QUESTION:

Is that a mask you're wearing... or?

We humans sure are funny critters. I mean an elephant is an elephant- you hear the bellow, you hear the thrashing in the undergrowth, you know he's coming. Possibly to trample you underfoot else cause some dire damage with those tusks.

A lion? Same thing. Intentions in the open- though they do utilise more stealth rather than sheer bulk. Still, you know it's coming for you. Same with most other critters. A mosquito doesn't try to fool you or hide its feelings or pretend all's well when the hungry little thing needs your blood! It strikes, you swat, you miss, it tries again- and maybe valiantly goes to its death; your hand the equivalent of a slab of concrete, squishing it.

We think we need masks. We wear masks often; in fact some are permanently affixed- there so long they've melded to the face below.

Right now, I should be pulling my hair out, wailing, smashing furniture and slitting someone's throat. (Okay the last bit is all metaphorical.)  Yet here I am, lolling and chatting and contributing to discussions as though... all's right in my world. It ain't.       

We wear masks because our real faces would betray us. It's what we think.

Our real faces - mirroring our changing circumstances - aren't exactly 'fun'. Some circumstances induce deep frowns, some indecisive stares of confusion, some pain, some anguish, some... heartbreak.

Our real faces, windows to what's going on inside, are however deemed too 'inappropriate', too 'disturbing', too... incorrect, tasteless; unfitting this collective desire to avoid unpleasantness. We are told - and constantly - that we should be grateful, and calm, and 'fun-loving' and well-balanced. We should project confidence and contentment and strive to better ourselves.

"Don't surround yourself with negative people."

So we wear masks. (Without them we'd be spreading negativity.)

It doesn't mean we are not as real beneath them- we are still the same people. Just, our masks keep us within the fold.

Don't they?