Do you have a Hive mask?
They say people put on different "masks", depending on where they're going and who they're meeting, you know? You're one "you" with your spouse, another at work, another with your friends and so on. And to an extent, I think that's beyond our control. It's just how our selves subtly rearrange themselves to better fit certain social situations. It's not always that you set out to be a different self with your spouse or your beer buddies, but that it naturally flows.
So my question initially was going to be, do you view Hive as private or public? I mean in terms of what you post here. Personally, as you can probably tell, I view Hive as immensely private. Perhaps too much so. I enjoy the community here a great deal, and in (coming up on) 8 years now, I've had one or two times only when I've thought "is this too private to post?". Mostly I just roll with whatever comes through my brain.
Maybe I should've thought that more often, huh.
Anyway, I went down that line of thought and ended up with the title question which was more intriguing to me by far, and so I started (of course) to examine myself. What version of "me" do I present to the blockchain, and how far is it from what I perceive as my "core" self?
I think I make myself braver on here sometimes than I actually am. It's not that I write things with more authority or knowledge than in real life. If anything, it's perhaps the other way around. In my real life, I often find I drown myself out, or dumb myself down (thinking it's smart, as a much loved man once sang). But here, in writing, I find I get to express myself truthfully and unencumbered by what I think the other expects me to be. Because here, I know no two readers will have the same impression of me anyhow, so it'd be pointless to try to mould myself to each.
But I think I make myself out to be more brave than I actually am, more headstrong and steadfast. Closer to my ideals and less betrayed by my whims, by my own white heart.
Let's see. What else. I've been thinking about this question a bit, and I try to spot ways in which I'm being disingenuous on here, except that's not really been the case. If anything, I find I'm more on Hive, that I'm closer to the self I would like to be, to the good parts of myself, bold and clever, full of love and surrounded by good, interesting people. I speak much closer to her on Hive than I might in other social interactions.
So writing this, my Hive "mask" feels closer to my "true" self than many of my other social masks.
Then again, it has been an awfully long time. My entire adult life has been on Hive and I know I'm not alone in that, though I think it's a fair question how much of that has shaped what my "true" self looks like. Through many changes, both on a personal and a planetary level, Hive has been a constant to come back to. Without a doubt, who I am here has shaped who I want to be as I go. We're constantly being shaped by the things and people we pour our love and energy into.
And I know some of you on here are raising your kids on Hive as well. There's these small kids posting on Hive and that's fantastic. Obviously. But I do wonder how and to what extent that will shape who they want to be and grow up to be in the future. Because they've been growing up cultivating this Hive "mask" (which maybe isn't so different from their true selves anyway, or maybe they're just beginning to contemplate how they present themselves to the world at large) alongside their own growth and development. Sure be interesting to see where this all goes, won't it?
What about working in reverse? Has Hive shaped who you are in the outside world? For sure. I've gotten so much courage from here, and it's just always been this sort of space for trying out new things artistically. Writing styles and bad self portraits. And inevitably, that helps you grow and change as you go.
So what about you? Do you reckon you've got a Hive "mask"? Do you put on a face to meet the blockchain, and how much of yourself do you reveal on here? How much of yourself are you still keeping hidden somewhere?
And where can I see it? :P
If anything I think that I am more open on Hive. To start with I have not made a selfie and posted it in facebook in years but when I make gaming posts on Hive people can see my face. On Hive I share not only my art but also my thoughts, dreams and fears. On Hive I have spoken about my disability and mental illness a few times. On facebook I have spoken about it with only one or two ,,friends''. In facebook I just post my art, watch some funny animal photos/ videos and log out. On Hive I actually try to interact with people. On facebook with most people I have not spoken in years or decades.
I resonate with that. I find I'm more open with my face on here as well, which I wouldn't see myself doing on other platforms. I think it's a delicate thing to share your art anywhere, so kudos for that, but I know what you mean. Here, you know it will actually be noticed and seen whereas it just seems to disappear in a torrent of BS on other socials. Or at least, so it is for me. :)
on facebook my art gets a a few likes at best. At worst people laugh at it and say that my art is childish/ that their kid can draw better. On Hive my art gets sometimes a few dollars. And no one has insulted my art here in 7+ years. So Hive wins for me as well.
