>>11185All of my observations about "normies" are from real interactions with real people.
Eventually, because I'm smart, I realized I should learn to be charismatic just like I realized I should learn how to get money. Now, I'm not Warren Buffet or Bill Clinton, but I liked to think I've learned and earned enough for a marker of success.
And that's how I came to know "normies". That's how I came to have people tell me, "Oh, you've only read 4 or 5 books this year, I've read 50!" and "Wow, you really think you're smart reading books like that?" and "This sci-fi novel is really philosophical."
I've gotten myself various types of friend groups. I'm naturally curious. My suburb friends are all into Noah Kahan and sports betting. My weird poly friends are into Dungeon Crawler Carl and . My PhD friends are all into the latest friendslop video games and sports betting. My anime friends are into One Piece and Naruto, still. None of them read books, they just listen to audio books. Maybe they read a manga.
I specifically went to graduate school to find people who read and engaged with ideas and thought about things, but I couldn't find them (and it disgusted me how 'science' is done). Now, maybe that's a me problem, but I don't think so after trying so hard. I genuinely like all of my friends as people, but I don't feel like I have a peer.
Anyway, yes I can fix a car. I can play two instruments. I'm fit. I'm in good shape. People consider me attractive. I'm still tired of pretending to give a shit about any of this garbage.