Masquerade?

[Alameth of the Iron Fist]

I begin with a question: How honest are you? Or perhaps I should ask, How free with information about yourself are you? That is, after all, what it comes down to. But I get ahead of myself.

My point is this: Are you, on this forum, what you are in real life? Do you portray yourself accurately, or have you subtly (or not so subtly) twisted yourself?

I think the latter is accurate for most of us. We unconsciously hide our faults and exaggerate our abilities, when we have a mask to hide behind. I know for a fact that Alameth is not truly me. I couldn't begin to pick out the differences: they are much too subtle. But Alameth is not me, nor will she ever be--no matter how hard I try. But the differences are slight, and I try my best to make Alameth into my true self.

Masquerade!
Paper faces on parade
Masquerade!
Hide your face so the world will never find you
Masquerade!
Every face a different shade
Masquerade!
Look around, there's another mask behind you.

Flash of mauve
Splash of puce
Fool and king
Ghoul and goose
Green and black
Queen and priest
Trace of rouge
Face of beast
Faces!
Take your turn, take a ride
On the merry-go-round
In an inhuman race
Eye of gold
True is false
Who is who?
Curl of lip
Swirl of gown
Ace of hearts
Face of clown
Faces!
Drink it in, drink it up
Till you've drowned
In the light
In the sound
But who can name the face?

Masquerade!
Grinning yellows, spinning reds
Masquerade!
Take your fill, let the spectacle astound you
Masquerade!
Burning glances, turning heads
Masquerade!
Stop and stare at the sea of smiles around you
Masquerade!
Seething shadows breathing lies
Masquerade!
You can fool any friend who ever knew you
Masquerade!
Leering satyrs, peering eyes
Masquerade!
Run and hide, but a face will still pursue you.

[steel_lily]

To be honest, you are correct. We all twist ourselves into a more perfect form. We do so whenever we are around people, and more so when the people are virtual. If we did not do this, if we did not mask our iniquities, we could not possibly coexist in society. Society would coalesce into several factions of cooperative mentalities. This sounds better, but one must remember some things:
1. There would be no versatility. With all similar personalities, life would be bland and colorless.
2. Nothing would be accomplished. The engineering types would engineer until their resources run out, but then not gain more resources.
3. The world would be in a constant state of war and anarchy. Each faction likes its way best and, according to human nature, will want to assert it on others.
4. Each state would be in constant anarchy. Without a social class, social system, or ruling personality, we are lost. Even if they did have a ruling personality, each would dispute this, based on their relative similarity.

So, society is defined and run smoothly by a series of facades and masks. As a whole, I am sure that we would agree that the words "mask" or "facade" tend to strike a dark and negative reaction in our hearts. We do not like dishonesty. That is part of the inborn and absolute moral code of humanity. However these things, as we have just seen, keep our race together and alive. So why do we distrust them so?

The answer is simple: extremity. Facades are necessary to a point, but only a little bit of them. In this word, I include such things as self-restraint and patience. Most of the necessary facades fall under the common title of "decency". There are people, however, who enjoy their privacy. They enjoy witholding information because this gives them power over others. That is the main problem with man. With them, if anything is worth doing, it is worth overdoing. Moderation is foreign. It is lack of moderation on our masks that causes them to be dishonest.

But there are certain cases in which we can be completely honest with each other, foregoing even self-restraint or discipline. Such cases are found in very very close relationships. Marriages, close friendships, comradery. With such people, the people we like most, we can afford to show our ugly sides. They understand because they too possess such sides. They do not require decency. Such things are beautiful.

