The comment about Cletus & etc. feels a bit like unnecessarily punching down. Overall your snark lands seriously well, but this one seems to be playing on a stereotype used to dismiss people living in poverty without access to education. Or maybe I'm just overly sensitive.
You know that thought did occur to me, but it's also pretty much a direct reference to a scene in The Simpsons, using the same names. What do you think? Should I punt it for the book?
I've watched a lot of Simpsons and didn't get the reference. My best guess is there are more readers who won't get it than there are those who will -- and without the reference it just comes across as mean. So yes, for what one opinion is worth, I'd drop it.
Things i learned today. This ⬆️⬆️
The comment about Cletus & etc. feels a bit like unnecessarily punching down. Overall your snark lands seriously well, but this one seems to be playing on a stereotype used to dismiss people living in poverty without access to education. Or maybe I'm just overly sensitive.
You know that thought did occur to me, but it's also pretty much a direct reference to a scene in The Simpsons, using the same names. What do you think? Should I punt it for the book?
I've watched a lot of Simpsons and didn't get the reference. My best guess is there are more readers who won't get it than there are those who will -- and without the reference it just comes across as mean. So yes, for what one opinion is worth, I'd drop it.
Fascinating, I never knew the background of this!