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Why is "there's no 'there,' there" suddenly so significant?

I've read this about three times today (brief non-contextual one-liners) -- I cannot understand why it's suddenly so popular.

The original quote by Gertrude Stein refers to Oakland. "The trouble with Oakland is that when you get there, there isn't any there there."

What are folks referring to now? Is it as politically bashing as it sounds?

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  • 1 decade ago
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    It's another way of asking, "Where's the beef?"

    There is no substance to whatever the speaker or writer is referring.

    It's current use is similar to Stein's. GS, who lived in Paris, saw her home city as lacking "thereness."

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