What do you think about… ?
April 23rd, 2004 | by john |What do you think about a façade?
I think there are positive and negative elements to it. But my question is… can either the positive or negative element offset the other? If so, how do you figure that?
What kind of façade do you put on? Does it change ever? If so, to whom does it change and how? What triggers the change? Is it something noticeable or very subtle?
By Rebecca on Apr 24, 2004
Facades. How interesting that you should bring that up since I’ve been thinking about that this week. Am I the quiet nerdy girl from Tech who likes to be left alone? Am I the future pilot/femgineer I like to play when I’m riding around in t he cockpit? Has my choice of facade affected who I date and what I do in relationships? The answer to all those questions is yes.
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.” I’m not sure who said that but I feel it is true, in my life. If I spend too much time cultivating my “pilot” (read: slightly assholeish and arrogant) alter-ego, I become that. Of course, spending as much time as I do around pilots probably doesn’t hurt. But, on the flip side, I am more outgoing and probably more fun to be around. If I spend to much time on my Tech girl alter-ego, I become a bit elitist, shy, quiet, and anti-social. I feel more comfortable inside my skin, probably because all I am at that point is inside my skin. But, I’m not a fun person to be around. I suppose those things are positive and negative, depending on what you are looking for.
What triggers the change? Usually where I am, to be honest. In Minneapolis, I am usually quieter and more anti-social whereas in ATL I am more outgoing. That said, the pilot alter-ego has developed this winter to help me get over the fact that I know few people. If I make myself into one of the “beautiful people” who can always take care of themselves, things must be ok. The facades are a defense mechanism to protect myself from the rest of the world.