Quote:
Originally Posted by Mickey330
I guess I don't understand the "pity" part about reading a book [in public]. I truly does not compute to me.
Should I be worried that people may start an intervention for me - just so that others won't pity me 'cause I'm reading a book in, gasp, public?
Marilyn
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Well, I've noticed that in the US, being alone in public is generally looked at askance
. If you're reading (alone) in public, that's strike two. If you happen to be reading alone, in public and at a
restaurant, that's sacrilege of the first order and you better get ready to be burned at the stake
. (I laugh now, but that attitude usually makes me retch
- as if it's just so sad if you're not skipping along gaily hand in hand with a partner or amidst a gaggle of chirping friends). Alone != lonely, but that's exactly the tautology I've seen subscribed to in this context.
*Sigh* Anyway, I think that's the attitude the writer of the article seems to have internalized and why he wrote the pity thing you brought up. Disgusting isn't it?
