¯\(ツ)/¯ I feel like it's because we feel the character's emotions more? Well of course there's people here that just want to pump but for me, I read sm*t because it's exciting.
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It's exciting to finally reach the conclusion/climax that you and the character were anticipating. It's like you feel them somehow. It's like you're watching a movie with them. The same popcorn, same seating arrangements, same soda, same everything...
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But truth be told... the real reason why people read sm*t is that... Reading sm*t is just another way of saying 'edging'.
