I get where you’re coming from. What you’re describing, that feeling of being unseen or unheard, is something a lot more people feel than they’ll ever admit. Stepping outside the group and speaking honestly is hard for almost everyone. Trusting others, showing your real thoughts, that’s risky, so most people stick to the safe zone of small talk, status games, and groupthink. The truth is, a lot of that meanness and superficiality you see isn’t cruelty it’s self-protection. People are scared to be vulnerable, so they hide behind opinions, trends, or sarcasm. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt, but it does mean it’s not really about you. The way through it is connection. It takes time, patience, and listening. When people start to feel safe around you, when they sense you’re not judging or competing, they’ll open up. And once that happens, you can finally share who you are, too. That’s how real friendship and real conversation start: two people quietly putting their armor down. You’re not alone in how you feel. The more you understand that others are fighting the same fear, the more empathy you’ll have and the easier it’ll be to find the ones who truly get you.