I rarely make the connection that people afflicted with the cycle of thought and behavior you speak of are “taking life too seriously”. But this has merit and lends perspective to certain intractabilities. As much as I hate pretense, I only think to call it pretentious when it itself becomes observably ridiculous. Or remotely comical to an observer. Homogeneity is problematic. It’s important for radical minds to remember, as you point out, that homogeneity is not exclusive of a need or desire for individuality. In Character Generation I speak of artist incorporating observable traits and shared elements whatnot in an effort to circumvent mediatic alienation from their art and their person, and usher like minds closer. The book is subtitled 'The Street Artist Method' thus one can assume there is a benefit enjoyed by the subculture or the minority that we don’t readily apply to popular cultures or the majority. Fancy suits and SUVs are intended to individualize a person from crowds and general masses with whom the person doesn’t want to be confused. Homogeneity is problematic, but the symptoms are not the problem. Not within the majority nor the minority. The problem is, as you have explored in depth, the unilateral homogeneity of our thinking; specifically our penchant for judging, mistreating, and ostracizing eachother. We are at a point in our social evolution where such things can well be left to litigation and legislation. Or simply avoided or ignored. Yet we are so ceaselessly aggressive in our personal judgement of others that people become neurotically conformist in order to avoid it. The whole charade falls apart when you spill olive oil on your suit. The opinions are out there. We know. But why? We aren’t perfect creatures. No one will ever be spill-proof. Why do so many of us waste our opinions encouraging them to attempt to be? There is fear of humanity inherent. Once you start spilling things, next you’ll be letting weeds overrun your lawn, sleeping in a hut, scavenging and reversing centuries of progress. We’re better to emulate the perfect narrative of a Hollywood movie. The protagonist never stops outside his building and goes back because he “forgot” something. By those reasonings, we are more effective people, smoother and more admirable. Or less ridiculable anyway. But no matter how perfect we get in that vein, one day we will forget our keys and the narrative will fall apart. One of the most important observations you made is *Stop Feeling Bad* about things. Things like the aforementioned in particular. We should analyze the veracity of homogeneous thought and the inherent ridicule (call them alleged fucks given) and make it a point to laugh AT anyone complicit in the plague of pettiness. It likely plays a sinister role in stifling disruptive thinking. Chasing a shield of inevitably pretend perfection can’t possibly leave much time for thinking about people who are too disenfranchised to ever mimic narrative perfection. To a degree, we gotta disrupt manners as well. Fuck yeah. Great piece.