Is being ourselves important even if the society opposes it?
By shahmeerx
@shahmeerx (368)
Pakistan
December 3, 2007 2:50pm CST
The media is always exposing on being and beleiving on our selves but it is often opposed by a few critics.These comments may include Over confidence ,being a social zero and being an un acceptable gender (only to some extent ,not the extreme cases).The question arises should the person be made up of the society or his own self?
I think its more important what a person judges him self uppon it really matters more when a person knows what he really wants.
1 person likes this
5 responses
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
8 Dec 07
Good comment and question. Being ourselves is important but thanks to society, business and things of that nature we can't really be ourselves, the real self we'd like to be. For example business, work and society each require a specific conduct and look. For the first two, there are rules and some laws that set this (business or business causual dress only, just an example). For the third, there are laws, implied feelings, mindsets, beliefs, well even courtesies that also limit the self and expression we are allowed. If there are any deviants even those that do no wrong or harm, they are usually met with skepticism, doubt, even hatred. Summarily, we are more of a shadow of who we really are in public.
While it is important to be yourself and one can be themselves for the most part, there are still these issues that limit it. Some are needed, but others are broken, misguided perspectives and establishments that are quite discouraging. In general being yourself in terms of personality is noted more than being yourself as a full self. Even with the personality, there are some limits on that portion as well. However, with all of this one can still be themselves within civility and the law; one can be expressive within the law.
Another thing I'll note is the media/society itself. There is a message of be yourself, but there is also a standard of physical apperance, personality and lifestyle that is bombarded on the populous. It does result in some people being self conscious and others trying to imitate the "current flavor" whoever that maybe.
Great discussion Shahm.
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
9 Dec 07
Thanx,another question here is we are born biologically its nurture what creates us because nature only exists in our organs this long debate beween instinct and socialisation the thing is ,that it is the society that creates us then what's yourself in beyourself?
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
9 Dec 07
i agree ,but if we look at from another perspective ,why are we different from each other isnt our instinct what seperates us
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
9 Dec 07
Very good experiment. When it comes to nature, man would be more animal like (or at least when compared to "modern" society). There may or may not be language, there would be constant struggle for survival. The latter definitely lends itself to a very different humanity and hence a different self (stronger, more violent, territorial, just as examples and possibilities).
More on the self and nature elements from internal mechanisms...
There are traits that are passed down that make a physical self, and some of these traits have their rarities be they beneficial or harmful (strength, being tall, mental expansion, mental deficiency, immunity deficiency, personality disorders). Again, examples but they do fit the nature experiment. The self could develop with specific mental adaptations to talents, or mental problems, depression, psychopathic thoughts, etc. I'd have to look more into this too since there is ongoing debate if nature (or nurture) by itself could completely override or influence what a person becomes.
In reality I have to admit there is much more to society/nurture programming a person and making that "self" than there is a natural source.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
13 Dec 07
All of us are born differently with different thinking. I have some friends who are not bothered about what people think about them. They do things as they wish. So long as they are happy, they are not bothered about what the society thinks.
I also have friends who are very bothered about what people think. Even when it comes to relationship, their boyfriend/girlfriend must be someone presentable and will not make them lose face. They live by people's expectation of them and meeting people's expectation makes them happy.
There is no right or wrong. More importantly is, whatever choices we make, we must not regret them and must be happy. =D
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
3 Dec 07
I think it is very important to be yourself, to be true to yourself, everyone is unique and nobody can please eveyone, so just be as good as you can within yourself and for the people who do not like it then it is their problem.
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
3 Dec 07
it is not the fact of beleiving but it is the fact of undermining ur self on peoples judgements being labelled by people who no longer speacialise in labelling or judging.A person should have the criteria of judging himself to his own but that never means we should let the people go to hell we should always listen to the opposite side adn then make a true analysis which is unbiased.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
11 Dec 07
People should feel free to be themselves, not some sick ideal that society says they must hold too. I mean, how happy are people really, if they conform to some sick ideal of how they should be? Lying to yourself will only make you feel terrible and depressed because you aren't striving to do what you want, and be what you're meant to be. Screw society. Be yourself.
@shahmeerx (368)
• Pakistan
11 Dec 07
then why are geeks unpreferred ,or idiots undermined,why does the word fashion exist?
@TyNSethsMom (136)
• United States
3 Dec 07
I believe it is important to be yourself no matter what.
