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bhbhbhhh t1_ixafswr wrote

I don’t disagree with him in disliking the anti-intellectualist streak of American culture, but he’s annoyingly hamfisted about it.

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PhasmaFelis t1_ixargc0 wrote

The utter, dehumanized horror when he describes someone walking down the sidewalk wearing earbuds so when you say hello to them they can't hear it.

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Xaibian t1_ixb4emy wrote

Keep in mind he wrote that in the 50’s.

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PhasmaFelis t1_ixbmmok wrote

And he foresaw the existence of earbuds, which hadn't been invented yet at the time.

It's still a bit histrionic. Mildred's relationship with the TV, for example, is genuinely chilling (and prophetic). The idea that someone might enjoy listening to music while walking is not.

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bookworm579 OP t1_ixagb9b wrote

Interesting, I can see where you are coming from. The writing does kind of come across that way.

the plot also only refers to it a few times outright, I feel like it might have been cool if he went deeper on that.

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