The Battle Wages On

So the printed book and its vast army of loyal followers come to a stalemate with the digital print.
" So what makes you think you're so better?" asked Commander Manuscript.
" Because I'm more advanced," retorted Commander Nook.
Both parties had come to a halt. The printed army could not get past the complicated construction on new age technology. They had no weapons to penetrate the highly built wall of computer screens and digital font. Yet the digital army could not obliterate the strong legions of followers, such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Thomas Jefferson, that still held tight to the old ways. Neither could gain or lose ground.

So will the war never end? Or was there never really a war to begin with?

" I propose a remediation of sorts," said Commander Nook pompously.
" I don't think that's a great idea," responded Commander Manuscript. " You already change the way we look and feel. And you make us seem difficult to use."
" Nonsense!" laughed Commander Nook. " We have merely revolutionized the meaning of text! We help people look at things in a different light. Plus, they're too lazy to want to flip the pages of the dictionary. Bahahaha!"

Suddenly a flash a lightening streaks across the deep blue sky. A figure materializes between the front lines. " Halt!"the voice shouts. " I am the great J. David Bolter and I say halt!"

The two armies grow silent. The figure continues to loom over them. " Now listen, you may not agree with what I say, heck I don't even agree with what I say, but I've been inspired by the mighty Dr. Lay to disagree with my own statements, or at least voice different opinions about them. This bickering feud between you has got to stop. Can't you work together in the same world? Yes, people are going to like Commander Nook better. Yes, people are going to like Commander Manuscript better. But the message should still be the same. Readers of all kinds should be able to get the same information. What should be the difference? One mode is not better than the other- they are the same. Although I'd much prefer the feel of the book than that of a kindle, yet nevertheless neither form should become outdated. Technology took time to develop- older generations didn't have what we have today. Yet now that we have technology, we can't let books fade out of existence. Digital print is not ruining the past. it is merely providing another way for people who are lazy or hate reading to search for things required of them to read. They don't want to flip through a book because they hate books. Likewise, a person may not know how to use technology. You can never go wrong with a paperback. Now stop this squabbling and learn to deal with each other. Can't we all just get along?"

The mysterious figure leers at each party. No one moves. No one looks interested to move. Is the stalemate continuing? If so, for how long? Will one army finally diminish or will one grow? Or are both sides just too stubborn or slow to adapt to their environment? Stay tuned and find out what happens next in the future...