> mass media culture has made people scared or less capable of sharing how they are different from the herd You're right. Everyone is interesting once they ope

> mass media culture has made people scared or less capable of sharing how they are different from the herd You're right. Everyone is interesting once they open up a little. The goal though isn't to show how you're different from the herd, it's to show that you're better than the herd, for whichever sub-herd you're signaling membership. That strategy preserves maximum choice.