I was just listening to the song that’s playing in the store with all the clothes in the style I just liked. But I’m in a foreign country surrounded by no one I know. I am caught by the same trends as the masses.

But no! I’m an independent decision maker with my own taste and I filter by what I genuinely like

Clearly we are more influenced than we like to admit. (In fact there is nothing to us but influences. I am caught in a network of memes) We are victim to the advertising and marketing we laugh at. All the games work on us. Just because we can see it with analysis sometimes does not mean we are above it

Your agency is probably an illusion, a useful one that you shouldn’t deny. but don’t kid yourself, you’re not special

you’re experiencing what it’s like to be a social primate that needs to signal trust in a multi agent system where you are dependent on others to survive and reproduce. You have no option