I think there's a criticism of tourism and especially the self-satisfied, privileged attitude of (many) tourists. They go on eco-tours, drive around on autobuses checking out the local "fauna" and feel like they are immersing themselves in other cultures but really they condescendingly assume that their alleged sensitivity conveys upon them a right to do so. Everything is at the margins with them at the centre.
I think it fits with the first verse, wherein the same attitude prevails. The "cardiac kid" suggests terminal illness, especially followed by "don't go chronological on all your friends" (i.e. don't die). But there is a distancing and a perverse voyeurism on the part of the observer, who kind of likes the suffering of others. It probably contributes to a sense of charity that actually translates to a feeling of superiority. They don't want the kid to die because it will make THEM feel tense. So perhaps this form of voyeuristic interest in tragedy is another form of "tourism". Everything serves to validate the observer. Knowing Malkmus and his nihilism this might just refer to human nature in general. They feel like they have a right to life even if others don't (a right to sit on the face, i.e. the face of the planet, but also on the face of others figuratively).
Even the title of the song supports this. Platform suggests dealing from an elevated position, and the blues is the attitude of people who can only transfer the suffering of others into their own trite, self-absorbed narratives.
Obviously there are holes in this interpretation but it's the best I could come up with. I think the final verse just follows up on the general argument by indicating the superficiality of most people. Their narratives sort of dissolve into incoherence.
I think there's a criticism of tourism and especially the self-satisfied, privileged attitude of (many) tourists. They go on eco-tours, drive around on autobuses checking out the local "fauna" and feel like they are immersing themselves in other cultures but really they condescendingly assume that their alleged sensitivity conveys upon them a right to do so. Everything is at the margins with them at the centre. I think it fits with the first verse, wherein the same attitude prevails. The "cardiac kid" suggests terminal illness, especially followed by "don't go chronological on all your friends" (i.e. don't die). But there is a distancing and a perverse voyeurism on the part of the observer, who kind of likes the suffering of others. It probably contributes to a sense of charity that actually translates to a feeling of superiority. They don't want the kid to die because it will make THEM feel tense. So perhaps this form of voyeuristic interest in tragedy is another form of "tourism". Everything serves to validate the observer. Knowing Malkmus and his nihilism this might just refer to human nature in general. They feel like they have a right to life even if others don't (a right to sit on the face, i.e. the face of the planet, but also on the face of others figuratively). Even the title of the song supports this. Platform suggests dealing from an elevated position, and the blues is the attitude of people who can only transfer the suffering of others into their own trite, self-absorbed narratives. Obviously there are holes in this interpretation but it's the best I could come up with. I think the final verse just follows up on the general argument by indicating the superficiality of most people. Their narratives sort of dissolve into incoherence.