conformitygate

“conformitygate” is the fan theory that, by the end of Stranger Things, the main characters may believe they’ve won their freedom, but they’re trapped in a false world overseen by Vecna—primarily evidenced by the tragedy that they’ve all seemingly chosen to repeat their parents’ patterns and mistakes. (It’s tied into the parallel fan theory that the Duffer Brothers didn’t know how to end the show and that, without a Mrs Duffer around anymore to do any script-doctoring, the Duffers turned to ChatGPT.)I’d gotten a suburban mom purse off of TikTok—a “crossbody” “bum bag.” It has a matching chapstick holder hanging off its gold jump ring, along with whatever other bag charms. “Love those,” the zillennial told me, of the patterned neoprene chapstick holder. “Have you gotten ads for these?” I suddenly asked her. She paused. “No,” she said carefully. My eyes narrowed. Uh-huh. “Yeah, you’re too young to get ads for these,” I said to her. It is the SUV of mom bags. “But I love it!” she assured…