Neurotypical blindness; proximity is paramount, but presence is absent

Neurotypical social cognition operates on the assumption that physical or conversational proximity signals interpersonal connection. When people share space, exchange words, or participate in familiar social forms, interaction is taken as proof of mutual engagement. But, proximity is not presence. Nearness can occur without attention, and synchronized behavior can unfold without genuine awareness of the other. This conflation produces a form of blindness where symbolic participation becomes indistinguishable from relational depth, and the appearance of connection obscures its absence.