From tommy's link:

Now, this may seem ridiculous, but keep in mind this was an era before doctors such as the esteemed Dr. Gregory House gained the ability to solve any ailment within 42 minutes.

That never-use-a-library person's posting makes me wait for the one where s/he complains her/his tax dollars shouldn't go to libraries... because that's what comes next at least 50% of the time.

It's a classic way to weasel out of the argument: changing the focus of the discussion from talking about the good of the whole to the good of a specific person (usually the speaker).

In other words, Pfft!

And yet, addictive because it's this trick of figuring out how far I can get in vocabulary level (highest I've gotten was 47 but with a ton of luck and guessing).

Totally. I think I hit 49 a couple of times but that was after a string of lucky guesses and dropped right down into the mid-40s after another string of not so lucky guesses. I also want to find out what happens if you get over 9000, but Safari crashed and I had to start over before i got that far.

I also want to find out what happens if you get over 9000

You actually feed someone.

The problem with the library complainer is that they're describing what libraries already do -- but since s/he declares that s/he doesn't and never plans to go there...

But he loves books!

Eh, I shouldn't give his opinion much weight. He's also the guy who said he was tired of caring about New Orleans.

I just...when I read crap like this-even the seemingly nice enough lady, who says the internet has replaced a lot of research her kids need to do for school-I wonder what foreign land I've wandered into.

Oh, BTW I want to point out that never-goes-to-the-library person? Is on the editorial board of the newspaper!!!!

ETA: Actually all but 2 are because it's the editorial blog.

My best friend from back home just lost her job as a librarian when the town voted to stop funding the library.

So it's closed now. During the lead up to the vote, she was frequently attacked in the grocery store, on her way to work, anywhere she went by citizens who angrily insinuated that she was a welfare leech, that there was no need for a library "since we have the internet," and other such kindnesses.

After the vote, she flew here to get away from the madness for awhile. She was still visibly shaken.

So now, there's no town library in Bridgewater...nor a senior center, or afterschool kids' center.

Because those were all welfare leeches as well.

That's horrifying Allyson. My god!

Because those were all welfare leeches as well.

Stoneham dealt with their "welfare leeches" by completely dropping all highschool sports. Among other cuts, and although the citizens were up in arms about not having a football team, it was rightly pointed out that restoring the sports was eighth on the list of cuts to be restored should money magically appear, after re-opening the middle school and various other items.

People are hypocrites. Hypocrites who complain about not having enough firetrucks, enough teachers, or patches for their potholes, but won't pass a tax override anyway.

WTF, Allyson? WTF is wrong with people?