Monday, February 08, 2010
Everyone acts in a certain way so as to be perceived in a certain way. You do it, I do it, we all do it, whether we like it or not.
But some people act more than others. Some people always say things that they do not mean, or pretend to be one way when they are actually really something else. Often, people act as if they are knowledgeable even though they are not, or they pretend to be indifferent even though they are quite interested. Very often, people act as if they are happy even though they are not, or they pretend to like something even though they are actually neutral towards it.
They do this for many reasons, the most common of which is because it is useful to them to be perceived as such. Teachers put up great acts of knowledge, confidence and control, even though they might be nearly clueless and shaking in their sensible court shoes. Likewise, chairpersons and other leaders often act as though they are confident and happy, regardless of whether they actually are, in order to carry out their duties more effectively.
Very often, people act in certain ways so as to please others.
But sometimes, people pretend to be stupid even though they are not, or they pretend to be ignorant even though they are not. There are people - less common, but not rare - who pretend to be uncertain and unconfident even though they are in fact quite in control of the situation.
I met someone like that today. It's interesting because I know - and he knows - and all his friends know - that he is actually putting up a front. But he still puts it up, so that people who do not actually know him will perceive him a certain way.
It got me thinking a lot about the nature of truth and pretense. Is it truthful if I know, my friends know, I know they know and they know I know they know that I am putting up an act? How much of what I say do I actually mean? How much of what I do do I actually believe in? I don't believe that we can be 100% unpretentious, because it is unavoidable that we adapt our behaviour to fit situations and people.
But the question is, how much of it is truthful?
Posted by nayrakroarual at 9:16 AM
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home