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reading manga in the book store.

I went to my favorite book store where I read and buy my manga the other day and I found myself thinking about how aggravating it is to look for manga while having to move around through the maze of other people reading manga.

it would be one thing if it was like a community specific thing that only manga readers done and actually acknowledged each other because that would be cool. But no, they lean right up against the book shelf and and pretend that your not even there. I mean there are tables where you can go sit and read.

I was wondering if this was a problem that occurs everywhere. Of course this could just be a pet peeve of mine, but does it bother anybody else.

I don't think you're practically stealing by reading it in the store. If they didn't want you to then everything would be shrink wrapped. If they aren't then what do you expect? Plus many people won't buy something, like a manga series, until they've read a volume or two and found out if they even like it. I won't buy a manga series unless I'm sure I like it. Besides, at least the people are READING, and not being little a'holes running up and down the malls acting like jerkoffs. I can deal with the floor reader much easier then the loud mouth idiots. Plus, if they're in the way on the floor why not simply ask them to move or tell a worker at the bookstore? Seems pretty simple to me.

As for how they treat the books, again if it bothers you sooooo much why not simply say something politely? I know this is a foreign concept to most people but you know asking nicely does work sometimes believe it or not. Personally, I read volumes all the time and I always treat them the same way I treat my own collection. Then again I also worked retail for many years and have this OCD issue where I have to make sure things are in order. All retail workers suffer from something I think Confused Unfortunately though people will always treat books, movies, or anything else that's not there with no respect. Nowadays that's how people are raised, or should I say not raised. Personal responsibility and respect are ideas that just aren't popular and most people don't go by. Be mad all you want but it won't change it. If you're so upset over how those floor laying little bastards treat the mangas/books then once again say something. I was raised with the idea that if something bothers you then say something. If you don't then you don't have the right to bitch about it. Too many people complain, and too few actually do anything. Not saying beat them senseless, as fun as it may be, but politely say something. They act ignorant then go tell the staff they're ripping the books. That'll get their attention.

I'll tell you guys what, you go to a used bookstore in Japan like Book Off and you'll see people reading manga in there ALL the time. But the employees don't really give a crap about that, because it keeps people coming in and there's sure to be something that catches their eye while reading and they'll buy it. Just because you read it doesn't mean that you won't buy it. But there's nowhere to sit in those types of bookstores, so people pay the price of having to stand up.

Actually, I've even seen that here in the Book Off in Rolling Hills Plaza (even been guilty of it myself on occasion) and yeah, the clerks don't care at all, as you said-- kinda odd that they do that when the stereotype of the Japanese bookstore proprieter is "buy it or get the $%#@ out!"

Personally, if I see someone reading in the store I work at, I have no problem with it. As long as they aren't making a mess or being obnoxious or blocking an isle, it's fine. If someone is blocking an isle, we just politely ask them to move and there's rarely a problem. We have a couple benches for people to sit on and read at, so they either go back there or leave. No big deal. That's why we put them there. In no way do I think it's some form of stealing. If they don't buy it, oh well. Maybe they'll come back another time to buy it. Or, you can look at it this way and say that the book is here for someone else to buy.

With manga, I can say I have read in the store. Sometimes I'll only read a little bit, and sometimes I'll read a whole volume. Maybe two! If I don't buy it, its usually because I didn't like it, or that I just didn't have the money at the time. I've actually read several titles in stores that I've put on my list to buy later because I've enjoyed them. I wouldn't have known if I liked it or not if I didn't sit down somewhere in the store (in a chair usually, or if I can't find one, off to the side of the isle where I'm not in the way) to read it.

As for being destructive, occasionally we get people who rip stuff and yes, it is frustrating. They've damaged merchandise that someone else could have bought. But I don't get all worked up over it. It's frustrating and I wish people wouldn't do it, but it happens and we just have to deal with it.