"For an adult, eating alone at McDonald's is admitting a kind of defeat"

This quote by Jonathan Carroll recommends that consuming alone at McDonald's signifies defeat for a grownup. It implies that adults should be able to find a better location to consume than McDonald's, which consuming alone there signifies failure. It might be translated as a commentary on the state of contemporary society, where individuals are so hectic that they do not have time to take a seat and delight in a meal with friends or family. It could also be analyzed as a commentary on the quality of food at McDonald's, suggesting that it is unsatisfactory for adults to eat there. Ultimately, this quote recommends that eating alone at McDonald's signifies defeat, and that grownups must make every effort to find better places to consume.