| Author | Message | ||
     Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1762 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
William James Adams, aka Will.i.Am http://reviews.aalbc.com/will_i_am.htm KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read? WiA: Can I be honest. KW: Of course. WiA: I’ve never really read a book. KW: Why not? WiA: I can read pretty well, but my attention span is really short. When I read, the first paragraph is great, the second is great, but by about the third paragraph or so, I’m just reading the words and it’s no longer sinking into my mind. | ||
| Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1763 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
OK, now I've heard everything. Admittedly, that is the way I feel when I try to read a book when I'm too tired to concentrate. If William is indeed being honest, this sounds like a serious problem... | ||
| Ferociouskitty Veteran Poster Username: Ferociouskitty Post Number: 727 Registered: 02-2008 Rating: N/A |
I thought better of my meanie first reaction and deleted it. Because he really could have a serious problem... | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13696 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Sounds like he has a case of ADD (attention deficit disorder.) | ||
| Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1765 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
I heard the movie was REALLY good. Early indications from viewers of the boot leg version are very favorable | ||
| Ferociouskitty Veteran Poster Username: Ferociouskitty Post Number: 728 Registered: 02-2008 Rating: N/A |
Are you referring to the Tyson documentary? | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 10376 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Ferocious, I think Troy's referring to the the Wolverine movie that was leaked prior to its scheduled upcoming release date. Will.i.am is a co-star of the movie. | ||
| Ferociouskitty Veteran Poster Username: Ferociouskitty Post Number: 729 Registered: 02-2008 Rating: N/A |
Ohhhhhhhhh!!!! Thanks for clearing that up... Reminds me that Tyler Perry is in the new Star Trek... ;-) | ||
| Serenasailor AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Serenasailor Post Number: 1908 Registered: 01-2006 Rating: N/A |
I'm not surprised!! | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 1901 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: N/A |
The movie was great but Wia sucked big time! | ||
| Carey AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Carey Post Number: 1902 Registered: 05-2004 Rating: |
The movie was great but Wia sucked big time! | ||
| Chrishayden "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Chrishayden Post Number: 7909 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A |
This man is a millionaire and has never read a book. So what does that tell you about the importance of reading books? | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13701 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Does it maybe tell you that you don't need money to enrich your mind, and that your mind doesn't require enriching if you have money. | ||
| Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1767 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
As Troy sits at Chris' feet soaking up his pearls of wisdom (humm, that scene is ripe for misinterpretation but we'll go with it): Gee Ferociouskitty, please tell me Perry will at least be wearing men's clothing... | ||
| Yvettep AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 3538 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
Troy, I hope you immediately shot him off an email suggesting some books that might hold his attention. Maybe he'd enjoy reading more on a Kindle? Or maybe he'd do well with graphic novels? | ||
| Ferociouskitty Veteran Poster Username: Ferociouskitty Post Number: 735 Registered: 02-2008 Rating: N/A |
LOL @ Troy...maybe this will be one of his "don't pigeon-hole me" moments, and he'll be dressed like a (male) alien. In Why Did I Get Married?, he's wearing men's clothing, fyi. ;-) | ||
| Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1770 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Yvettep, honestly I don't think WIA is interested in reading. Usually people who are interviewed will make up something -- just so they don't sound ignorant. I suspect WIA does not think his response sounds ignorant. Do you think it is? In a world where information and entertainment can be consumed in many different ways. Is it really necessary to read a book? Some people find it astonishing that the majority of Americans do not have a passport. Is that ignorant too? Do people have to travel and read in order not to be considered ignorant? Or are we applying the sensibilities of an educated, and snobbish class of folks? Ferociouskitty, re: Perry wheh! | ||
| Yvettep AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 3539 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: |
