Masks

[vivadelkitty]

1. Most certainly, there are some parts of my personality that I just don't reveal to a lot of people, I'd say I switch out masks depending on when I'm at home, with friends, at work, or at school.
2. I believe that I do. Most people at my school have known me since 3rd grade, but that means I'd be making myself more vulnerable. No, I'll keep my mask of kind indifference when around my peers, and forced optimism when around my parents.
3. One that wants to be emotional, but doesn't know quite how to do so without making myself vulnerable. I'm always worried about my future, and how in the hells I'm going to make ends meet later on in life. Most people see me as cold and callous, but that's only because bringing emotions to the surface puts me in an awkward position.

 

[superbatranger]

The only time I don't wear my mask is when I'm with close friends. Even around my family, I use a mask. I normally use a mask when meeting new people. I take notice of their behavior, and attempt to adjust my mask accordingly. This leads to me acting differently around certain people.

 

[Kud]

Lambi... you're emo?

Anyways, I always act interested in my friends when I am really not.

People bore the crap out of me and only one of my friends is able to actually entertain me.

 

[Mr. Grey]

Wait! I know this from somewhere... it was in a movie... let's see... masks, movie. Masks... movie... augh! It could be anything!

Do you believe that you wear a mask at a specific point?
I probably do when people are hurting or when I'm hurting.

Do you think you need a mask?
Only if I ever become a serial killer.

What kind of face is hidden behind your mask?
Depends... am I serial killer?
If so: It's a big grin.
If not: Just me. Along with whatever insecurities and anxiety brought on by depression.

This is a good thread.

 

[manaman]

I always say:

It's wrong to call what people do masks. Nobody let's the full extent of their personality show at any point except around those they fully trust (and usually love). It does have to do with wanting to fit in and be liked, but not to so much about hiding who they are. Say I enjoy going to sports games. I have a group of friends I watch the games with, now unless video games as a hobby overlap, or my work, or any other aspect of who I am overlaps with their interests why would I bring that part of myself up? Doesn't mean I am hiding an aspect of myself. I would freely talk about it if they shared that interest.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Where I live, starting shit usually just isn't worth it, so yeah. I wear that mask all the bloody time.
On the internet...sure I'm opinionated, but there's no way in hell I'm opening up to the Anonymous Army.

 

[WorldCritic]

Usually wear a mask around family or teachers. Over the past few months though I've begun wearing masks a bit less and have become a lot more comfortable not hiding anything around my friends. Funnily enough this was the result of my breaking up with my girlfriend. Normally it's a depressing moment, but on that occaision it was something to be happy about.

 

[Siuki]

I have to wear one when I come to school. At home or with my true friends(not from school, spent more time with), I'm more childish, reckless, and more adventurous than I would be at school, which is being cold, smart, and a cracker of sarcastic jokes that fits me in the nerdy section. Everywhere else, I'm a tad bit different. I don't need one, as my mask is a sort of alter ego formed from the exposure to the immature brats that attend my daycare center of a school and their stupid concepts and ideas. Very few there do I consider smart, but more do I consider people I would hang out with.

I believe that covers all three.

 

[i am nobody]

Wow, as i look at each post i think, "wow, that's me!", and then "hey, that's me too." and "omg that's so me" etc. What most people have said really do describe me so i dont really see the point anymore in talking about myself, but i'll say something anyway. i have stopped wearing the mask in front of some people i havent known for very long, in fact i'm trying to take it off completely, but i still wear it when im with my family or with friends from school who i have known for a long time.

I really think this is a great thread because not only did i realize something that i never really thought of in depth(that im not the only one who wears a mask), but also because here some people can actually talk about their true self which they otherwise not talk of to many people, if not anyone, without feeling too insecure. As you can see i even created an account just to post here. (actually there was 1 more reason).

 

[Ironboot]

Sure, I wear a mask. When I'm with friends or family, I'm goofy and can't seem to take things seriously. I have to hide that aspect of me in more formal situations.

 

[Tourette]

No. I am who I am and do not pretend to be otherwise for the sake of others. If they don't like me for it I am the one who wins. This way you know who is true and who is false.

 

[AWAR]

Nah, mainly because I try to limit my social contacts to absolutely necessary. I don't need to hide behind masks.

 

[Biosophilogical]

I wouldn't call them masks, more like I change to meet the situation. There is always a core of me (my beliefs, hopes, etc) but I never hide it, I just have a broad range of behaviours that don't compromise who I am but also allow me to appropriately adapt to a situation to best do what I want. So when I'm with my friends I become more vocal at points, I tend to make more jokes and stuff, but I never hide who I am. Whereas with my family or something, I (as in the real me) wants to avoid awkward conversations and stuff so I produce less non-sensical dribble and 'in-jokes'.

