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Stenka25 Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary

The meaning of indistinguishable syndicated advice columns

The meaning of indistinguishable syndicated advice columns

The passage below is from ‘the Blank Slate’ by Steven Pinker.

http://evolbiol.ru/blankslate/blankslate.htm

They [=Identical twins] have similar attitudes toward controversial issues such as the death penalty, religion, and modern music. They resemble each other not just in paper-and-pencil tests but in consequential behavior such as gambling, divorcing, committing crimes, getting into accidents, and watching television. And they boast dozens of shared idiosyncrasies such as giggling incessantly, giving interminable answers to simple questions, dipping buttered toast in coffee, and — in the case of Abigail van Buren and Ann Landers — writing indistinguishable syndicated advice columns.

When I read the underlined part I first thought ‘Identical twins’ have a shared idiosyncrasy to send indistinguishable letters asking advice to ‘Dear Ann Landers’ or ‘Dear Abby.’
But now I’m not sure. This time it seems that they have a peculiarity to write same answers to those who are asking advice.

Can you help me?

Regards.
  

Top answer

Stenka25 it seems that they have a peculiarity to write same answers to those who are asking advice. That's how I see it too.

  • Stenka25 it seems that they have a peculiarity to write same answers to those who are asking advice.
  • That's how I see it too.
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3 Answers
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Stenka25it seems that they have a peculiarity to write same answers to those who are asking advice.
That's how I see it too.
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Stenka25Abigail van Buren and Ann Landers
These two ladies wrote advice columns in newspapers for many years.
They were twins who, it is rumored, were very competitive and never spoke to each other.

If you read the advice from "Dear Abby," it was indistinguishable from the advice from "Dear Ann Landers."
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Thanks a lot as always, AlpheccaStars.

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