NPCs are not soulless automatons

NPCs are egregore-controlled humans, they still have an independent mind but their mind is enslaved and used as a tool for expressing the egregore mind, like a two-way radio channel.
see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egregore
Its possible to disrupt the link to egregore by subversive thought insertion(aka memes), allowing the original mind to assert its will and independent thought. The egregore can't focus on multiple mental challenges simultaneously and the "radio channel" has limited capacity.
NPCs can be reformed to PCs.

>>35
I didn't say it's impossible, just not feasible without explicit training, as opposed to just calling him a NPC.
Vast, vast majority of cases where NPC meme is invoked can be summed up as:

you are a NPC because you disagree with my fringe political views built on grandiose claims from insincere ideologues who have strong ties to known fossil fuel lobbyists

It's like trying to wake someone up by turning OFF the lamp next to his bed.