Masks

[P3nT4gR4m]

hahaha


We wear layers upon layers of masks and even contemplate the inner masks with the outer ones, as well as the reverse.


If there is an essential self, good luck finding it.   



As for what got this discussion started, it isn't that weird to assume different roles without much overlap...
When I'm playing a song that's in major, just because I'm not using a minor scale at the moment doesn't mean I'm a "major scale kind of guy".

But if it makes you feel better, understand the (helpful) patterns that can be carried over from one situation to another.  You can translate concepts from one situation to another by understanding what is important about the concepts and where the situations diverge.

You can take a major riff and turn it into a minor riff, just by lowering the right notes by a half-step.

Zing! Essential self is what it is ... if it even is all that. Just accept it. Make up a personality you like and play it like and actor. Do some embarrassing monkey based shit that your body can't help. It's funny. Who's laughing? The essential self or some bullshit like that. Enjoy. Don't get too wrapped up in finding teh one true troof or any of that bullshit. The answer is there but you'll waste years of your life looking for it and it's a boring anticlimax when you do.

[Brotep]

Whoa there...


Alls I'm saying is, unrealistic searching sometimes disguises itself as introspective, and gets in the way of genuine introspection.


That is, we often hide behind the questions we cannot answer, in order to avoid the questions we can answer.

[The Johnny]

What "we are" is always dynamically different. Sure, theres tendencies, but even those can change.

Categorize yourself = pigeon-holing. (or wtf is that other term...)

[The Johnny]

When somebody puts on a "mask" i see it as prioritizing a certain task at hand...

Thats the thing behind dressing in a suit, or having a "poker face".

Do you want to come to an agreement on a contract, partnership or whatever?
Masks on - let not our personal tastes that could create interference or antagonism not get in the way of what we want.

Let nothing to be seen, felt or smelt that could produce a negative reaction.

When dealing with things on which you depend on (money, jobs), i find putting a mask on as acceptable.

On the other hand, when you take a mask and use it for your personal life, purposes of not being alone such as in friendships and relationships, now i find that disgusting.

Having to play with your appearances, so you are appealing all the time, that i couldnt do even if i tried.

But many seem to consider that being an expendable sacrifice in order to get what they need and what they want.

[Brotep]

JohNyx, your posts appear to contradict each other.



Masks have their limits, as a metaphor.


What we are talking about is not really masks, but behavioral patterns.
Patterns make communication possible.  Excess repetition shows a lack of subtlety and nuance, but unless the pattern is destructive there is nothing really wrong with that.

[The Johnny]

First post was in reference to what is underneath the masks.

The second was in reference to the masks themselves.

Im considering your interpretation of masks as behavioral patterns, not sure if i have something to add to that in particular...

[The Good Reverend Roger]

hahaha


We wear layers upon layers of masks and even contemplate the inner masks with the outer ones, as well as the reverse.


If there is an essential self, good luck finding it.   



As for what got this discussion started, it isn't that weird to assume different roles without much overlap...
When I'm playing a song that's in major, just because I'm not using a minor scale at the moment doesn't mean I'm a "major scale kind of guy".

But if it makes you feel better, understand the (helpful) patterns that can be carried over from one situation to another.  You can translate concepts from one situation to another by understanding what is important about the concepts and where the situations diverge.

You can take a major riff and turn it into a minor riff, just by lowering the right notes by a half-step.

Zing! Essential self is what it is ...

This is truth, despite its overtones of French philosophy.

[Brotep]

What "we are" is always dynamically different. Sure, theres tendencies, but even those can change.

Categorize yourself = pigeon-holing. (or wtf is that other term...)

Yes...The problem is that introspective realizations expire faster than milk.  Whatever one has figured out about oneself, if one's current understanding does not reflect one's current patterns of behavior, it must be updated.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Question of what one is is irrelevant. Ask instead what one could be. What one would like to be. Then be it. Til you get bored. Wash, rinse repeat...

If nothing else you'll end up with a kickass mask wardrobe come Halloween 

[The Johnny]

Yes...The problem is that introspective realizations expire faster than milk.  Whatever one has figured out about oneself, if one's current understanding does not reflect one's current patterns of behavior, it must be updated.

I agree with that, but i would also say that a posteriori and with cumulative years one can possibly see tendencies of oneself.

At least thats a point of reference to some sort of an understanding. Even do im not saying that those recurring tendencies are something one wouldnt like to change...

Making introspection in "the present" about what have we become/are is indeed something hard or maybe even impossible due to ones own slanted view and lack of perspective.

Other than that, i think that also looking at oneself in the pespective of relationship dynamics can give more information. Or deriving characteristics by comparison to other people.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Making introspection in "the present" about what have we become/are is indeed something hard or maybe even impossible due to ones own slanted view and lack of perspective.

Strongly disagree except in the case of most ordinary people. There is a level of critical self awareness that can be assumed. Aint that difficult either. Key is dropping the whole ego trip. Tear your precious self to bits and what you are left with is a pretty clear picture.

[The Wizard]

I've spent yesterday thinking all of this over, including what you guys posted in response. And I decided that I'm going to embrace the confusion. I'm going to start experimenting with rapid switches in behavior. It will be fun, switching from deadpan serious to joyously manic to just plain weird. While I'm still a big fan of introspective, it seems that by thinking over and observing my own character, I'm changing it. So I just need to relax and go with the flow.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

It will be fun, switching from deadpan serious to joyously manic to just plain weird.

Missing the point, ITT.

But you go, dude.

[The Johnny]

Making introspection in "the present" about what have we become/are is indeed something hard or maybe even impossible due to ones own slanted view and lack of perspective.

Strongly disagree except in the case of most ordinary people. There is a level of critical self awareness that can be assumed. Aint that difficult either. Key is dropping the whole ego trip. Tear your precious self to bits and what you are left with is a pretty clear picture.

MMMM? You do really find it easy? What is your method? Im curious

My way of doing it is either go to a psycho-analyst (thats a sure way of putting things on perspective, ofc if you pick a good one...), or looking at my friends life and how they act and what they do and comparing to how i act and what i do...

Or booze it up and just write two pages of rambling and look at it when im sober the next day.

[The Wizard]

Missing the point, ITT.

Hmm. Okay, since there's something I'm missing then mind explaining it?