fiction or non-fiction?

[KellyHabersham]

*I don't think this woman was purposely trying to be sucky, but it WAS very frustrating trying to explain things to her*

I was shelving in the library yesterday afternoon, when a customer came up to me, gestured towards the directional signs at the ends of the shelves, and asked what they meant - best way to explain things is that this woman did NOT seem to have any idea what "fiction" or "non-fiction" meant, nor did it apparently sink in when I tried to explain it to her. And where this got really frustrating was that she had a vague idea of the kind of book she was looking for, but since she didn't understand the difference between fiction and non-fiction, I couldn't really help her, and I got the feeling she thought I didn't know what "fiction" and "non-fiction" were myself.

[Broomjockey]

Bwah? She didn't know, and couldn't grasp it? It's not like it's particularly difficult.

Non-fiction: based on real facts. Names, places, events that happened in this plane of existence.
Fiction: based on imagination. References to names, places, and events will be to things only happening in that book, or series of books.

I realize there's areas of cross-over with that definition, such as historical fiction, or essays on analysing fiction, but for someone who doesn't know the difference, it'd be good enough.

*shakes head* I just don't get some people.

[JustaCashier]

I've understood the difference, going back to probably third or fourth grade, or whenever they start teaching that stuff.

However, even though I knew the difference, it somehow felt wrong that true stories were given what sounds like a negative depiction, while those dirty, lying, no-good, son-of-a-bitching fake
stories, were given the more positive sounding depiction!

Mike

[dalesys]

What is reality, anyway?

[XCashier]

However, even though I knew the difference, it somehow felt wrong that true stories were given what sounds like a negative depiction, while those dirty, lying, no-good, son-of-a-bitching fake stories, were given the more positive sounding depiction!

Probably because calling the two categories "fact" and "fiction" would confuse folks even more. "But they both begin with 'F'!"

What is reality, anyway?

I don't know, but be careful. It bites!

[Seshat]

Ah, but literature, philosophy, criticism, and a great deal of opinion comes under 'non-fiction', as do all the conflicting world religions.

So 'fact' does not cover the whole terrain of 'non-fiction'.

Plus, scientists would object to calling theories facts. And nothing in science is yet deemed a fact. At best, we have axioms, and that only in mathematics.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

Not sure where my mind is at the moment, but I read the title as "fiction or porn-fiction"

Egads.

[42_42_42]

Bet that lady doesn't understand the difference between films and documentaries, either.

[ShadowTiger]

See, I feel that everything before the last line is understandable. The last line,

I couldn't really help her, and I got the feeling she thought I didn't know what "fiction" and "non-fiction" were myself.

... is something I kinda hate. When someone who clearly works there is trying to explain it to you and you don't know any better and you know it, why assume he's wrong too? THAT is what never made any sense to me. If you think you're getting incorrect information, why do you think it's coming from the worker? When would you know when you're receiving the correct information?

[depechemodefan]

I forgot the exact dialouge, but this woman wanted romance novels, and she thought they were with the Non-fiction. Me, w/o a B.A., knows that there is some literature, like pre-gothic or Mideval literture, that is considered Romance literature, but she seemed more of a bodice-ripping paperback romance-seeking person. Her husband, I remember, was telling her, "honey, nonfiction is real, fiction is not real."

We have fiction, then the sub-genres of mystery, science fiction and westerns. A lot of women ask for a romance section, but alas they must look through the regular fiction for romance. Though we do have a seperate romance paperback section by the computers on the first floor.