, that books can improve dicipline as well as concentration. To read an entire book, one must set aside time to read the many pages of it, and it could take a long time depending on the how thick the book is. So as a result, choosing to read a book requires dicipline.

Side: Disagree
5 points

Books are an important part of society. Of course, most people nowadays download them but they are still books. I actually prefer an actual book with a cover and pages over a Kindle or some other tablet.

Side: Disagree
8 points

I agree. Books allow our imagination to run wild, describing the character in our heads imagining each and every detail that pleases the mind. Each reader have different ideas of the character and this is what makes it fun!!

Besides, too long using the computer, ipads etc may affect the eyes too

Side: Disagree
12 points

Findings of the very first book dated all the way from 2400 BC where Egyptians carved their day-to-day activities on clay, bark and even metal sheets. This was the very essential tool that was used to shape and aid a growing civilization. Important information was documented to help people remember and after time, this helped the later generations avoid mistakes. Adding on, books allow creativity and imagination to flow, allowing one to think out of the box, thus supporting creation of new ideals and things which might benefit human society. Books have their therapeutic ability – the ability to open up our imagination and dive into a world of our own. In the hustle and bustle of city life, we shuttle between work and home for most days of the week, occupying our minds with what we need to do instead of what we want to do and feel like doing. The stress levels felt in the city leave people gasping for air. A book in our very hands, on the other hand, provides a temporary respite for the city dwellers and it can be a form of escapism. The pages of the book free our imagination from the stiffness of daily, mundane work while the mind is filled with scenes that appear from nowhere, adding to the intensity of the adventure. People naturally feel more relaxed when they do not have to worry about the things that needed to be handled. Books allow the mind and soul to drift away from the present and that is where we subconsciously step into the world of the book. J.K Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, does this fantastically well. That is the reason why millions of readers are drawn to her books, because the world she creates using the power of words leaves people space to imagine and wonder, dividing the realm of fantasy from reality. Therefore, books are still highly appreciated in today’s society, as it may be one of the few havens left that enable us to feel completely at ease in the world of pragmatism and man-eating society

Even though book sales have dipped and high-profile bookstores like Borders have closed their shutters for good, evidence suggests that the book is hardly on the wane. Young adults are still voraciously snapping up books by Rowling, Tolkien and Lewis. University students hold eight to ten library books at any one time and cannot do without academic journals. Executives are rarely seen without the latest management guide during lunch breaks.

Admittedly, the book has been lost some of its lustra as the digital bandwagon grows in steam. With exciting platforms like the Kindle and iPad outmoding the book in both form and function, some believe that the book is no longer necessary; the book, they argue, cannot offer the low environmental footprint that the digital delivery and near-unlimited storage eReaders and tablets afford.

Therefore, I think that books are an essential part and foundation of the society we know today.

Side: Disagree
JosephRien(8) Disputed
10 points

There are E-books now, which are way more convenient to use. All you need is a mobile phone or any device with an internet access and you can have access to a whole library of books. It sure beats carrying big, bulky papers.

Side: Agree
9 points

I also like the idea of expanding my library and having actual books sitting on my shelves, as opposed to a digital library that allows me to scroll through titles.

Side: Disagree
6 points

A lot of new users in this debate... I'm guessing this is a class.

Side: Disagree
koag0223(26) Clarified
8 points

Yep, this is a class doing a group debate as you can see from people writing their group numbers on posts.

Side: Agree
5 points

Nah, I'm sure collectors will start gathering up books real soon, seeing as they're a relic of the past.

Side: Disagree
JosephRien(8) Disputed
8 points

That doesn't mean books will still be used. They are a relic of the past, useless to the modern world now or in the future. It's like using a bow and arrow instead of a gun. Which would be better fit in today's modern society? The Gun. Same with books. E-books will replace the traditional books as it is way more efficient, convenient and easy to use.

Side: Agree
Quocalimar(6470) Disputed
1 point

Whether they're being used or not is irrelevant. They will always have a place. As I said, some people will still keep them for the 'actual book' feel, others, maybe in the distant future, will keep them as mementos of History.

Even with the example you provided, ancient weaponry is prized by collectors and very much has a place in society, not for their original use, but for a use no less.

Side: Disagree
4 points

The book offers practical convenience and accessibility in its tangible way for that has yet to be replicated by alternative technologies like the World Wide Wed and its databases. One might even champion the book as the most democratic medium today, easily afforded by the poorest of communities and accessible in the most oppressed regimes. There is perhaps a case for people and ink printing as the best piece of information and communication technology today.

Side: Disagree
2 points

there is a place for books in modern society. even if they are in the form of iPad of tabs...they are called eBooks.

Side: Disagree
2 points

I disagree completely. I'm sorry but "There is no place for books in modern society" is untrue. I am 12 years old and I love books, I want to be either a teacher or a surgeon when I am older. I love reading all books, Music, Thrillers you name it! For a 12 year old I have a vast range of books from Jacqueline Wilson to Shakespeare! So I hope my point was useful.

Side: Disagree
1 point

It's upvote madness in here! Except for that CherylYuen person... she has zero.

Side: Disagree
1 point

Books will never replace technology, you can never stand on a floppy disk to get to a high shelf. And what about plane rides? You are always told to turn off electronics, but you never need to put you book on airplane mode.

Side: Disagree
1 point

What are all these groups people keep talking about?

Side: Disagree
1 point

The reason why books are still relevant, and will be for years to come, is that we are very accustomed to books. Replacing them via eBooks would take a loooooooong time, if it even happens in the first place.

Side: Disagree