Masks

[feeeriek]

I've been pondering this for days.
I don't really have a mask, I have a facade. A very well crafted, protective facade that I've lovingly constructed over many many years.
It was built mainly out of self preservation.
Its been only in recent years I've been able to dismantle parts of it, to go deeper into who I am and to shed some of the armor.
Its been a painful and sometimes liberating metamorphis at times.
I still have layers. If and when I choose to peel them away I will.
Discovering who you really are can be frightening sometimes, but it can also be healing if you really get down to finding out who you are.

how is a facade different than a mask in the context that is/was presented?
i am aware that i have not answered.... am still thinking on it... then again i many
or may not

 

[CharleyH]

I sit and wonder what I am - on this earth, who is just a mask.

I am, of that there's no doubt, but without the mask, who might I be? I try to shed all image, but this is my present awareness, my consciousness, and while in it, I know no other. How can that be? It is in my present awareness, my consciousness that I seek to know myself before this consciousness. Isn't that like trying to know God?

And why not "like trying to know God?"

We cannot know God because the created cannot know the creator, cannot have the mind of the creator. The day I was born, I was in this world - created by I knew not whom - nor to what purpose. How could I know what I was to be?

I watched, I listened as all good babies do, and assimilated I knew not how, and began becoming. In becoming I began to learn to wear a mask.

Many were my becomings, as it is with all babies, and children, and adults. Each becoming had a mask. Some were very temporary, some were not. One mask became the "me," my amalgamtion of me, how I became, how I learned to become.

If any know what my true mask is, or if there is such a thing as a true mask, please let me know. And if you have seen mine, tell me where that is to so I can finally be me. Or is it that I, as all babies, perhaps, have no mask, but only use one temporarily.

You thought I might disagree with you on your points. I do and I don't, m. Hm, how to word all this ...

I agree that God is a mask, and also that masks are created by learning through others, for we don't learn to put on a face through self. It's acquired ... an acquired taste if you will and forum behaviour is probably the best place to learn about masks ... and that goes to Nirvana's original post, although the thread has quite deviated ... Avatar is a great word for her original post, though.

Your argument about the present mask is hard for me because as much as I know we change our faces, I also realize that every second of life changes who we are ... (I am a big Alice in Wonderland fan!)

As for your last statement? I suppose if one believes in God, and if humans are created in God's "image", then there is really nothing to be as humans but masks.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

Some amazing food for thought here. Thank you, Lovelies

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[elsol]

So, here's my questions. If you could have a physical mask that would represent you, what would it look like? And why that specific mask? Secondly, What are the masks you wear, on emotional, spiritual and intellectual level? Why do you wear them? Are you even aware of them? Do you like them? There are so many questions . . . let me leave it up to all of us to discuss this, and more.

Tell me about your masks.[/COLOR]

The Mask: A full-faced black Phantom of the Opera mask.

Why: 'Cause it's fucking cool and represents me the best.

Masks I Wear: The one that says I care. The one that says you matter. The one that denies I'm always calculating the odds.

Why do I wear them: Because there are other people in the world. They are a fuck of a lot easier to deal with if they think you care, that they matter to you, and that you're not cold-bloodedly making decisions about how to best manipulate them into doing what you want.

Am I aware of them: Absolutely.

Do I like them: They get the job done... believe me, they get the job done.

 

[Guest]

dear god im a tired mess. sorry vana, sweetie. i had no idea this thread existed when i started one very similar to it.

 

[Nirvanadragones]

dear god im a tired mess. sorry vana, sweetie. i had no idea this thread existed when i started one very similar to it.

Great minds think alike, Sweet.

 

[_Lynn_]

This is a little something I wrote last June. It's not a very good example of poetry, and I hesitated to post it. But for what it's worth, here goes.....


I hide behind the mask
though unseen by many.
Those you could ask
fail to see behind the cover.

I cry behind the mask
unheard by most.
The ones you would ask
have seen them the least.

I am lonely behind the mask
known by so few.
Of the ones you should ask
they don't care to know.

I feel different behind the mask
told to almost no one.
If you did find one to ask
maybe they would answer.

I am scared in my mask
shown to only me.
You might want to ask
well..............Me.

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[_Lynn_]

If it's true that it's not a good example of poetry, it still says much more than a great many poems I have read. I like it. Has a ring of introspection to it that is too rare.

I'm glad you liked it. Until now, few people have read this. It's difficult for Me to share something as personal as this obviously is.

 

[mismused]

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[CharleyH]

I see love. I think problems stem from the concept of god/jesus/no Jesus ... perhaps problems stem from a human concept of creator ... we have been taught to believe in a Christian myth all around the world in one way or another ( all myths everywhere) that there is one and only ONE belief, or God. Religion confuses me ... because ... if we were all born of God? What makes us think we don't all have an equal place in Eden or a promised land? Never understood that really.

 

[CharleyH]

Masks yes - MASKS - I am sure I mentioned Avatars?

