The more truth we have in common, the stronger the bond we can form because it is based in reality, what ‘is’, and not on a semblance of reality based on ignoring or denying the truth we don’t want to face.
I think, most if not all know this by heart but still people love fake praise. And as you said, they keep going back after all the fake things and pretend to be happy, so much that, we barely can differentiate if they are pretending or its a reality !!
Yup, choosing appearances over substance, falsity over truth. We live in a fake world.