Although there are no shackles, no bars, there are people who are imprisoned by their own protocols.
There are people who create ‘rules’ and ‘punishments’ for themselves with focus, as if what they are doing is right or sensible or has some necessary function.
In some cases, the outsider doesn’t see these protocols, and as most people aren’t that fascinated by other people, don’t know they exist.
It is only when one either spends time with the ‘prisoner’ or by some quirk notices their restrictions that these ‘bars’ appear.
This is not the vegetarian or dieter who doesn’t eat this for health reasons, or the person who isn’t interested in the World Cup who doesn’t watch it, this is a person whose ‘restrictions’ have no benefit but to punish themselves.