Eidolon apologist

my #nuance take on the topic of likes vs reblogs for artists, and specifically the idea that "likes don't do anything"/that likes going up while reblogs don't is saddening and discouraging, is kinda... well. i do broadly agree that if someone liked but didn't reblog, they probably appreciated the art, but not enough to want to share it. but it's like... it's like someone liking you enough to sit and chat with you at lunch, but not enough to invite you to their party. it's entirely reasonable for that to sting, especially if you are rarely or never invited to that closer level of friendship. but is it a bad or hurtful thing to sit and chat with someone at lunch? are you doing your peers a disfavour by extending small friendlinesses to them, without necessarily intending to become close friends? are you morally obliged to invite everyone you chat to in the break room to your parties? absolutely not! the world would be a colder and lonelier place if no one chatted to their friendly acquaintances over lunch!