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Hiding - 3/20/2011 10:19:36 PM   
LillyBoPeep


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People hide parts of themselves for all sorts of reasons. Fear, insecurity, protection,  keeping the world on a "need-to-know" basis, etc etc. Sometimes it's disheartening when a person insists on hiding who they are under a mask that is unbecoming or otherwise just doesn't do that person justice. If a person doesn't like him/herself deep down, s/he might hide it behind actions that appear to be contrary. Other times, it's simply a case of having different clearances, with those closest to you know knowing the real you, and those further away getting the "limited version."  Sometimes certain things are hidden away from people who just wouldn't understand something.

Have you found instances of this to be beneficial? instances where it was NOT helpful at all? did the need to hide who you were come from something negative? if you had a friend who was hiding in a shell, did you take any interest in finding what was hidden behind the walls?


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RE: Hiding - 3/20/2011 10:21:54 PM   
NocturnalStalker


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I dislike opening up on an emotional level to people.  Why?  No idea, I'm shady like that. 



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RE: Hiding - 3/20/2011 10:24:43 PM   
tazzygirl


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The only thing I hide these days is my heart.

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RE: Hiding - 3/20/2011 10:56:16 PM   
Termyn8or


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FR

This may be true of everyone, but it's certainly true of my radical ass. There is no person in this world who wouldn't dislike some aspect of my personality or ways. So why put it in their face ? Only very few need to know, and that still entails the "risk" of rejection. But is it really a risk ?

T^T

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RE: Hiding - 3/20/2011 11:22:47 PM   
Hippiekinkster


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quote:

ORIGINAL: NocturnalStalker

I dislike opening up on an emotional level to people.  Why?  No idea, I'm shady like that. 


It's fear. That's why you pretend to be an asshole. Fear.


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RE: Hiding - 3/20/2011 11:43:16 PM   
LillyBoPeep


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sometimes a person hides because s/he feels like the person inside isn't worthwhile, or that people will be disappointed in "the real" version, even though that real person is usually a million times more interesting. just makes me want to get to know what's really there, or help that person find it.
i have a few friends like this; it's just hard to figure out how to tactfully approach that with someone. or do you even bother?


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RE: Hiding - 3/20/2011 11:54:51 PM   
Termyn8or


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You attack fear by convincing them that holding on to the fear is worse than what they actually fear.

T^T

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 12:06:10 AM   
RedBottomGirl26


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LillyBo, I like the idea that you are concerned with helping some of your friends out of their shells. I think, it's a tricky issue. In some ways, they may very much need socializing around others, but too much could over-whelm them, just be a little cautious how you handle it. Generally, when a person gets lonely enough, they will come out of their shells, at least I think so. Not true of really anti-social people.

I think that yes, most people hide if something REALLY negative and disturbing happened to them, usually they are a survivor of something or other.
It's not very good to go probing in those deep & dark areas (remember people have secrets for a reason), though sometimes it's nothing really dark, more than embarrassing & painful, perhaps confusing (some people don't have the right words to get out their frustrations). If they approach you and want to talk, then I think it's okay to ask & nudge along, but it's not good to rush a person into revealing more of themselves than they are unwilling to give at any given moment, people tend to know when the "next" step is available (though maybe not in all cases).

I think you must be very perceptive to point out that people often do hide behind a mask (why? Because masks are more inviting and acceptable to society at large, though not in every case, since there is mystery involved). And true, I think some people might be ashamed of themselves, yes, often worrying if they are good enough or deserving enough to be seen by others. Maybe they were rarely or never told there was anything special in them, or maybe they were told that all the time, but only by family. You could see how a person might get confused about self-worth & concept. In a great world, people would just accept themselves as smart or beautiful or talented (or whatever), and we wouldn't need others for validation. And there are alot of people who are really confident, some even arrogant or vain (many would say many industrial/computerized nations are creating ego-driven, vain & selfish people). Which is why I think tempering things with being humble is a great philosophy. Anyway, but back to the mask idea...some people may act contrary from how they feel, but not every one puts on a mask the same way. There could be alot of reasons & justifications.

