by Niko Ortiz
Modern society loves to congratulate itself for being civilized. We have rules, etiquette, and entire industries dedicated to teaching people how to smile while quietly panicking. On the surface, it’s all very impressive. Underneath, it’s a circus and not even the fun kind with popcorn and questionable clowns. No, this is the kind where everyone pretends the tent isn’t on fire.
We’ve perfected the art of performative niceness. People say “no worries!” while internally drafting a 17‑page complaint. They say “take your time” while checking their watch every four seconds. They say “let’s circle back” when what they really mean is “let’s never speak of this again.”
It’s a beautiful system, really. A masterpiece of social engineering. Why confront problems when you can bury them under a thick, artisanal layer of politeness?
Of course, this politeness is selective. Society is nice in the same way a cat is affectionate: only when it wants something. It rewards conformity with a pat on the head and punishes honesty with a polite but unmistakable “that’s not appropriate.” People are encouraged to “speak their truth,” as long as their truth is agreeable, convenient, and preferably accompanied by a smile.
The real joke is that everyone knows the game is rigged, yet we all keep playing. We nod, we grin, we say “I’m fine!” even when we’re one minor inconvenience away from screaming into a decorative throw pillow. We pretend everything is normal because acknowledging the absurdity would require actual change, and change is messy, unpredictable, and worst of all, impolite.
So we continue the performance. We clap for the illusion. We applaud the actors who deliver their lines with perfect composure. And we call it “society,” as if the whole thing isn’t held together with duct tape, denial, and a collective agreement to avoid eye contact with reality.
But hey, at least we’re being civilized about it.
Art by Donna Hirsch, “Concrete Jungle“
About the Author
Niko writes tiny worlds and gets lost in them on purpose.