I believe this is a significant component of socializing for people. It isn’t as though it’s some dark manipulative force overcoming people and steering them aw

I believe this is a significant component of socializing for people. It isn’t as though it’s some dark manipulative force overcoming people and steering them away from what’s truly meaningful to them. In many ways this actually creates a lot of social cohesion and familiarity amongst groups. It generates shared motivations and desires. Sure, maybe it’ll keep you from gardening quietly on some Sundays on your own. It’ll also keep you engaged and involved with your group, push you to seek something, keep you motivated, etc. I’ve struggled with not having this element in my life and it’s quite familiar to me, but from a different a perspective. I don’t tend to want what the people around me want. I don’t tend to get excited about the same stuff for the same reasons. I watch other people do it though and I recognize how much it eludes me and how much it appears to be a very natural and normal part of socializing.