Reading audiobooks is still reading.

If you say you read an audiobook you don't have to "correct" yourself. I'd argue that you /shouldn't/, that you'd get less correct.

There's no need to say "well no I didn't read it" if it was an audiobook. There's no need to put "reading" in scare quotes.

It's reading just as much as reading print is.

I know there are worse problems, but it sucks having my favored reading format denigrated by sighted people, even to the point of them denying it's "real."

For the avoidance of doubt (I think I've just been softblocked over this??), I am not saying that visual and aural reading are identical. As a partially-sighted person with typical hearing, I find one modality much easier than the other!

I'm not making a point about sensory input. You can prefer one to the other! That's fine! This is a call to action, to stop saying and to watch out for others saying that audiobooks aren't "real" or don't "count" or are somehow inferior to print. That's all.

@bright_helpings i think people get mad at me bc i don’t specify that i include audiobooks in reading like i’ve been subtooted over this implying i’m being ableist for talking about how people should read more. but like it’s the same thing why wouldn’t i include audiobooks in this. it’s literally the same content lol
@shade I have sure encountered some weird ideas since making posts like these! People are wild.
@bright_helpings just think it’s funny how this sort of thing is policed and there are snobs on both sides. it’s the same with people reading from actual books vs e-readers. ur both reading the same thing what’s the issue lol
@shade Yeah a small but noisy minority of people who bang on about books or the joys of reading or whatever don't actually like those things, they like feeling superior to other people.