In Philip K. Dick's "A Scanner Darkly," the protagonist envisions a future where the mundane act of consuming fast food transforms into a continuous cycle of buying and selling. He imagines a society where the convenience of home consumption leads to people trading items like McDonald's hamburgers amongst themselves, eliminating the need for outdoor interaction.
This reflects a deeper commentary on consumer culture, technology, and isolation. The thought reveals concerns about the intertwining of commercialism with daily life, suggesting a potential loss of community and human connection in an increasingly automated and insular world.