Consider that maybe you missed pjbrunet's point.

"At the time, if anyone had asked me "what are you going to 'do' with that? what about the economics?" (and I know this, because they did), I would have said that economics aren't everything. Are they?"

While I was in art school, I can't count the number of times I heard the phrase: "Would you like fries with that?"

#2 was always something about underwater basketweaving.

I guess the humor/affirmation didn't translate. Maybe I hit "reply" too far down, took a while for the fries thing to bubble up from 19 years ago. Maybe not such a common phrase in this context as it was back then.

Haha, oh goodness. It seems an apology is actually due. Sorry, pjbrunet-- I thought your remark quite mean-spirited on the first go. But I'm delighted to know my interpretation was incorrect!

Whoever initially decided to repurpose McDonald's sales language, I passed the downvotes to them. Coincidentally, my girlfriend/classmate worked at McDonald's through college. She took no student loans. (Her father was kicked out of our school for clearing the dean's desk in response to "Poor boys like you don't belong here.") I expected to make six-figures as a digital artist (somewhere like ILM) straight out of college and the economy was thriving. Maybe that's why I blew off the basketweaving jabs. But as this thread demonstrates, maybe those were missed opportunities to discuss artistic ideals, why potential suffering would be worth it. At that point I had no idea some writers literally ate dog food to survive while working on their books or that an artist like DeKooning nearly lost his teeth from starvation. What was the real intent behind "Would you like fries with that?" I don't know. But it has a ring to it ;-)

Perhaps so. If pjbrunet was making a clever joke, I suppose I owe them an apology.

I dunno, I missed it too. Maybe something to do with the economic use of a personal epiphany? Either way I appreciate your response, and your openness to be wrong.

> Would you like fries with that?

This was a snide remark about education as emotional entertainment, a bourgeois pleasure if there ever was one.

Alternatively, it was about some claim that English majors are likely to be employed at fast food establishments.

Alternatively alternatively, it was about the fast food nature of the life experience gained in an English course.

Any other interpretations?

How about, you can make fun of religion while working at mcdonalds, get yelled at for it, and improve your life and outlook. From a systems analysis perspective for that one small task its a more efficient vehicle/tool than education. It is a pretty simple and straightforward lesson that doesn't need to be needlessly complicated.

I can get insights from literature... and other things. I can also DO other things. Lit as the only source of insight is inaccurate, misleading, and inefficient. Don't confuse this with the logical opposite and assume I'm saying there's no insight in lit... I love to read, especially the "good stuff". I just acknowledge there's a whole world out there.