But pity the cute kid who gets anointed as the popular one or the class clown who discovers that a rude joke works or the facile actor who succeeds early and often in school plays. The feedback that comes from popularity in a popularity-obsessed system becomes an addiction. Soon the cuteness fades or the jokes get old or other, harder-working actors and musicians take the stage. Now what? How does the popular one stay popular? The cycle begins. Instead of artistry, she buys into the cycle of short-term pleasing. Instead of standing up for things he believes in, he calculates what the audience
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