This reminds me of code switching. All of these personas are me and each one, separately, is useful in different situations. I think most of us use these, at least if we move between different societal groups. Now, I can't imagine being clever enough to hold onto one mask long enough for it to become a true persona.
I have my 'educated' code. My 'redneck boy' code. My 'street' code. And my 'nonthreatening' code. That's all the one's I can think of off the top of my head.
I've recently took retrospective look at my pattern of inconsistency/falling out in hobbies/activities or even embodying a virtue and discovered sth similar. Whenever I have a genuine interest in doing/being something, get authentic contentment out of it, eventually it devolves into performative as I start caring more about how others are perceiving me which leads me to start modeling my bad mask (cue Sartre's "the Look"). Eventually I forget the love/authenticity I had for it. I find the mind to be an absolute mess, how much I rationalize my way through becoming aligned with my authenticity, it simply doesnt work that way. I find the practice of mindfulness, focus and attention serves to counteract/negate the bad side of the masks.
Coincidentally today i read this line from a book by a sufi mystic that i think is relevant here:
"The first way [to mental purification] is the stilling of the mind, because it is very often the activity of the mind which produces impurities"
This reminds me of code switching. All of these personas are me and each one, separately, is useful in different situations. I think most of us use these, at least if we move between different societal groups. Now, I can't imagine being clever enough to hold onto one mask long enough for it to become a true persona.
Yup.
I have my 'educated' code. My 'redneck boy' code. My 'street' code. And my 'nonthreatening' code. That's all the one's I can think of off the top of my head.
You put the “fun” in profundity, my friend.
Thank you friend! You put the pro in profundity. Now we just need to find a dity and we can start an international crime syndicate.
Seconded.
/kenye west smiling gif
I've recently took retrospective look at my pattern of inconsistency/falling out in hobbies/activities or even embodying a virtue and discovered sth similar. Whenever I have a genuine interest in doing/being something, get authentic contentment out of it, eventually it devolves into performative as I start caring more about how others are perceiving me which leads me to start modeling my bad mask (cue Sartre's "the Look"). Eventually I forget the love/authenticity I had for it. I find the mind to be an absolute mess, how much I rationalize my way through becoming aligned with my authenticity, it simply doesnt work that way. I find the practice of mindfulness, focus and attention serves to counteract/negate the bad side of the masks.
Coincidentally today i read this line from a book by a sufi mystic that i think is relevant here:
"The first way [to mental purification] is the stilling of the mind, because it is very often the activity of the mind which produces impurities"
"Man is least himself when he talks in his own person; give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth". -Oscar Wilde
FML—that would’ve been a banger to include
it’s funny you wrote this today. I just wrote a post on my site last night: https://blakeicollier.github.io/technology,/blog/2025/08/21/the-authenticity-war-against-ai.html