Chinchillas are (almost) like any other pet (socialization wise). You have to gain their trust by interacting with them everyday for about 3-6 hours. Most chinchillas take 3 months to fully earn your trust.
If they trust you (and they are used to you petting them) they won't mind being pet. They LOVE if you scratch (not too hard) their chins! One of my chinchillas likes being pet between the ears.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.