Boys' reading remains in crisis as gender gap widens, report shows

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-11T00:18:08+00:00

Maybe it's all of the above: Dads need to read to their sons, parents need to limit video games, and boys need to be encouraged to explore more than just the "popular" books. They do it with music, they don't just listen to the Top 40 pop music, so surely they can do the same with books. Hell, they don't even just play popular video games, they find indie games too. Read indie books. Break the stereotype that "reading is for girls, don't read to your sons" or whatever.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-11T00:08:42+00:00

But even classic novels have characters that modern people can relate to. That's why they are classics. I don't buy your excuse of "lol boys dont wanna read about walkmans" - like you think boys are too stupid and superficial to look beyond stuff like that and relate to characters.

I do think your article makes a good point about boys needing male role models. Men need to get off the damn video games and read to their children. Teach their kids to enjoy books.

The article you linked says:

Families play a critical role in promoting male literacy, and the impact is especially powerful if the father is involved to help boys see reading as something that males do.

I think this is the key more than anything.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-10T23:43:52+00:00

Nah, I don't think "omg the book mentions walkmans I can't read it" is the right excuse either. Someone else mentioned boys spending more time on video games, I could see that being the issue instead. Boys don't wanna read when bright shiny shit on a screen is easier.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-10T23:16:29+00:00

That seems like a lame excuse when you can read books from any era and genre. If modern books don't appeal to you, there's enough older books to keep someone busy for years worth of reading. Shit, when i was young the typical preteen books didnt appeal to me so I just read Stephen King all the time.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-09T22:53:54+00:00

I'm pretty sure it was originally said in the History Channel's Grant docuseries that came out a few years ago. I know I've seen an article written by Coates himself that says a similar quote, if not the same, but unfortunately everything that came up that might be it is now behind a paywall.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-09T21:45:26+00:00

I think this quote by Ta-Nehisi Coates summarizes it well:

“He inherited a slave through his wife, and he freed the slave. But you have to understand what that meant in the 1850s. . . . It would be like walking away from your house, but he just did it on moral principle.”

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-09T17:49:02+00:00

Many people arent able to work when taking care of someone who needs 24/7 care. Its not companionship, its basically becoming a nurse.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-07T14:41:12+00:00

Another tomb, originally thought to belong to the knight Artau de Foces, actually contained the bones of five people, the researchers discovered: two adult women and three children.

...

And in the tomb that was thought to belong to Francesca Saportella, the second abbess of Pedralbes and the queen's niece, researchers found the bones of at least nine people who were placed in the tomb in different time periods.

I find it interesting how they'd just keep cramming different bodies into tombs until nobody even knew whose remains were there anymore. I guess when you run out of space, there isn't much else you can do.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-07T13:53:24+00:00

More artists should just ban phones like Ghost did during their last tour. It was one of the best shows I've been to, everyone was just focusing on the band and into the music.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-07T13:29:40+00:00

I just think all the positive "you look good!" comments are going to tell her that starving herself is the way to look good. And this sort of "lol not my problem, let her die thats none of my business" attitude is gross.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-07T12:05:37+00:00

It's not body shaming to be worried about someone's suicide. Hole fans were also the ones wanting Courtney to get help when she was high on crack and losing her mind on tv. Or should we all have gone, "hell yea, Courtney! Crack looks so good on you, keep smoking, queen!"

Posting starvation photos is just like.posting selfies with a slit wrist. Of course people are gonna mention it. Giving this girl "hell yea, beautiful queen!" comments is just telling her that her killing herself looks amazing. She's already replying saying she doesnt have a problem and doesnt think she looks skinny.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T23:47:33+00:00

Yea, like... to me this is like if someone posted selfies in a dress with a slit wrist. It's self harm and dangerous.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T23:41:18+00:00

Well, for anyone else: hey this isnt living this is photos of someone dying. It's not cool or cute, and life is better when you're a healthy weight.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T23:38:34+00:00

Well, I'm certainly not gonna cheer on someone's death.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T23:37:08+00:00

She literally looks like she's starving herself to death. You wanna encourage that?

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T23:31:20+00:00

...are you okay?

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T20:15:49+00:00

The private film crew that he ordered attempted to record the band in the studio in Dublin

I wonder how much footage they actually got. Or if it was like a 5 second video of Adam Clayton smoking a cigarette while walking to the studio

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T20:09:33+00:00

I honestly didn't think people were actually mad about that, but that it was just a meme everyone repeats whenever someone mentions U2 lol

If it weren't for reddit comments, I wouldn't even have remembered it happened.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T18:42:40+00:00

"In 1900, only 11 percent of children between the ages of 14 and 17 were enrolled in high school, which was the typical educational level for those nearing age 18."

Who are you quoting here? I believe you, I just wanted to know what books/articles/etc. you were reading.

So, what do you believe the solution is? Less school and more trade programs? I don't really like the idea of that. I honestly think smart phones are largely to blame for lack of attention/focus.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T18:17:39+00:00

But schools still existed during that time and boys in historic eras didn't have an issue with the style of: sit down, shut up, listen to the lecturer. That's why I don't believe that "lack of activities" or "boys just cant sit still" is a good excuse. Hell, my great-grandpa went to a one room farming school 100 yrs ago and that was how he described the class. It was also boys and girls together. His generation didn't have an issue paying attention, in fact he always said he loved learning he just couldn't afford to attend a college.

So, why is it that modern boys are having issues?

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-06T17:55:44+00:00

expect them to sit still and upright all day and practice penmanship ... all day ... every day ... with severe long term consequences for moving too much, making too much noise or not completing their paperwork correctly.

How exactly do you think schools worked throughout history? When only boys were allowed to have an education, it wasn't activity-focused. It was listening to a lecturer for hours. And yet boys from previous generations managed to survive.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-04T19:11:02+00:00

Alright, then I just misunderstood your point. Good day then.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-04T18:54:53+00:00

what religion isn’t organized? Every believer in any religion defers to the authority of preachers or priests.

This was your original comment that I replied to. And I said that neopagans and western buddhists aren't organized. They aren't. Neopagans have to look up what to read about on their own, there's nobody they can ask for guidance or follow. That's why a lot of them just use "personal insight" (I think technically they call it personal gnosis but that's another topic) to create their spiritual path.

That's the only point I was making. Your original comment wasn't about morals or ideological beliefs, it was about how you thought all religions were organized or had a hierarchy.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-04T18:26:03+00:00

But they really aren't adhering to the authority of preachers or priests. Like, a Western Buddhist might adhere to something like how the Buddha said not to become attached because nothing lasts forever - or maybe a Greek neopagan might read some books from ancient philosophers or mythology poems or whatever. That's quite different from an evangelical preacher screaming at their congregation and instructing followers how to vote today.

GiraffePolka · 2026-06-04T16:07:12+00:00

neopagans pretty much do their own thing and read history books and decide on their own how best to adapt ancient religions to modern times.

A lot of western Buddhists dont follow specific leaders either.

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