Read this only if you are really interested

Here’s a little secret.

Even people who work for the newspaper don’t read all of it.

That should be obvious, I suppose. I mean, no one reads every word of The Spokesman-Review.

But I sometimes get the impression from those who don’t regularly look at a paper that they believe being a newspaper reader means you have to read the whole thing.

What a laugh. Got any idea how long that would take? (Yes, even the Monday paper.)

In reality, of course, most of us scan and skim. We turn the pages in search of something interesting and then zero in on those particular stories, photos, graphics or ads that appeal to us.

It’s a time-honored approach. It works.

But I think at least a few nonreaders believe you are supposed to feel guilty about the articles you pass over. They’re so wrong.

Hey, this isn’t homework.

Reading a newspaper involves making countless decisions at a speed that makes channel-surfing seem plodding by comparison. And one of the little pleasures of this activity is skipping stuff that, for one reason or another, does not interest you.

For instance, there are those who take a certain amount of pleasure in not reading The Slice. That’s fine. In fact, I can relate to that.

I have no wish to hurt any colleagues’ feelings. But there are things in the S-R that I wouldn’t read even if someone held a bayonet to my back. Some bylines double as warning labels.

Of course, poring over features or columns specifically because you enjoy loathing them is another often-overlooked delight of the newspaper habit. But that’s sort of a different subject.

My point is this: Reading the paper is intended to be a pleasurable experience, not a chore. The days are long gone when anyone in this business expected people to slog through everything out of some sense of civic duty.

The men and women who edit this newspaper know full well that not every content element will appeal to every reader. The supermarket analogy has been around for years and still seems valid.

We all pick and choose.

I just wish a few of the brighter nonreaders realized how engaging that can be.

“Countdown to summer: If you start Sunday and don’t count the day of the actual solstice, you’ll have 10 days to prepare for the official start of summer.

My advice? Unless you have a rare eye condition, start practicing not wearing sunglasses indoors.

“Family matter: Paul Karr’s young granddaughter got worried when she learned that her mother could one day become a grandmother. The poor kid thought that meant her mom would no longer be her mother.

“Today’s Slice question: What one piece of advice do you offer summer interns at your business?