Who do you think you are?

[dr_mabeuse]

However what I didn't get you in your post is how trying to figure out yourself kills a part of you. Do you care to elaborate a bit more on that?

I didn't say "figure out" yourself. I said "nail yourself down", like when you tell someone you're a good student or a bad driver. You immediately limit yourself. Your bad student and good driver parts die.

It's good to find out what you can do and what makes you happy, but there's a myth in this culture that there's such a thing as a "real" you that can be found if you just clear a bunch of rubbish away. That's just not true, and the search is futile. You exist in relationships, and you're a different person for and to everyone who knows you. Why should you take away from them the freedom to see you as they want by telling them who you "are", especially when your version is just your opinion? Is your opinion any more valid than theirs? If I see myself as a worthless bum and you see me as a fine writer, should I fight with you about who's right?

Also, is there anything more dreary than having people tell you who they think they are? Whether good or bad, it's always kind of depressing.

But that's just me. I love the ambiguity of not knowing and the idea that at my age I might still surprise myself.

 

[Guest]

Also, is there anything more dreary than having people tell you who they think they are? Whether good or bad, it's always kind of depressing.

Yep, I prefer "show don't tell". Which is rather apt for a group of writers.

That might sound flippant, but it's not meant to be. When it comes to who we are, I am a firm believer in actions speaking louder than words.

 

[NoJo]

I see myself as absolutely and utterly unique, just as everyone does.

 

[carsonshepherd]

I see myself as absolutely and utterly unique, just as everyone does.

Joe:

 

[NoJo]

Joe:

Those are the gayest smilies I ever saw.

 

[Dar~]

I'm made up of so many facets
the picture of my life
a collage of facts.
I have so many.
I am the song's creator,
the word's writer,
the midnight's dancer, and
the heart's romancer.
I am a spirit, a roamer
a finder, a seeker
The wizard in the fantasy
a hero in adversity.
I am myth and mythology.
I am me
with a touch of everything and everyone
I have experienced.
I am the hope of the future, and
the memory of the past.
Dar

 

[sweetnpetite]

How other people see me is up to them. Like others, I have found that anonymous has very definite views about me.

I think I can be a pompous bore on line because my wife isn't here to kick me in the shins as she does in RL.

Og

Interesting. I never find you pompous or boring. Funny, Entertaning, Interesting and Compassionately Beautiful.

Betcha didn't know that, hu

 

[English Lady]

wow, thanks for the hijack folks..my heads not spun like that for a while *L*

Dr M... I don't believe anyone ever knows who they are. As I say, it's a perception thing. I just thought it might be interestingto see what peoples perceptions were and how that might effect a persons writing. It has been interesting thats for sure

Dr F...saw you in the midst of it back there so heres a for trying

 

[sweetnpetite]

In my mind, I look like thi:

http://www.brigitte-nielsen.com/Nude/7.htm

http://www.brigitte-nielsen.com/Nude/6.htm

but with my actual butt

 

[hmmnmm]

The very act of posting an opinion on this thread 'shows' or 'tells' the rest of the world what the poster perceives him or herself to be - even if they grant that they are in process. Whether another perceives what the perceived hopes to convey is completely at the mercy of the perception of the perceiver at any given moment (of perception).
There is no difference in showing and telling.

 

[English Lady]

I was just thinking about this thread

Hmmnmm I think you make a good point there, when my "it's too early in the morning" brain wraps around it

It would b intriguing to find out how people really percieve me and how much that has changed (if at all) over time. I sure think I'm a different EL than the one who started posting here way back over 2 years ago but I wonder if the change is something others pick up on and if it's a good thing.

Ahh maybe I just think to much sometimes *L*

 

[hmmnmm]

2 years ago?
I did not look at the date of original posting.
Good thread.
A thread that lasts.
A real thread.
I perceived this the moment I saw it.

 

[English Lady]

Oh no, it's just me who's been around 2 years..not the thread. I do have a thread over on the playground that's been goingfor nigh on 2 years...but thats taking my own thread off topic *L*

 

[hmmnmm]

We're hijacking your thread.
While the others sleep.
they have no diabolical hands-rubbing-together- emoticon!