 

[mismused]

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[CharleyH]

At the risk of catapults firing shit bombs at me, I have to say that I do understand religion:

It was begun, doubtless, by a frightened group who wildly speculated as their excrement ran down their legs for whatever reason (they could figure out ways to fight bears in caves, or large mastodoons with fiercesome tusks for food, and no doubt, had they been there, would have figured out how to fight saber-toothed tigers, but what was mysterious remained mysterious until they figured it out. Few figured some of those "mysterious" things out (and many were probably stoned for theading what had to be from spectres they knew not of, and feared to offend).

What was "mysterious" had to be treated as such, thus "The Mysteries" may have been born. Gee, that made them feel so good, huh? Seriously, I can appreciate the beginnings of this need to try to understand, then to make up understanding so they wouldn't fear not understanding. But then . . .

Some intrepid entrepeneur felt no fear, or not enough to not seek advantage: Hmm, the choice women, more women, pussy forever, cock being sucked as wished for, when wished for, the best robes, and most of all, sharing in seeming to be a part of the "Mystery" that had been created.

Oh, yes, it grew, and thus we have religion, and it's power is in the ignorance of those who still quake in fear of what they do not know. The new "priests" of whatever religion? Hmm! Nothing's happened, so let's keep on doing it. And, uh, let's make sure the morons stay morons. Let's give them a ritual to keep them occupied (ritual = burdensome habit that is gladly borne).

Okay, let the catapults loose. Still, peace to all, and I wish everyone love.

Well? I am not one to argue

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[Nirvanadragones]

This is a little something I wrote last June. It's not a very good example of poetry, and I hesitated to post it. But for what it's worth, here goes.....


I hide behind the mask
though unseen by many.
Those you could ask
fail to see behind the cover.

I cry behind the mask
unheard by most.
The ones you would ask
have seen them the least.

I am lonely behind the mask
known by so few.
Of the ones you should ask
they don't care to know.

I feel different behind the mask
told to almost no one.
If you did find one to ask
maybe they would answer.

I am scared in my mask
shown to only me.
You might want to ask
well..............Me.

Thank you for sharing this with us

 

[mckai777]

This is a little something I wrote last June.

Very heartfelt.

 

[_Lynn_]

Thank you....

~~~Nirvanadragones~~~mckai777~~~and any others I missed before

Thank you for taking time to read The Mask. Your comments mean a great deal to Me.

The reactions I received from My family were either blank looks, a mumbled 'thats nice', or 'kind of sad isn't it'. All with the notebook thrust back quickly to Me.

From there on, I didn't share many personal writings with them. I thought it was My loss. But now I realize it was theirs.

*hugs*

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I was wondering this morning what would happen if I took off my masks. If I opened up, stood vulnerable and unguarded to be seen for what I am, who I am. Could I reveal my innermost fears and desires? Am I secure enough in myself to be rejected if they saw fit to turn away?

I started putting into words the ideas, the hungers, the thrills and the musings that are inside of me, only to sit and wonder why there is those things inside me I have no words for. How do I describe the way I feel? Why for all of my education and reading can I not find words to fit the image of myself I see?

I am beginning to wonder if I wear my masks to hide from myself, to ignore my own inability to contend with myself, as much as I hide from the rest of the world?

 

[_Lynn_]

I was wondering this morning what would happen if I took off my masks. If I opened up, stood vulnerable and unguarded to be seen for what I am, who I am. Could I reveal my innermost fears and desires? Am I secure enough in myself to be rejected if they saw fit to turn away?

I started putting into words the ideas, the hungers, the thrills and the musings that are inside of me, only to sit and wonder why there is those things inside me I have no words for. How do I describe the way I feel? Why for all of my education and reading can I not find words to fit the image of myself I see?

I am beginning to wonder if I wear my masks to hide from myself, to ignore my own inability to contend with myself, as much as I hide from the rest of the world?

Very deep---soul searching---Thank You

 

[mismused]

delete

 

[Guest]

bumping

cause ive been thinking about this.

 

[rgraham666]

Masks I Wear: The one that says I care. The one that says you matter. The one that denies I'm always calculating the odds.

Why do I wear them: Because there are other people in the world. They are a fuck of a lot easier to deal with if they think you care, that they matter to you, and that you're not cold-bloodedly making decisions about how to best manipulate them into doing what you want.

I was the opposite.

I wore a mask that said I don't care, that people didn't matter to me, that I was always calculating the odds. That's what's 'expected' of you in our society. In many ways, psychopathy is an admired trait.

But I did care, people do matter to me and I hate manipulation.

So the dichotomy eventually drove me insane.

I'm glad I don't have to pretend any more.

 

[_Lynn_]

I'm glad I don't have to pretend any more

Feels great doesn't it?

I wore so many masks I didn't even realize it.

One covered another as I just went along with life.

I'm glad I don't wear them anymore.