Oh, I do like the idea of having clearance. This is in effect a way to herd close family/friends together in a close-knit group, but a safety measure to keep strangers out who may not have your best interests at heart. I've always liked this idea, because in a close knit group, you do show your real self to them, and do very little masking (though even in a family, you may not tell them everything), and only to the outside group, does it seem you wear a mask. So, I don't see anything wrong with giving clearances of different levels of trust to different types of people. Not everyone is worthy of calling friend or lover.But, just because someone is different or odd, doesn't mean they are necessarily insincere, I think it mostly depends on approach & care.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 12:34:11 AM   
NocturnalStalker


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Hippiekinkster


quote:

ORIGINAL: NocturnalStalker

I dislike opening up on an emotional level to people.  Why?  No idea, I'm shady like that. 


It's fear. That's why you pretend to be an asshole. Fear.



Oh, the asshole part of me is just nature.  =D

However Lilly, I will say that the reason why some people dislike "exposing" themselves is possibly because they have been in abusive relationships in the past.  If you think about it, being with someone (romantically or friendly) you will have them see you at your best and worst as well as tell them a bunch of personal details about yourself due to trusting them enough.  Now if you got into a very nasty fight with this person and they used that mental advantage over you, it was like finding a wound on your body and ripping it open.  If somebody does this, to them it is like going right for the throat verbally.  Let's say I mocked you, you'd probably take minimum to no offense and if you did it would go away shortly since we do not know one another.  Now if I was your best friend in the world and we argued and I began to lace my words with venom that I personally know would push your buttons best, you'd hold a grudge to me most likely.

I hate contributing to topics, so I'll let StellaUK do the rest.


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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 12:47:30 AM   
Hippiekinkster


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

You attack fear by convincing them that holding on to the fear is worse than what they actually fear.

T^T
And it almost always is. (holding on)


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"We are convinced that freedom w/o Socialism is privilege and injustice, and that Socialism w/o freedom is slavery and brutality." Bakunin

“Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore we are saved by love.” Reinhold Ne

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 11:55:28 AM   
TheShrew


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quote:

ORIGINAL: NocturnalStalker

this person  .... used that mental advantage over you, it was like finding a wound on your body and ripping it open. 

This.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 12:11:09 PM   
needlesandpins


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i don't know so much about other people, but for me i am very reserved until i have made my mind up about others first. depending on how i view others depends on how much of me they get. whatever level of me you get is exactly me, just on a need to know basis. i am far more open now than i have ever been and all the people closest to me know all about what i do. i never thought i'd tell my mum as she has always been the most judgemental of me and not in a good way. however, when i split from my ex i told her everything. the only thing she said was 'have you learnt anything new about yourself through doing it?' my answer 'yes i do actually like getting oral, it's amazing what having someone who knows what they are doing does for me'. she has ever met my playmate and likes him. i guess these days i just don't care what people think of me anymore, those close to me accept me as i am, anyone else isn't worth the time anyway.

i don't post face pics, originally because i was new and very concious of people who live local to me knowing. then it was just because, as i've said before, the camera really does hate me so i have very few pics that i actually like of myself. i have never posted very private pics of me anywhere until the 'pussy' thread on here. i so very nearly didn't do it, but then thought what the hell.

one thing i do hate is people who hide behind multiple profiles on the same site, being one thing in one profile and something else in another. it very much smacks of deception and in an area where trust is such a big issue it's just plain wrong.

needles

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 12:33:54 PM   
vegetablelamb


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There are times I hide and expose parts of me, as do a lot of people. For me, it depends on the person. I believe I am a very open person in general, but if I receive too much negativity or hurt as a result of being open (or expect I will receive negativity due to previous experiences) with a particular individual, I tend to close myself off to them. I also have (rather, sometimes have) a fear of judgement and need for approval from people I am very close to. In my weaker moments I would hide behind lies in order to maintain happiness and escape judgement, although I tend to face my consequences now because that is what I feel is the healthy response.

I've recently come away from a friendship that displayed this tendency very well: my friend had high expectations and was overly critical, controlling, and abusive. I continued an unhealthy cycle by hiding behind a facade of "I don't do this, I don't want to do this, everything's fine" to try and maintain peace. Trying to shake the habit of hiding and instead attempting to be open was very problematic and scary, for obvious reasons, but with people other than her I had no problem being honest whatsoever. It was trust, I do believe, or rather a severe lack of it and security in her regard.

