I don’t think it’s a type or a mental illness. There’s a concept from 80s pop psychology about scripts. The idea goes that people tend to respond to each other from scripts that they have subconsciously memorized and they cut up and mix and match them as they converse. It’s not being an “NPC” but it is habit and very efficient; energy-saving measures are common. That’s one of the reasons for the popularity of memes for example or buzzwords : less thought required. Can be a good thing much of the time. but Even a highly refined “smell test” can fail you – but I think that’s usually when they are members of a broader affinity group rather than the extremes. Uniqueness is difficult to navigate

I don’t think it’s a type or a mental illness.

There’s a concept from 80s pop psychology about scripts.

The idea goes that people tend to respond to each other from scripts that they have subconsciously memorized and they cut up and mix and match them as they converse.

It’s not being an “NPC” but it is habit and very efficient; energy-saving measures are common.

That’s one of the reasons for the popularity of memes for example or buzzwords : less thought required.

Can be a good thing much of the time.

but

Even a highly refined “smell test” can fail you – but I think that’s usually when they are members of a broader affinity group rather than the extremes.

Uniqueness is difficult to navigate

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