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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Melissa Mazzanti

Melissa Mazzanti

America and the 'Fun' Generation - NYTimes.com - 0 views

  • In the history of language, words rise and fall. We make and remake them; they make and remake us.
    • Melissa Mazzanti
       
      How do words catch on?
  • turning away from an arguably aristocratic idea of the intrinsic worth of things: from pleasure, with its sense of an internal condition of mind, to fun, so closely affiliated with outward activities; from excellence, an inner trait whose attainment is its own reward, to achievement, which comes through slogging and recognition.
  • “Pleasure” carries a hint of the sublime; it speaks of a state of mind that comes organically, that need not be artificially induced.
    • Melissa Mazzanti
       
      Reminds me of Epicureanism a little bit
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • If “pleasure” comes from being and from talking through ideas, “fun” comes from doing and, often, switching off the brain.
  • “Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one.”
  • It comes in doing specific things. It is more about checking boxes than fulfilling inner potentialities.
    • Melissa Mazzanti
       
      What achievement is considered by many people today.
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