I think this is why Squid Game has been so wildly popular and struck such a nerve in the American consciousness. The series is a massive social commentary on cruelty culture. When children are born here, they are relentessly pitted against each other in school, in families, and even with friends. You never get to stop being Player 456 in any venture in America, and you never win a big payout either. Even the "winner" only wins a bunch of post traumatic stress from the so called game. American culture sees cooperation as a dirty word.