please empty your brain below
Only one irrational aversion?

I also like to have nice looking books, however many times I have read them.

Debster | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 8:41 a.m. | #

I'm completely with you on this DG - my husband is a folder and scruncher so nothing ever looks neat and pristine - it drives me mad! It is very difficult to contemplate lending anyone a book - I have a sister-in-law who reads them in the bath so they come back with the spines "melted" and the pages kind of wavy - never again!

dianne | 17.09.08 - 8:48 a.m. | #

We joined the library yesterday.

Libraries must be a no go area for you? All those books that other people have folded corners and grubbied with their breakfast.

Does this stem from an early life Ryman fetish? All those bic biros, folders and stacks of copy paper?

Honey and Dick | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 9:36 a.m. | #

Oh, DG! I knew you were my kind of person! I'm an archivist, and caring for papers and books is my life. Sooo happy to hear you talk like this!

Leuconoe | 17.09.08 - 9:47 a.m. | #

I had a dream last night that my comment yesterday about you and paper would be today's post. Just one more little demonstration of my Witchy Powers

Blue Witch | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 10:00 a.m. | #

Books I understand fully, but leaflets? Well, if I wanted the leaflet it will remain in pretty good condition and I'm very careful when using paper-clips... I don't quite share the same obsession over paper in general, but I, too, try to be careful.

Good on you

zed | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 10:16 a.m. | #

Well said DG. Maybe not to the same degree as you - although, I dunno, maybe I am.
I hate it when you give someone that sheet of paper you have protectively carried to them and the first thing they do is fold it in half. And then to add insult to injury they squeeze the fold between finger and thumb to make a knife edge crease. Scream..!!

tankard | 17.09.08 - 10:34 a.m. | #

I have a two year old and a five year old. Rest assured there isn't a single item of uncrumpled paper in the house.

Chris | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 11:26 a.m. | #

You made me read all of THAT for THAT punchline? You cad!!

Gordon | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 11:54 a.m. | #

We must NEVER meet. I am you evil, papery doppelganger.

I fold, score, slit and scrunch with abandon and can only hint at the frisson gained from a slow precise rip with the grain. Then there's the joy and sheer unpredictability of against the grain.

I think you'll find that due to a violation of charge parity invariance (or somesuch), it will be the end of the known universe if we brush in Bow. But there again, I'm just off nights, goodnight.

Gladys | 17.09.08 - 11:57 a.m. | #

I bet you take real good care of them there fiver's and tenner's.

Colin in Thailand | 17.09.08 - 12:16 p.m. | #

So I presume you don't recycle for fear of creasing once it has left your care?

Novaelius | 17.09.08 - 12:33 p.m. | #

Do you also have the compulsion to read anything printed that comes into your possession, whatever the content appears to be?

What about the beginning-of-term stationery-shop fantasy that tells you that smart new folders, papers and pens will somehow magically make your handwriting clear, regular and beautiful (not to mention your thoughts)? Or is that just me?

Autolycus | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 1:07 p.m. | #

On that basis, you may enjoy this.

john b | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 1:49 p.m. | #

I always try to cake care of books and paper. However, unlike you DG, I'm not very good at it. I read a newspaper while eating, and then look at the grease marks that I've left on it with my grubby fingers. I'll print a document or two out, but then leave them lying around to inevitably become creased.

No, my 'irrational aversion' is with food. I make sure that I eat absolutely everything on my plate, so that when I'm finished there's not even a crumb left, let alone a stray pea or lettuce leaf. And why not? There's too much waste nowadays.

Andrewh | 17.09.08 - 2:23 p.m. | #

I like nice paper, however don't really care in the end.

I think this is probably the norm.

Another Andrew | 17.09.08 - 3:55 p.m. | #

I have two words for you: 'scan' and 'shred'. Pristine perfection preserved permanently!

Luca | Homepage | 17.09.08 - 8:35 p.m. | #

Would usually reply that you should get out more but in your case its obviously not relevant. Just kidding mate,brilliant blogs

jerym | 17.09.08 - 10:35 p.m. | #

Oh dear, youd have brained me yesterday, I had to rip the entire back page of my Grauniad to claim a free (multinational) coffee...

My bad...

Seriously, although I share your sentiments about fresh paper/documents I could NEVER hope to achieve perfection and, like Chris, with a 5 1/12 year old boy in the house I LIVE in a perpetual "crumple zone"...

CF

ChingfordFlanuer | 18.09.08 - 10:30 a.m. | #

Maybe you could try a bookbinding course DG? How to restore paper to pristine new condition, mending tears, creases, food and stains.

Just a thought...

Richard | Homepage | 18.09.08 - 11:01 a.m. | #

You can never have too much stationery, that's what I say, those 'Stationery Box' shops are heaven. (The smell of all that paper and ink is just wonderful, and all those different coloured post-it notes.) Oh dear our local one's just been taken over by Ryman's. Does that mean the prices will go up?

Surrey Girl | 18.09.08 - 10:22 p.m. | #

A long long long time ago, when I was a student, a flatmate of mine put a mug of coffee on my open dictionary...I could have committed a murder. I still have the dictionary but now regard it with pleasure for what it has witnessed - all its marks, its worn down leaves (use not abuse) etc etc.

I enjoy buying books at second hand stores because I often find the oddest things used as bookmarks - and they've been left by the previous owner. Thus, unlike you, I like to see that books and papers have been used (but not abused).

Bina | 20.09.08 - 10:58 a.m. | #











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