is indifference the trend now? it seems like the moment someone shows genuine interest in something, they’re met with the same dismissal as a child asking one too many questions—I'll explain later. but later never comes
yesterday in literature class, something clicked. I finally grasped the scientific reasoning behind a certain work, and it fueled me, inspired me to discuss interpretations with my peers. but when I spoke up, I was met with silence—a subtle, unspoken cue to keep my thoughts to myself
in that moment, I felt embarrassed, even stupid, for wanting to dig deeper. but later, I realized they might have just wanted some peace after a long lesson. maybe it wasn’t about me at all…
however, this wasn’t an isolated moment. time and time again, when I try to have meaningful conversations about things I truly care about, the response is often the same: why are you even thinking about this? why does it matter?
somehow, not caring has become the golden standard. indifference is effortless, and effort is something to be mocked. it’s "cool" to disengage, to float through school without interest, to never give things a second thought. and those who do care? they’re met with resistance, as if their curiosity itself is an inconvenience
the whole chill guy persona and the propaganda of nonchalance do more harm than we realise. we glorify the effortlessly cool, detached observer—the person who never tries too hard, never gets too invested, never asks too many questions. passion is seen as cringe, enthusiasm as uncool, and intellectual curiosity as trying too hard. and yet, it’s exactly this mindset that holds us back
when we stop seeking, we stop growing. when we refuse to ask questions, we accept what we’re given without ever challenging it. nonchalance might feel safe—it protects us from judgment, from looking foolish, from admitting we care—but it also makes us stagnant. it robs us of the thrill of discovery, the depth of connection, the joy of truly understanding something
so maybe it’s time to let go of the chill guy persona and the nonchalant act. it’s time to embrace caring—deeply, unapologetically, wholeheartedly. because the world doesn’t move forward on indifference. it moves forward on those who dare to be curious and whimsy…
