And then, in the case of it explaining how to counterfeit money, the AI gets so excited about solving the puzzle, it immediately disregards everything else and shouts the word in all-caps just like a real idiot would. It’s so lifelike…

I’d really like to know what it’s like to be normal. Like, to be able to look and my life and say, “wow! I’m a perfectly functional, capable adult with a stable life. That’s great.”

Mostly, I guess I mean having a neurotypical brain, but I don’t know if that’s a hard requirement. I’d like to be able to socialize properly. I’d like to be able to go out and engage with people without my social battery being dead within 10 minutes, or without my anxiety of other people scaring me off from the thought of interacting with a stranger altogether.

I’d like to live somewhere with things to do and a way to easily access those things. I’d like to live somewhere where I’m not terrified to go outside, because it would mean having to risk my life behind the wheel of a car, or pay a ton of money I don’t have for a stranger to drive me where I want to go. I’d like to be able to fearlessly walk out my door and explore the world around me instead of hiding from it.

I’d like to know how to be able to do the things you’re supposed to do to have a full, well-adjusted life. I’d like to be able to live that life without having to combat a mountain of anxiety before every meeting or appointment. Logically, I know things will be fine, but when every other part of my brain screams that everything will go catastrophically wrong, it’s hard to ignore. I’d like to not shake, or be nauseous, or feel like I’m gonna shit my guts out before every little thing I have to do that isn’t sitting at home. I’d like to just be able to go do those things, and not worry about it.

I don’t know. There’s probably more, but these are what I can think of for right now.

When I was a kid, all the way up to when I was a young adult, I used to adore being quirky and unique. It was my identity, and I loved it about myself. I just wasn’t tired yet.

I turn 33 next month, and, honestly, all I want is to be normal.

Love the little exclamation point at the end. We did it, guys! 🎉🥳 🎊🕺

It’s just how things rotate out. Gen X had it, Millenials had it, now it’s Gen Z’s turn. It gets views from older generations who want any excuse to look down on those who’ve come after, and the generation in-question when they see the headline and think “what? Who the fuck is doing that? What are they talking about?”

Get ready for it to go on through the next decade or so.

(That said, it is horseshit, and “that’s how it’s always been” is no excuse to let things continue like that. I wouldn’t mind seeing an end put to it, myself)

As a Texan who wants nothing to do with these absolute fucking morons, but whose life is directly impacted by their asinine whims: please don’t encourage them. I can’t afford to leave yet.

Super World War II Turbo HD Remix