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Wednesday, June 23, 2010
June: PAPER TOWNS, False Impressions
John asks, "Do you think that Margo meant to give her friends a false impression of herself?"
Follow-up: Have you ever given anyone a false impression of yourself?
Yes, on some level - maybe it wasn't intentional at first but I think that at some point, she definitely realised and made it a choice to let them believe that is who she really was.
And yes, I give most people a false impression of me.
I don't like to burden people with my problems, I don't like people to know if I'm hurting... so I hide all of that - most people see me as the shy giggly girl who makes people laugh, which is true to an extent, but not one of them would be able to guess the depression/bipolar tendencies/emptiness that is under the surface most of the time (except maybe my two best friends, the only ones I've ever really told everything to).
I like it that way, the idea of people really knowing me, that part of me, it terrifies me.
Plus, if you fake a smile for long enough it can start to fool even yourself and amusement is a good substitute for happiness.
At first, Margo didn't know enough about herself to know whether or not the impression she was giving was false. Later on, I think it WAS intentional. The false impressions people have of me are only there because they used to be true impressions, and I've changed enormously, but some people don't know. I like to think that I'm myself with my friends, even if they don't know everything about me.
You guys are spot on. I agree Margo didn't begin to intentionally mislead anyone. She changed, didn't necessarily reveal it, and no one was able to see it.
In her new location, I hope she was able to be authentic.
I pride myself on being honest with myself and others no matter where I am or who is present.
Yes, I think Margo put up a front, so to speak, and projected a certain persona and confidence in order to mask her internal dialogue and true feelings.
7 comments:
Yes, on some level - maybe it wasn't intentional at first but I think that at some point, she definitely realised and made it a choice to let them believe that is who she really was.
And yes, I give most people a false impression of me.
I don't like to burden people with my problems, I don't like people to know if I'm hurting... so I hide all of that - most people see me as the shy giggly girl who makes people laugh, which is true to an extent, but not one of them would be able to guess the depression/bipolar tendencies/emptiness that is under the surface most of the time (except maybe my two best friends, the only ones I've ever really told everything to).
I like it that way, the idea of people really knowing me, that part of me, it terrifies me.
Plus, if you fake a smile for long enough it can start to fool even yourself and amusement is a good substitute for happiness.
Maybe Margo was scared too. =/
At first, Margo didn't know enough about herself to know whether or not the impression she was giving was false. Later on, I think it WAS intentional.
The false impressions people have of me are only there because they used to be true impressions, and I've changed enormously, but some people don't know. I like to think that I'm myself with my friends, even if they don't know everything about me.
You guys are spot on. I agree Margo didn't begin to intentionally mislead anyone. She changed, didn't necessarily reveal it, and no one was able to see it.
In her new location, I hope she was able to be authentic.
I pride myself on being honest with myself and others no matter where I am or who is present.
Yes, I think Margo put up a front, so to speak, and projected a certain persona and confidence in order to mask her internal dialogue and true feelings.
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