when did you realize

I realized they didn't matter when 'socializing' nowadays just means staring at your phone in a crowded place.

when I realized that my social network was a grid of wealth and charisma
>I always tried to make friends with smart people exclusively
>none of them ever landed under the middle class
>they made other friends too
>I noticed smart rich people were linked to each other by charismatic intermediaries
>and most of the intermediaries were somewhat questionable people with few practical skills
>and I was an intermediary

>it took a while for the shock to wear off
>I didn't plan to be a golddigger

>the only way to explain my life was if I secretly had social skills I didn't know about
>which was true, when I looked closely
>I do something I think of as Balseraph speech ever since I caught the pattern of it in myself (why did I just hear a distant ringing noise?)
>but it's actually kind of frustrating
>I thought I was a nerd
>I hope to become a node of wealth without stealing anything along the way
>I still try to be a good reptilian

For the record, I disagree with OP. The nodes of wealth are generated by actual intelligence, which is nearer math than social skills. Without the nodes of wealth, the nodes of charisma have nothing. Social skills only have value to the extent that charisma serves the well-being of true value creators.