I never intended for this question to be a setup. I'm just interested in how all different kinds of people come into what they see as understanding in a world that probably doesn't give a shit about anyone. But you have to realize that the world is what you make of it. I have absolutely no authority to tell you anything. However, I can comment on one of your points: the one about abstractions. I really don't care about making friends right now, I can say I don't care how others perceive me (it's a lie), but I do care about allowing people to think. By being asked bullshit abstractions, people are confronted with ideas contrary to the norm. Ideas that they themselves may never have conjured up on their own. I'm not worried about truly feeling a connection with someone, no, I'm worried about the things I could never imagine on my own. Understandings that people have that I may never experience. I'm worried about the unknown unknowns. Sure, I can garner some sense of scope at how insignificant my problems really are, but I know, in the long run, that won't matter. What does matter is our attempt at making our lives truly our own. In my worldview, I don't think we can do that until we understand everything else that is out there; be it through introspection, conversation, or any other means of reflection. We, as a species, will probably never know everything, and some may say that it is pointless to even try.