Masquerade

A masquerade.
The first thought that comes to mind is a party where people wear masks to hide their true identity. I prefer to look at the actual hiding of ones identity. It does not even have to be identity that we are hiding. Perhaps a part of our identity, our personality, a covering up of the truth even.

This is important because we all cover up the truth in some way or another. Whether this is through a direct lie, or due to an omission of the truth, the reality behind something has been changed. A masquerade helps us to deal with the truth. If given the chance, would you not also choose a satisfying lie over the awful truth? This is of course highly dependent upon the situation which calls for the question. The reality is, most people would choose to tell a satisfying lie.

This makes things extremely hard when the mask finally comes off, the walls come down or the charade is lifted. This is where confrontation occurs. I recently experienced this myself. When I first met someone, all my walls came down. It is true, I was perhaps hiding behind less than ever before. The same could not be said for the other person. Last night, the mask came off and the truth came out. It was clearly a case of a satisfying lie to keep me from the awful truth.

The problem with this scenario is that once the truth does come out, someone needs to deal with the both the awful truth and the terrible lie.
Thinking about this in the broader scheme of things brings me to the question of power. Perhaps people tell lies for power. They feel powerful, or do so to feel more power. To exercise it over someone or to manipulate a situation to their needs. It becomes a bit of a role reversal though when the truth comes out, the powerful, the one controlling the situation is suddenly on the defensive, with less of a backbone to argue, less morals to rely on.

Lies will always be part of the human race. It is because of lies that we are here, at this very social and political scene that we live in. Everybody tells lies, and sometimes it doesn't make a difference. If you ever come across a situation though where a lie is seriously going to alter things then, in my experience, the awful truth is going to be so much more welcome.


"I can't find a wall to pin this to. They're all coming down since I met you" - Yellowcard (2007)