youre allowed 5%

i hadn't quite grasped it before but i feel as though there's a larger, more general commentary with video boyfriend in regards to groups and community... like"people who don't think for themselves won't think of each other and stand by when the other people they're supposed to care about get hurt, because it's too scary/risky" plus, VB obviously isn't just whatever issues benry has, it's also quietly highlighting that the science team was never really a "friend group". rather, they were a group of people brought together by a common interest (or fear... or aspect of their nature ie. code) all vying for the attention and approval of one person (even if they acted like they didn't, or weren't aware of it, it's true that hlvrai was made up of the characters (and irl the ones playing them) trying to get a moment in the spotlight. i think the larger commentary comes up with how this happens in real life too. a lot of communities not being made up of real connections but rather everyone just together with a shared interest and trying to get some upper hand or freedom from their perceived suffering. some people don't even try to form any relationship with anyone, they just slot themselves into the space and start doing what everyone else does.