As for here, on this site...of course we are different. A virtual identity is a chance for a fresh start. You can smooth over your faults, work on changing your bad facets, or even create an entire new entity that is never shown to the outside. A board can, in essence, be a sort of roleplay. There is, honestly, nothing to stop you. We can't tell whether you're telling the truth. Even the form things you fill out to register are based on your honesty. So why be dishonest? Because you can. Because you don't like who you are. There are a multitude of reasons to not be yourself. I, myself, like me. Therefore, I find no reason to not be who I am. Also, you are limited by the very virtuality of it. Not being in a room, conversing, you cannot be limited or liberated by the physical forces which we grow so used to. On the boards, we can say that we're levitating and get away with it. But also, we cannot strike one another in anger. We cannot see facial expressions. Being so limited, we often tend to be more temperate than in reality. Typing fingers pause more often than an unhindered brain and body.

In conclusion, much of our difference is through no fault of our own. It is hard to become honestly angry online. It is hard to retain that anger. However, we do have control over what we type. We can be the people we are, tempered as we may be. I, for one, pray that we choose to.

[Alameth of the Iron Fist]

Agreed. Heartily and completely agreed. Once again, my clone, you have stated my thoughts ever so much better than I can. How do you do it?

[steel_lily]

Uhm....it's a sort of God-given talent. I am a wordsmith. I open my mind and my pen, and great things pour from it. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for when I open my mouth.

[Middle Earth Mouse]

So many others have a gift opposite from your's, and they still don't make sense some times.

[Alameth of the Iron Fist]

Obviously. I think you just described yourself. Because you made NO sense WHATSOEVER. And please do post on topic.

[st1_Emrys]

eh, I think i'm pretty true to myself... I may be a bit more argumentative but thats mostly because I can consider what I'm saying better before I say it if I write it. I restrain myself in person or I would be a bit over the top i think. Whatever really to be accurate one is much more likely to come across the truth of the matter based on what people who have met you in person think. I mean you may strive all you want, but its difficult to fully represent yourself online as who you are.

Just a comment- the description of this board as a roleplay brought up the idea of Demosthenes vs. Locke, or Lincoln vs. Martel- has anyone read Enders Game, Speaker for the Dead etc.? If so how do you think they compare?
I personally think that the description of the board as a roleplay might be a bit exaggerated due to the presence of the conscious factor. Unless a person is intentionally misleading or hiding behind a mask of the internet then it doesn't truly compare. While there are those similarities it can't be really compared except on a personal level. Perhaps also among those whom one knows extremely well.

[Kirke]

I was just going to say "I'm not REALLY Superman" but this is the serious board...

So anyway, I agree with Alameth. I have yet to meet anyone who is who they are online in person. Including me. As a matter of fact in real life if you all were together having a discussion like this I'd be standing in as unobtrusive area as possible nearby listening and watching instead of participating!

[steel_lily]

Even if Alameth was there?

Anyway...Yes, I've read the parallel books, Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow. Some of Orson Scott Card's best. As far as the analogy of a roleplay, note that I said it can be. Most cases in this regard are on a strictly personal basis. Not everyone has something to hide. But based on choice, or even sometimes unconscious safeguards, the internet-self is a sort of roleplay character. Think about it, how often do you give all of your information out? Rarely, in my case. It's just not very safe. Here, of course, it is. But I was generalizing.

[Kirke]

If Alameth was there I'd want to be as close to her as possible, which would supercede all other rules or desires...

I think if we live lives that make things needful to hide we should carefully consider what we have to hide to see if it is good or bad. I doubt Jesus hid much of anything.

[st1_Emrys]

If Jesus hid anything then we're in trouble

[steel_lily]

BIG trouble...

[truebeliever25]

Honestly, I don't believe anyone can be who they really are on the internet, or anywhere else where they're not face to face with another person. Everyone wears a mask at one point or another; whether it be on a daily basis or only when absolutely needed. Lord knows I disguise my true self whenever I get a chance...in fact sometimes I don't even think I know who I am. And there are so many excuses I use. " I'm in a bad mood. " or " I have selective mulitiple personalities. "

" Man is least himself when he speaks in his own face; give him a mask and he will tell you the truth. " - Oscar Wilde

[steel_lily]

Quite true.......