Listening isn't cheating

[Mara]

If it were not for AUDIOBOOKS I wouldn’t have listened to as many books in Read list.

[Jeanie]

Specs wrote: "Hearing isn't a skill, but listening certainly is!"

I agree and am on the side of "listening isn't cheating". But the skill of listening is a natural part of development... I've known six-month-old babies who sit and listen to their story books being read--over and over--without anyone having to teach them to do it. The skil of listening for long periods or to more highly technical or complicated material is something we may have to work to develop as we grow older, but few of us require the skil to actually be taught... some disabilities such as ADHD or receptive language impairments do need some training, but those are an exception. It's also true that some people find visual learning easier than auditory learning and may have to actively work to build up their listening skills in order to take in audiobooks... I'm guessing such people certainly don't find that listening is cheating!

[Robin P]

I have ADD tendencies and I find audiobooks help me focus on driving. If I don't have anything to listen to (rarely happens now!), I'll start thinking of something else entirely and really zone out. Plus the things I think about on my own are rarely inspiring or entertaining. On the other hand, I do learn well from hearing. I think I retain more from audiobooks than from print. I am a fast reader in print and it could be that I skip over things but in audio, I never speed up the narration.

[Dan]

Robin wrote: "I have ADD tendencies and I find audiobooks help me focus on driving. If I don't have anything to listen to (rarely happens now!), I'll start thinking of something else entirely and really zone out..."
This sounds sooooo much like me. I was adamant about not speeding up narration. Then I tried 1.25 and found I could catch up, a bit faster, on my books backlog and didn't feel I was missing much of anything. These days I'm at 1.5x and my backlog is worse! (on a side note, Audible has an offer for 12 credits all at once, and a 1 year membership (not subscription really as you have the credits) for $100 on a promo right now... I've used such things to really stock up. I will NEVER commute without audiobooks again, or do chores, or etc. These days I can't pick up a book to read anymore because I've gotten so used to playing mindless games on my phone whilst audiobooking during times when I can manage! I'm so far gone I don't know if I could do print or ebooks anymore

[SherryRose]

My eyes are awful and even with glasses I feel the strain. I'm so glad I can listen!

[Jun]

It annoys me when people say that listening is cheating. I mean, sure if you're listening to abridged recordings, but if not it's still processing the same information.

Now when I hear people say this, I tell them that they are confused and that reading is "Cheating." I don't actually believe it, but I enjoy their reactions.

Almost any argument they give for saying audio books are cheating can be inverted. "You're not using your eyes." "You're not using your ears." "You aren't practicing reading skills." "You aren't practicing your focused listening skills." "Well I don't like listening to a story, I like having a book in my hand." "Sounds like your problem not mine. I like the feel of my headphones and iPod." "Well listening doesn't help your written language abilities." "Not true, besides, I write books for a living. Where's your novel?"

[Jeanie]

Jun wrote: "It annoys me when people say that listening is cheating. I mean, sure if you're listening to abridged recordings, but if not it's still processing the same information.

Now when I hear people say..."

I'm clicking on my virtual "Like" button right now! ;)

[Specs]

+1 this is great Jun!

As for your last argument, what a pity I can't use that :) - I'll never be a writer. But writers need readers, right?

[Stephanie]

Alan, my feeling is that 'cheating' refers primarily to the abridged audiobooks. Otherwise, you are consuming the same materials as you would if you are reading. Yes, you are using different parts of your brain and yes, a narrator can influence your interpretation of the story.

On the other hand a narrator can also improve your understanding of a story. I could never slog through Moby Dick, but William Hootkin's narration from the stance of a sailor rather than 'just' a narrator adds a lot to the understanding and frankly, the thrill of the story. So novels you would never have gotten through reading are a delight to listen to. Yes, there are narrators that people don't like, but they are generally few.

Anyway, I too have vision damage, but don't really have to justify my listening to anybody. I was listening to books on tape before my vision loss for my commute. In those days, it was difficult to find unabridged works. Most of my family members do not listen to audiobooks because their attention wanders. Fine. No problem with that.