I suspect WIA does not think his response sounds ignorant. Do you think it is? I think the fact that he prefaced his response the way he did reveals that he thinks it sounds ignorant. Also, it does not sound so much as if he is not interested, but that he actually has tried and has had trouble maintaining concentration. Luckily, he has found a way to channel his creativity to other pursuits. It is no more "necessary" to read a book than it is necessary to go out to eat at a restaurant. These pursuits represent "higher order" activities on the hierarchy of needs humans have. Shelter, companionship, basic nutrition, water, health... Those are what is necessary. I do, however, honestly believe that people who are able to meet their basic needs will have their lives that much more enriched if they read books, and travel outside of their neighborhood (let alone outside of the country). I do not feel this is snobbish. Precisely because I think everyone is capable of being so enriched is what makes this attitude the opposite of snobbery. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 10377 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: |
There are many ways one can succeed in America. And some such ways are accessible by means OTHER than via becoming a competent book reader. Will is an Artist. A MUSICIAN. I wager MANY of the alltime greatest, most successful, accomplished and perhaps even wealthy musicians have scarcely read an entire book from beginning to end. But the AVERAGE American Millionaire has a minimum of a bachelors college degree (the average Millionaire has also been married to only one spouse for +20 years, but that's a subject for another time). And to get a degree, you will very likely have to read at least ONE if not a couple of dozen or so books. So while we might acknowledge and applaud Will's talent and accomplishments, we should be sure to communicate to young (and even not-so-young) aspiring millionaires that Will's success is much more a product of the EXCEPTION, not the RULE. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13706 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
Some people read books to acquire information, others read them to be entertained and still others read them because they have an appreciation for the creative process. Most book readers are motivated by all of the above. What's important is that you are able to read, able to absorb and understand the printed word so that should you choose to read a book, you will comprehend what it is that you are reading. Those who don't read books are denying their brains the opportunity to be stimulated. Being a millionaire is no substitute for being a literate person. IMO. | ||
| Troy AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Troy Post Number: 1771 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
"Being a millionaire is no substitute for being a literate person." Cynique, I feel you on that one. But it seems like our society if producing people that would disagree. Will.i.am appears to be reflective of this. Do you think the average person would rather be; Highly literate, capable of consuming a variety of books for fun and information AND live paycheck to paycheck with little savings and no real prospect for a comfortable retirement. OR Mentally unable to finish a complete book AND be a multi-millionaire -- financially set for life. -------------- ABM, it would be nice to know what percentage of richest blacks people are not tied to entertainment, sports or any other profession that does not require strong reading skills or the ability to read a whole book as a prerequisite. ----------------------- Yvettep, can someone lead a happy fulfilled life without pursuing these "higher order" activities? Should we think less of someone who is able participate in these activities (like reading) but chooses not to? | ||
| Yvettep AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 3542 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
Troy, yes. I never said such people should be thought less of. Many, many people are happy and fulfilled without reading. | ||
| Yvettep AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 3543 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A |
BTW, as much as I am a fan of Will.I.Am, it remains to be seen whether or not he is, indeed, "set financially for life." What seems clear--by his own admission--that he is not able to complete a book. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 10381 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: |
Troy: "Do you think the average person would rather be...Highly literate, capable of consuming a variety of books for fun and information AND live paycheck to paycheck with little savings and no real prospect for a comfortable retirement...OR...Mentally unable to finish a complete book AND be a multi-millionaire -- financially set for life." The problem with what you present here is it appear to imply that they are EQUALLY accessible when we know they are not. And you leave out a THIRD option: Being illiterate, uneducated, unemployable and BROKE. And that third option is much more prevalent amongst those who canNOT read a book than is the path Will manage to make for himself. | ||
| Abm "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Abm Post Number: 10382 Registered: 04-2004 Rating: N/A |
Troy: "ABM, it would be nice to know what percentage of richest blacks people are not tied to entertainment, sports or any other profession that does not require strong reading skills or the ability to read a whole book as a prerequisite." Indeed it would be. My guess would be we're talking somewhere well BELOW the bottom 25 Percentile. | ||
| Cynique "Cyniquian" Level Poster Username: Cynique Post Number: 13708 Registered: 01-2004 Rating: N/A |
What I meant by my statement is that a rich person should not be thought of as being more admirable than a literate person. And it is possible to hold a rich person and a well-read one in equally high regard. |