I never understood what these people get from such comments. Imagine though how small and empty they must be to resort to that kind of petty shit, though.
Hello!!
Your post also speaks to all the time you dedicate to Hive, so Hive has a huge influence on your life. I can say that on Hive, I've found a world full of kindness and courtesy. People are much more social than in real life, so I could also use a very pleasant mask to be reciprocal with everyone. Hive has opened the doors for me to learn about how people live hundreds of miles away from me... and that broadens my perception of the world. I don't force myself to read the people who get the most votes; I look for texts that give me knowledge, energy, and openness...
I like sincere and fresh texts. Could it be that we're always pretending to be something we're not? Just follow someone you find interesting, and you'll find out.
I LOVE your content.
🌹🦋🌹
That's an excellent point you make about the time and energy we pour into this place, for sure. I imagine it doesn't have nearly as much impact on someone who views it purely as a money thing or whatever.
Maybe. There's always that risk of discovering it was all just an act though and I think we're scared to discover that about the people we really like. And back at you, lovely. I do not read as much of your stuff as I would like, I admit, I need to find a better structure for interacting on Hive for sure. But yours is definitely one of the names I'm always happy to see in my feed. Hugs!
🤗
🌹🦋🌹
That resonates with me too! I grew up here too 🤣. I was so young back then and now I am older but less wiser. I realized how dumb I was and still is. I could confidently say, I spent my entire 20's on hive and that taught me about a thing or two on life.
Isn't it cool to have a space where you can work bettering your craft? I mean this is the space I grow as a writer and storyteller too.
You changed your avatar. Hi!
Right? I'm constantly going 'ooohh oops'. Maybe someday we'll get to be old and wise too. Or just old. :D
It certainly is! It's one of those things I didn't at the time of joining realize just how important they would be. Or how lucky I was to have found it.
It's so interesting what you say. Once, years ago, someone said to me that life is a stage, a theater play, where we all are simply actors in a life roll. And reading this comes to me the idea that many people needs to use not just masks, but costumes for every act. They need to behave different in everyone of those stages where they jump to. I mean, between friends, family and knows, people use to be closer to who they really are, at least, to who they want to be or be known as. In the stage of workplace, and it depends a lot of which work it is, they need to assume some attitudes for the accomplishment of their objetive, to sell, to buy, to promote, to talk, etc, mostly a learned way to behave, looking for the best outcome. I appreciate this kind of posts, 'cause at the end, sincerity it is the ultimate stage where we all need to be.
What I am on Hive is a blend of my artistic persona (duh?) and my true self. That's because here I'm encouraged in talking about myself and my interests and that's also necessary to post more frequently and engage with other people, not just as a musician hiding behind the character I've created.
Then, talking about masks, here I wear the one I use in public anyway for sure, and I think it's the same for most of the people that use their own identity on Hive
I don't usually talk much about myself on Hive (or anywhere else), preferring to reflect on issues that, although they concern me too, are of concern to the vast majority of human beings. Of course, in dealing with these issues from our points of view, we reveal traits of our personality and personal way of thinking. This allows those who read us to create an image of who we are, even if they do not know us personally.
I believe that from the moment we choose our username in Hive (different from our identity name) we are putting on the first mask. We play characters (more or less autobiographical) but different from our model in real life. That doesn't have to be negative, nor does it make us fake. It simply gives us the opportunity to unfold ourselves and expand our forms of expression.
On the other hand, I don't have much to hide about me (I won't be able to tell you where to look🤷♂). I'm a simple guy, who doesn't look for second intentions and I prefer sincerity... I ended up talking about myself in the end.😀
Nice to read you. 🌻
I'm one of those who thinks that when we write in Hive we do it for ourselves, that's why there is no mask in our writing. Your post is very interesting.
Lovinghive ❤️
You make excelente puntos against the plutocracy putos of hive and their narratives over "quality content".
This is great to think about! When I began here I was still in the "faking it until I made it* phase not only on Hive but on all of the other socials. Everyone who was coaching me encouraged me to do this for the sake of growing my career. I was hesitant to share struggles, losses, mistakes, negative or mundane things etc. Almost nine years deep I fear sometimes that I share too much mundane stuff on Hive but, like you, this place feels comfortable and draws these things out of me. I'd say what you see here is about 95% of who I really am.