Part 2/9:
Schopenhauer once posited that beneath the glossy surface of social norms lies a tragic farce. Many people curate their personalities and actions not based on genuine self-expression but rather out of a need for acceptance. This raises an inconvenient question: acceptance from whom? How often do we engage in meaningless conversations, laughing at jokes we don’t find funny, or navigating social landscapes simply to avoid appearing rude? These automated behaviors represent transactions—the exchange of authenticity for the semblance of belonging.