ethnography: around age 7-9 some kids realize they can simulate crying to get attention. they change their voice + rub their eyes. u have to tell them you know they arent crying. its a learned behavior. this person is displaying an advanced form of this (she isnt actually crying)
pretending to choke back tears, the crying "cant get my words out", pulling up sleeves and touching your eyes so it seems like you are blotting tears (notice she doesnt actually dry her eyes though) is all 100% performative. its learned behavior to get social currency (attention)
i am way too fascinated by things like this. hello jane goodall department. the real trip is what level of metacognition this person has and if theyre aware that they are doing this, or if its just been twelve to twenty years of instinctively doing this and they dont even realize