 

[English Lady]

They really should shouldn't they? We need more smilies round this place (my own site has thousands. smilie addicted thats me.)


ooooh I do believe I just percieved something about myself. thread back on track..yay!

 

[hmmnmm]

You perceive that you are full of smilies!
I perceived the same thing.
and I agree - though I often fail to use the smilies (Hmmm, I reveal my perception) - I am glad the smilies are here to use. And they could use more varied versions of smilies.
Would that change the language?
Late night here in McDonald'sLand.
Waiting on Certain News. Staying up. Drinking liquor. hoping. Even praying.
Pardon if I tempt to veer your lovely thread off-course.

 

[English Lady]

tempt and veer all you like.

I'm up early-been awake since 5am - waiting on some info which I hope to be able to get in around 2 hours or so.

I am sure it's perfectly fine to threadjack your own thread

 

[hmmnmm]

Waiting.
Waiting.
We have something immediately in common.

Threadjacked your hi!

 

[angelicminx]

How do you percieve yourself?

I think that I am a fun-loving, mostly honest person. I am learing how to say, "It's none of your damned business!"LOL. I have a bad habit of trying to be everything to everyone. I am just beginning to learn who I am, but I like me. Even the bad parts, because it's still ME. I like making people feel good, about who they are and what they do. I am a mediator. I don't like conflict and I will work hard to resolve it, even if it's not mine to resolve. I like to counsel people. I like to listen and offer advice when I can. I like to flirt, it makes me feel good. I am a very touchy-feely person. I am patient when I have to be. I would give a loved one the shirt off my back, but don't take advantage of that, I will bite you in the ass if I have to. I am very open minded. I haven't found anything yet that would shock me to the core. I love to learn.

I am a somewhat selfish person. I do like to get my own way. I have a temper from hell. I can be a bitch. I don't think quickly on my feet, I have never been able to debate an issue. My interests shift quickly. I tend to be a perfectionist, in everything but housework... I suck at housework, lol.


How do you think other people in real life and online perceive you? Do you think it is the same as the way you view yourself?

A)I don't know. I know that I am sometimes seen as an odd duck. Some think that I am wishy washy in my views, not understanding that there are depths to my reasoning that I may not express well. Nothing for me is cut and dried.

B)I would like to think so, but I seriously doubt it, lol.

And last but not least, how do these perceptions effect your writing if they do at all?

Hmmm... not wanting to offend anyone or have the ideas for my stories questioned closely I tend to hold back a lot. A great story then turns into something quite mediocre. I believe I need to get out of that quickly.


I do think I need to give this question a little more thought and answer it again later, LOL. Thanks EL!!

 

[Lucifer_Carroll]

Well since I've been regularly practicing deep introspection since I was about 8 or 9, I've got the ultra long answer to that question and in a way that makes me dislike the "how you see yourself"/"how the world sees you" games everyone else uses for shit like this. You're you and the trust in others you allow is how much of you others see. That's about it.

My personal answer to the "who are you" question is longer than would be good to post and no offense, but I don't trust everyone here enough to give anything approaching the full version. And besides, it evolves with time and revelations (i've at times been surprised at the true natures of parts of my mind I thought I had down pat).

What I've already revealed on this site over my short tenure here is probably my answer to the question. It's the bits of me that I have chosen to reveal. I may eventually reveal more and I'll never reveal all to the degree that I do in my own mind.


Eh, sorry for the vagueness. I'm sure I had a point in there, but it may have been buried in the sands of sandiness.

 

[English Lady]

hmmnmmm yes....an hour now and then I should know something *needing fingers crossed smiley now*


Angelcminx -thanks for answering .

LC..and thanks to you too...it was a good post, i think there was a point in there somewhere *grins* and I think I get it

 

[hmmnmm]

About another 3 hours here.
it's been a year-long wait.
Not that it's cool to reveal too much here.
Heaven forbid!
To perfect Strangers!

 

[English Lady]

hmmnmm three hours after a whole year probably seems like forever.

I'm not a perfect stranger, I'm far less than perfect (PM me the details ) ha!

 

[Guest]

 

[English Lady]

thanks Jammies..i think maybe we are often harsher on ourselves because we have to live with us 24/7 *L*