She had heard all about excluded middles; they were bad shit, to be avoided; and how had it ever happened here, with the chances once so good for diversity?
In "The Crying of Lot 49," the protagonist reflects on the concept of excluded middles, which represent binary choices that overlook the complexities of diversity. She is troubled by the idea that such exclusion has manifested in her surroundings, where there were once strong prospects for inclusivity and a rich variety of experiences. The notion of "bad shit" further emphasizes the negative implications of this exclusion for society. As she navigates...