this post was submitted on 01 Jun 2026
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Unpopular Opinion

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I genuinely don’t understand how people see social interaction as something beautiful or natural. To me it feels like pure obligation.

Even at work you are not really yourself. You are adjusting how you speak, how you act, and how you respond just to fit the role, satisfy your employer, and keep things smooth with colleagues. That constant switching can be exhausting.

Outside of work it does not feel that different. Conversations, replying, small talk, making plans, it can all feel more like maintenance than real connection.

Sometimes it feels like people are not actually enjoying it as much as they say. They are just used to it being the default way to live.

Maybe I am missing something, but I do not see the beautiful part everyone talks about.

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[–] wearebettertogether@fedia.io 4 points 1 day ago

I have so many questions and points to raise.

  1. Did you always feel like this since childhood, as long as you can remember? Or is this something that has developed over time.

  2. As others are saying I would go seek a diagnosis, as at least SOME interactions should NOT feel like pure obligation.

  3. More specifically, if you have always felt like this see point 2. But If you have not always felt like this, look back to see that last person you actually enjoyed interacting with. What made that interaction different from all the rest of your interactions?

  4. Mostly, as I dont want this to be TOO much of an echo-chamber, I enjoy interacting with lots of people that I care about ... and I care about a LOT of people. Mind you I dont enjoy interacting with everyone. But I have made it a goal, at least in the past, to find something interesting in everyone.

  5. I dont think its necessary to life to enjoy interacting with everyone, BUT ... ... if you dont find anyone you can interact with and find it to be a pleasurable experience then you probably either need some help or need to find new people to associate with.

  6. I'm not sure how i turned out this way, but I just dont give a @#%$(@#&* about what other people think about me (unless i respect them!). So I've lived my life in a way that has made me happy, mostly outside of the norms of society.

  7. Yes, to some degree we have to be different for different situations, but I'd argue that they are just different facets of who i am. I'm no more false when I'm at work than when I'm hanging with my friends or chilling with my partner.

  8. I have no clue if you will even ever read this, but if i could suggest one thing that MIGHT be the tiniest bit helpful, try finding ways to help people out. Compliment people (but only when you really mean it). Find ways to be kind. Interactions are only meaningful when they are real.

Maybe ill get slaughtered for this post. But the disconnect makes me sad.