I sometimes wonder if the people writing stuff like this actually think what they write or they in turn are also acting out a specific role for the benefit of w

I sometimes wonder if the people writing stuff like this actually think what they write or they in turn are also acting out a specific role for the benefit of whoever is paying them. And then in reverse, is the person paying them acting out a specific role for the benefit of the people being paid? Is everyone just performing a big theater production at each other because we're terrified everyone else might think we don't deserve to eat otherwise?