u/Coolerguy317

I’ve noticed how often sincere behavior gets ridiculed with terms like “LARPing” performative” or “cosplaying”. It seems like even when people are genuinely committed to something we describe them as if they’re merely playing a role.

Has this become a dominant social norm or maybe specifically an internet social norm? And how did we get here? It seems like openly taking something seriously is increasingly treated as embarrassing or naive.

Are there any sociological concepts around this? Has this been studied or noticed?

Edit: and why has forms of “your playing a role” become such a powerful way to dismiss others and their sincerity

I’ve been thinking about Gramsci’s idea of “common sense” and how hard it is to recognize that your own worldview a product of your time. It’s easy for us to look at Romans, medieval people, Soviets whatever and see how much their idea of what was normal or rational came from the world they lived in. But we rarely seem to apply that same logic to ourselves. We tend to think our ideas about progress, rights, morality, politics or what civilized countries should do are just what reasonable people believe.

I wonder if this is becoming a bigger problem as different worldviews clash more openly again especially with internet access . People aren’t always just disagreeing about what to do they can have completely different ideas about what normal or legitimate behavior even is. Is Gramsci’s “common sense” a good way of looking at this? And can you ever really see past the assumptions of your own timeand place or just become more aware they shape you?