So yeah, it's all me, just the best me for the job ... am I making much sense?

 

[Sir Strange Of The House Lycan]

Do you believe that you wear a mask at a specific point?
At some points I may,but my personality varies widely over the current situation.(I.E,at the computer,a friends house,school).I could explain the differences but that would be boring.
Do you think you need a mask?
I'm never sure any more,I have so many masks I'm not sure which is the closest to who I am.But yes,I need the masks,they hide my mental and maturity ages at school and stop me getting into trouble.At a friends house I need to be timid and respectful to make sure I don't break a house rule.
What kind of face is hidden behind your mask?
I don't know any more.Probably one very similar to the mask I wear when on the internet,but that's a wild guess.

Sorry to make this sound emo if I did.

 

[Lambi]

Lambi... you're emo?

No, I'm not. I know that to someone, I am important. My true self just won't accept it sometimes. I don't want to end my life, but sometimes I feel like that is the only choice. But I still have friends that help me through those difficult times and I know my life isn't meaningless.

Spoiler: whiny emo type crap inside, but hey we all need to vent sometimes

I feel like i've been wearing a mask for years. Even with my current friends, the best friends i've ever had, i'm afraid to take it off completely.
I think i'm scared that if i showed my true face, they wouldn't find much to like about me, i even use it on myself. If i took it off, i think i'd end up alone, and as someone who spent almost a year of my life without any real friends, i don't want to be alone again.
In response to one, i feel like i'm almost always wearing it, even when i'm alone. Its only when i'm lying in bed awake at night, thinking about who i really am that it comes off. I don't think i've shown my true face to anyone. I don't think i've ever really found someone i can show it to, and if i have and not realised it, it feels like its too late now, they became friends with the mask, not the real me.
2. Yes, i do think i need it. I don't think i could really cope with people without it, i don't even like taking it off when i'm alone.
3. Honestly, i don't know. Sometimes i feel like i don't even know who i am anymore, and everything about me is borrowed from other places, like here. I think though, its one of sadness, loneliness, despair, fear and anger. Sadness, loneliness, because no-one knows the "real" me, just the facade i put up, despair and fear because i don't know how to get out from behind the mask. and anger, because i'm not string enough to break it.

Also, thanks Lambi for giving me a chance to vent. I think i've been keeping some things bottled up for too long and it helped just to get them out there.

I'm glad I could help you vent. If you ever feel like talking, PM me. I'll give you a reply as soon as I can.

 

[Loop Stricken]

We all wear masks ...

"Metaphorically speakinnnNNNNNNnnnnng."

But anyway, I have either lost my mask or become it. All that hides underneath the skin is murderous psychopathy.

 

[HSIAMetalKing]

We wear the mask that grins and lies
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes--
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtitles

What I ask you is:
Do you believe that you wear a mask at a specific point?
Do you think you need a mask?
What kind of face is hidden behind your mask?

Yes, I wear a mask-- almost all the time, as do most people (imho). For example, my family doesn't know I'm an atheist-- I prefer to just go along with the Christian traditions they follow because I like spending time with them and don't want to disrupt a pleasant situation. Another example: I work a job where, everyday, I have to be pleasant and professional all the time. My co-workers don't know me at all-- I'd be interested to know what kind of impression they have of me.

I wear a mask because it makes it easier to interact with people-- my true thoughts and opinions would alienate me if I expressed them openly. I like to think that most people feel the same way-- that we're all playing a really twisted, masochistic game in which we have to pretend to be a very specific type of person, and the goal of the game is to maintain this facade while secretly reveling in the irony of how false it all is.

Or something.

 

[Jedoro]

I wear one at work called self-control. It's the only way I keep from punching stupid people in the face.

 

[The_ModeRazor]

Read the first sentence, did spit on your avatar.

Ahhhahahhahah.
Sorry for trolling, but you just sound so much like those wuss teenagers who go around asking weird questions for whatever reason, that I can't take you seriously.
Oh!
Ok.
Well, when I go out I'm shy and a quiet. Usually.
And I guess self-restraint could be called a mask, becase without it, I would have punched a lot of people. Although it could be just the way I was taught to be polite since I was a kid. Which I will definitely never teach my kid to be.

 

[SteinFaust]

I wear one at work called self-control. It's the only way I keep from punching stupid people in the face.

see, you wear yours at work, i wear mine all day-- hard to get into the NYPD with assault and battery on your records

it feels like i have a hot kettle on my neck all the time because of all the effort spent NOT beating someone into a stupor.

crack someone for ol' SteinFaust, will ya?
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OT: i wear a single-slit balaklava sometimes, if that counts. i guess it could count as a psychological projection because it nets me personal space due to people being bothered by it?