Under That Smile

Human interaction is an inevitable part of society. Throughout all the hundreds and thousands of years where human interaction is present, first impressions are extremely important. First impression is the way that an agent ascribes an identity or description to an individual that they newly met. This description depends on the very first action and words that this new individual does and says, to the agent.  After the compilation of the first impression (usually done within seconds), the agent sees the individual and everything they do, based on this.

Furthermore, first impressions may be extremely important for the characterizing of a new individual within the agent’s memory database; however, there are other factors that influences that affects the description of the said individual. Factors such as becoming friends, watching their actions, or simply just sitting down chatting, may alter the characteristics used to describe the individual. After the inclusion of these factors, a complete characterization of the individual is formed. But, is this truly what the individual is like?

Modern day society is a place that contains many rules and regulations. These rules and regulations are simply complied as, the law and social standards. The law is a system that not only protects people from harm from others, but also from themselves. Despite this fact, the law is also a restrictive barrier. This barrier does not only change how people mentally think (i.e. some basic thoughts are derived from the law, such as murder is bad), but also how they act. While, social standards also does this to people, based on how society demands them to act in certain ways. Hence, the law and social standards creates a mask. A mask that is put on each person’s face from the second they wake up to the time they go to bed. Every person in society has this mask, and it is this mask that allows them go through everyday life without being noticed too much.

The mask that every human being has is given to them when they begin to be able to think (approximately a young toddler in age relation). When coming in interaction with another human being, this mask is on. The basic function of this mask is to protect the “true identity” and “true self” of each person. Each person’s true weaknesses are covered by the mask, so that it would not be shown to their surrounding environment and used against them. The wearing of the masks never get confused, as the automatic placing of the mask is activated depending on who they see, causing it to activate accordingly.

Within each new and different environment that a person is in, it is possible for them to have a different mask for that specific time. This thought describes how every individual have a number of different masks that they put on, change, and take off while in different scenarios in life. These masks are all different aspects of the individual, which causes the individual to be seen as “totally different” when in interaction with various groups of colleagues or peers. When with family, a person may act as a “good child” however, when with friends, it is possible for the agent to act as a “rebel child”.

Moreover, the more problems and weaknesses that a person has (meaning the more things they have to hide) is what causes their mask to increase in weight, making it harder and harder for them to wear it. Once the mask becomes too unbearable for an individual to place on, their mask shatters. The shattering of the mask can result in many scenarios. These scenarios includes that of the individual breaking down, such as not being able act normally for a period of time, until they have sufficient rest for the mask to reform. After a situation of a shattered mask and when one reforms their mask, one of two things happen:

1. their mask reforms and is reinforced with extra protection to last longer for the individual
2. it is also possible that the mask reforms, but with less reinforcement, making it harder for the individual to cope with and have the mask on or a longer period of time.

The compilation and usage of the mask is a common thing in society, as it is how society wants people to act. Everyone in the world displaying the mask, no matter if they are aware or unaware of it, as it is usually an automatic process. Therefore, the bearing of the mask is not something that people should be ashamed of doing, as it is possible to blame this on the social standards of modern society, as it is the social standards’ flaw to develop the need for this mask.

A quote that explains this easily and accurately is Shakespeare's:

"All the world's a stage,

And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts"