There are two parts to the horror of the society depicted here. The first is an oppressive government. But the other part, that the fire captain explains, is the individual's indifference to others and submission to pressure to conform - as well as the willingness to submit themselves wholly to artificial stimulus (the walls of tv and so on) and pleasure-seeking (as Karen mentions) to the degree that their pleasure-seeking overrides all sense of responsibility and thoughts of others.
I like that the problem here isn't as simple as burning books. The real problem Bradbury is discussing is a society that allowed books to burn. Part of the problem seems to be pressure to conform. The neighbor girl was different and considered anti-social. It was unpopular to think, to question, to want to learn, to not like certain popular activities, and society's pressure to conform did as much to enforce the government's strict regime as the government did. Diversity is not only good, it keeps society from turning into mob of conformity that allows itself to be controlled by a ruling class without ever giving any thought to what they or their government is doing.
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societal pressure, is very strong in this book, I agree. The problem with the girl, and this may be in the parts I am just reading, but the fire captain, said it never did her any good. And it didn't. She got toasted for being different. And the other people who they burned, had to hide being different. It would take a lot of courage and many people to go against the gov't social pressures, because you didnt' benefit, the firemen just came and ruined you.
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