Penguin RushMasking...
In Venice, there is a festival called The Carnival of Venice (can the name be any easier or less obvious?) where wearing masks have always been a central feature of the Venetian carnival and people could spend a large proportion of the year in disguise (P/S: read about my trip to the city at http://members.fortunecity.com/abdunmy/zone3.htm).
Would you agree that we too wear masks sometimes and some people wear masks throughout a large proportion of the year. Normally, we 'wear' masks to hide our true nature, our true colours and most of the time, we try to portray to other people that we are a good person (when truly we are 'less' than that). If there is an expression called "puting on our thinking cap", then when we hide our true face, I'd like to call it as wearing a "good mask".
Examples of certain situations where we most likely wear "good masks" are when we try to get ourselves acquainted with other guests at a party or a function; during job interviews; on our first (or earlier) dates with the girl/boy we like so much; getting to know our (future) parents-in-law; the first few weeks/months at a new workplace/school etc. etc.
Very seldom we find a person who tries to make an impression that he/she is a horrible person (when in fact, he/she is not). The only person I can think of who might be wearing a "bad mask" is an actor who plays a villain in a movie.
Not too long ago, our local music scene welcomes a new singer who rises to stardom in a blink of an eye. Other than his charisma, many people (not for me though...) quickly become attracted to his talents (if not to him as a person) due to his humble behaviour and religious backgrounds.
And nowadays, it seems to me that all of a sudden, many other artists, especially the new ones and those who compete in singing contests, are trying (so hard) to portray the 'good and clean' image. They wish 'salam' before they perform or being interviewed and utter 'Insha' Allah' whenever they share their plans.
In a recent award show (which I watched briefly while flipping through TV channels), three presenters kept saying "Astaghfirullah" and "Masha' Allah" while talking among themselves. Not that it's a bad thing, but the scenario was rather awkward. The girls were scantily dressed, there were plenty of body contacts between the girls and the guy and if I'm not mistaken, the topic that they talked about involved gossips.
Then, during a recent nationalised interview with this one Dato' prior to his marriage to a famous singer, in my opinion, I found his humility is somewhat fake!
I'm not saying that it's wrong to be nice or trying to be good. With plenty of practice and doa', Insha' Allah we can change to become a better person whom we want to be. But then, without sincerity and by having certain agenda in mind, it will become very apparent that we are faking it, that it's just a "good mask."
However, in certain scenarios, sometimes we DO have to (force ourselves to) wear a "good mask." For example, being serious and professional in our job/career. Again, nothing wrong with that, but then, not to the extent of making other people feel obnoxious and hate your face right?
Just because you have some superiority in your position, it doesn't mean that you can look down on others very easily. Those other staff are not meant to serve you, let alone please you, especially after working hours (even if they are still around in the office during those times). Treat them well, treat them nice and respect them. DON'T EXPECT OTHER PEOPLE (SAME DEPARTMENT OR NOT) TO RESPECT YOU, IF YOU CAN'T SHOW THE SAME TO THEM!!! As Laurence Sterne once said: RESPECT FOR OURSELVES GUIDES OUR MORALS; RESPECT FOR OTHERS GUIDES OUR MANNERS. Need I say more?
So, when you put on a "good mask" today, decide whether the mask will stay on and will be a part of you for the rest of your life OR having the mask on is just another show for you.
Meantime, description of my cartoon sketch shown above: The man (whom I would like to call Onion) wears a "good mask" every now and then. The mask is 'screaming' to others, saying "Like me... I'm likable." Unfortunately, Onion has a lot to learn as he is still very much like......an Onion!
posted by The Pisces Man @ 8:43 am
6 Comments:
Hey, for some people, their blogs are also their masks.
Do you like my mask? :-D
Hey, Pugly... yeah, I had that in mind when I was writing this entry but somehow had forgotten to include that.. Anyway, I know your blog is your mask.. Doubt it's 'pugly' right... Hehe
good mask = hypocrite?
what do u think?
Wonderful article. Points well spread.
It took me years to master the "art" of masking. And esp for malays, masks are a very important attire regardless of what sort of fancy clothes your body is wrapped in. Speaking from my own personal experience, masks are but the safest mode to be in that society or any other unfamiliar territory. And when u passed it, u can then try donning the english mask for instance (praise, polite, modest, etc etc u know what it is). Believe me, whether u put on a naive mask or an assertive mask or even macam alim mask, the clue is to wear it right according to the place and the crowd. Like u said, sooner or later, people will notice that u r trying hard to be what u r not. Itu blom lagi fake smiles, fake laughs and fake handshakes.
My best bet is: better berbaik sangka (husnus-zhan) then jump the gun inappropriately. People (esp politicians and celebrities) are already facing too much scrutinies that they had to make up an act that is less controversial. Ask Tony Blair. His cousin, G.Doubya Bush isnt that proficient in that masking dept. Oh well, better the devil you know...
Yep Manal, husnus-zhan is the best bet (also forgot to include that since was rushing when writing this entry...) Your point on celebrities having to make up an act that is less controversial is well said.
G.Doubya Bush is neither wearing a "good mask" nor a "bad mask". He has EVIL written all over his face.
Shiha, good mask = hypocrite.. emm, can be true and also not true. I guess it depends on what and why is it that we have to be hypocrite about. Anyway, I've said all I needed to say about hypocrites in a recent post "How to survive the (stinking) Hippopotamus" :)
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