Croc Nation

When did Crocs and sweatpants become restaurant attire? Why do people seem louder and ruder than ever? Should we bring back shame? In the debut episode of Cobra Lily, Maria and Ella discuss the collapse of shared behavioral standards in public American life. They connect this to the history of individualism, from Enlightenment ideas and Cold War politics to the human potential movement, self-help culture, and the rise of neoliberalism. Topics include: How funeral etiquette, movie theater behavior, and restaurant manners reveal a bigger cultural shift Why authenticity can become an excuse for selfishness in public spaces The dichotomies of individualism versus collectivism, and shame vs guilt cultures Why capitalism, neoliberalism, and the burnout economy leave people with no energy for social graces Follow Cobra Lily on Instagram and TikTok Check out the Cobra Lily website Read Ella's essay, "I Actually Want to Live in a Society," which inspired the episode Explore Ella's Substack Intro song by Ivy Frey at Shirkerism zine