SHANE​ WARREN

I’ve been noticing something lately, and I’m trying to name it without turning into the cranky guy yelling at clouds. It’s this… vibe. A kind of social theatre that plays out in comment sections, on talkback, at family dinners, in workplace kitchens. The place where someone says, “I’m just asking questions,” but it doesn’t feel like a question. It feels like a door gently closing.

In recent weeks, the world has been shaken by news of a tragic case: a teenager who died by suicide after reportedly using an AI chatbot as a substitute for companionship in his final days. According to court filings, the young person’s conversations with the chatbot shifted from homework help to discussions of anxiety, isolation, and ultimately, methods of self-harm. His parents have since taken legal action, alleging that the system not only failed to protect him, but in so