For some reason, I don't feel as much insecurity with acquaintances or strangers, particularly because I don't hold any expectations of them. Thank you for your post; I enjoy doing self-analysis and seeing my behaviors and reasoning outside of the moment, and you've started the wheels a-turnin'.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 12:35:54 PM   
LaTigresse


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There is not one person alive in this universe that really knows all of me.

It has been my experience that most people do not want to.


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Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 2:38:30 PM   
sexyred1


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That is probably true for many LaT. I think that most people really only care about getting to know someone for what they can get/have/develop/need/desire from another, but I think that even friends and family don't want to know the entire picture.

I think there is a big difference between "hiding" behind a facade of who you wish you were and you present a mask to the world and then hiding certain things or parts of yourself simply because not everyone needs to know every frigging thing about you.

We all choose how we present ourselves to the world and in private and there may be valid reasons for not doing the big reveal to few, if any.

If you feel ok about it, great. If you do not feel good about it, then you need to examine why you are doing the hiding.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 3:46:54 PM   
littlewonder


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What I share about myself depends on the person I'm with. I don't see that as hiding as so much as not everyone needs to know everything about me...it depends on our relationship. What I share with coworkers isn't what I share with my friends and so on.

I'm sure my friends hide things from me and I'm ok with that. I'm not the curious type or the type to dig  so no it never bothers me and I never have any interest in finding out what or why. I don't probe and they don't tell and we're all perfectly fine like that.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 4:55:18 PM   
IfYouPlease


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I think I hide my true self to this day because of my upbringing. I was raise in a very strict/religious home. I had great parents who were very normal and loving but there was a lot of "no, we can't/don't do that." I married my husband at a young age (20), he was raised the same way. We celebrated our 10 yr anniversary last year and just recently I've filled him in on my preferences. He is trying to understand and hasn't freaked out yet... I've always been afraid of being rejected by my family and friends if they new the truth. I still have to be very careful not to reveal too much about my husband and myself because of jobs/family/friends...etc.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 9:57:46 PM   
Arpig


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Interesting topic Lilly. I think everybody hides aspects of themselves. Nobody has ever known all aspects of me...including myself. I reveal as much of myself to people as I think they need to know and can understand. Casual friends don't need to know what goes on inside my head, not that many know about my being diabetic, let alone my mental health issues. Its not because I am ashamed, it just serves no purpose for them to know.

I won't lie about things if asked, but that doesn't mean I am going to spill my guts to everybody I know.

quote:

Have you found instances of this to be beneficial?
Yes. Absolutely, I have friends who just wouldn't understand about my S/M tastes, for example. They would think I was seriously sick, and probably want nothing to do with me. Is it deceptive to hide this aspect of myself from them, or to maintain a friendship based on that being hidden? No, I don't think so. that part of me is not relevant to my relationship with them.

quote:

instances where it was NOT helpful at all?
On occasion it has led to some misunderstanding, but nothing major.

quote:

did the need to hide who you were come from something negative?
No, at least I don't think so (I may have to think about that some more), its more that some things and details about me are appropriate for some relationships and others are not.

quote:

if you had a friend who was hiding in a shell, did you take any interest in finding what was hidden behind the walls?
I have been curious about a person when I get the impression that they are hiding some major aspect of themselves, but I never try to find out. I figure they will reveal whatever aspects of themselves to me that they feel is appropriate at what they feel is the appropriate time.

For example; I have no need to know if a friend of mine was abused in the past...it is for them to decide if they feel it would be beneficial to them that I should know. I have asked one friend if she was molested as a child, just because of the things she was telling me, it seemed to me that she was were trying to tell me and just couldn't come right out and say it (turns out I was wrong...that wasn't what she was getting at at all).


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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 9:59:55 PM   
Arpig


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quote:

I enjoy doing self-analysis and seeing my behaviors and reasoning outside of the moment, and you've started the wheels a-turnin'.
Yeah, that's one of the things I like about this place. It makes you think about yourself in ways you wouldn't otherwise.

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RE: Hiding - 3/21/2011 10:02:34 PM   
TheHeretic


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Ogres have layers. Like onions, though, not layers like cakes.



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