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Sat 15 Dec, 2012 08:07 pm
"We were about to mix it up with the rich kids. Big rich kids. A lot of big rich kids. They lived in big homes on rolling hills; we, in row houses on narrow streets. The contrast between our worlds was as obvious as the absent sidewalks." ----Edwin Sprague The Z Factor
What does "the absent sidewalks" mean here? Why can the sidewalk be used to describe something obvious? Is it because big places in America do not use sidewalks very much and people drive more often?
@Justin Xu,
That would be a logical guess, but frankly to my eyes it seems meant to be an absurdity.
I would call it an obscure humor that is meant to be ironic.
@Justin Xu,
Quote:What does "the absent sidewalks" mean here?
It means they stepped out the door straight onto the street, or that there was no walkway separating pedestrians from road traffic.
Quote:Why can the sidewalk be used to describe something obvious?
Because having no sidewalks make it obvious that it is a poor section of the city.
Quote:Is it because big places in America do not use sidewalks very much and people drive more often?
No.
@laughoutlood,
Quote:Because having no sidewalks make it obvious that it is a poor section of the city.
This is false as many neighborhoods have no sidewalks regardless of the value of the properties. For example, some rural areas and some suburbs.
@Ragman,
"They lived in big homes on rolling hills; we, in row houses on narrow streets. The contrast between our worlds was as obvious as ..."
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