When did indulgence, silliness, or even escapism become acts to be scrutinized, judged, and ultimately shamed?

Substack is supposed to be a safe space, a haven for ideas, creativity, and personal musings. But lately, it feels like the vibe has shifted. The vibe shift being - yall keep having intellectual-offs

Instead of fostering open dialogue and individuality, it’s as though we’re now in an unspoken competition for who can sound the most well-versed, the most "cool girl" of the discourse.

So, let’s talk about balance. Because what we’ve created isn’t intellectualism; it’s just another box to cram ourselves into. We’ve traded the messy joy of authenticity for a checklist of what’s deemed appropriately intellectual.