What kind of mask are you wearing right now?
The more I observe people in your electrical network, the more I see similarities to something I know very well from Versailles: A masked ball. Masqueraders can roughly be classified into six groups. Let's symbolize these groups by masks (not necessarily the masks the masqueraders are actually wearing):
Wig
"Wig wearers" don't hide their face, metaphorically spoken. They may wear a mask but they behave like always, apply the same rules, the same etiquettes as outside the masked ball.
Cap of Invisibility
Stands for masqueraders who observe the ball, listen to the conversations, watch the dance and admire the cleavages of the ladies without speaking, dancing or otherwise participating for themselves.
Theater Mask
Those people play a well-defined role. When they play a Turk, they praise the glory of the Ottoman Empire, when they play a clergyman or a nun, they rant about immorality etc. This can actually be quite fun. As for myself, I'm usually restricted to "glorious" roles like the Sun or Jupiter, but once I played a "Dwarf King from the Future", a quite amusing role - too bad nobody could really appreciate my perfect imitation of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Helmet
Helmet wearers are often timid without mask, they use the anonymity of the mask to protect themselves. They don't forget their manners, but they are less timid, they do things they wouldn't dare without mask: Dance with a princesse du sang, discuss with the king, pay attentions to a beautiful lady, make a toast... The reason for this loss of timidity is that if they "fail" (stumble during the dance, meet with a rebuff, make a fool of themselves etc.), it's only their "mask" that has failed, the real person is maybe never known and gets not harmed.
This attitude can be compared with creating a "Golem" that acts at his place. (If you are unfamiliar with the old jewish Golem legend, think of an "Avatar" in one of your electrical games.) The maker of the Golem feels responsible for it's acts, but when the Golem gets hurt, the maker stays unharmed.
False Beard
"False beards" go one step further than the "Helmet Wearers": They think that their "character" is actually another person and that they are not responsible for his actions (as long as nobody gets physically hurt). They don't mind their manners, they sometimes insult other masqueraders - and when this happens, the reaction is always the same :"Hey, come on, it's only a masked ball !". It's not bad will, it's simply a consequence of the assumption that everybody is at least a Helmet wearer. (In the Golem metaphor, they assume that everybody is acting via a Golem, and if they hurt someone, it's only the Golem who gets hurt.) This assumption implies that there are "other rules" during a masked ball. Some even think that this is the whole point of a masked ball, and don't understand why the "Wig wearers" take everything so seriously, because - "Hey, it's only a masked ball !"
Rogue's Mask
Rogues are the scourge of every masked ball. They turn over tables, insult and grope ladies, start brawls and duels and behave like what you would call a troll. They come to make trouble, and use their masks to go scot-free. Unlike false beards, they want to hurt. That's why they like to target Wig-Wearers. The more attention they get, the better. The worse thing you can do to a Rogue is ignoring him.
Note that one masquerader does not necessarly fit into one of these categories. Most people are used to alternate between different types during an evening, or even be a bit of several types at the same time. During a masked ball, I am usually a "Theater player" during my entrance, a "Wig Wearer" when speaking with close friends, a "False Beard" with others, I happen to wear a "Cap of invisibility" when I'm not in the mood to participate, and usually I have to pay attention not to drink too much, otherwise I can get a "Rogue".
Well, I guess it's not necessary to explain the analogies to internet communities in general and to the SG community in particular. (By the way, this post was inspired by a discussion between "Wig Wearers" and "False Beards" in a private group of SG.)
The more I observe people in your electrical network, the more I see similarities to something I know very well from Versailles: A masked ball. Masqueraders can roughly be classified into six groups. Let's symbolize these groups by masks (not necessarily the masks the masqueraders are actually wearing):
Wig
"Wig wearers" don't hide their face, metaphorically spoken. They may wear a mask but they behave like always, apply the same rules, the same etiquettes as outside the masked ball.
Cap of Invisibility
Stands for masqueraders who observe the ball, listen to the conversations, watch the dance and admire the cleavages of the ladies without speaking, dancing or otherwise participating for themselves.
Theater Mask
Those people play a well-defined role. When they play a Turk, they praise the glory of the Ottoman Empire, when they play a clergyman or a nun, they rant about immorality etc. This can actually be quite fun. As for myself, I'm usually restricted to "glorious" roles like the Sun or Jupiter, but once I played a "Dwarf King from the Future", a quite amusing role - too bad nobody could really appreciate my perfect imitation of Nicolas Sarkozy.
Helmet
Helmet wearers are often timid without mask, they use the anonymity of the mask to protect themselves. They don't forget their manners, but they are less timid, they do things they wouldn't dare without mask: Dance with a princesse du sang, discuss with the king, pay attentions to a beautiful lady, make a toast... The reason for this loss of timidity is that if they "fail" (stumble during the dance, meet with a rebuff, make a fool of themselves etc.), it's only their "mask" that has failed, the real person is maybe never known and gets not harmed.
This attitude can be compared with creating a "Golem" that acts at his place. (If you are unfamiliar with the old jewish Golem legend, think of an "Avatar" in one of your electrical games.) The maker of the Golem feels responsible for it's acts, but when the Golem gets hurt, the maker stays unharmed.
False Beard
"False beards" go one step further than the "Helmet Wearers": They think that their "character" is actually another person and that they are not responsible for his actions (as long as nobody gets physically hurt). They don't mind their manners, they sometimes insult other masqueraders - and when this happens, the reaction is always the same :"Hey, come on, it's only a masked ball !". It's not bad will, it's simply a consequence of the assumption that everybody is at least a Helmet wearer. (In the Golem metaphor, they assume that everybody is acting via a Golem, and if they hurt someone, it's only the Golem who gets hurt.) This assumption implies that there are "other rules" during a masked ball. Some even think that this is the whole point of a masked ball, and don't understand why the "Wig wearers" take everything so seriously, because - "Hey, it's only a masked ball !"
Rogue's Mask
Rogues are the scourge of every masked ball. They turn over tables, insult and grope ladies, start brawls and duels and behave like what you would call a troll. They come to make trouble, and use their masks to go scot-free. Unlike false beards, they want to hurt. That's why they like to target Wig-Wearers. The more attention they get, the better. The worse thing you can do to a Rogue is ignoring him.
Note that one masquerader does not necessarly fit into one of these categories. Most people are used to alternate between different types during an evening, or even be a bit of several types at the same time. During a masked ball, I am usually a "Theater player" during my entrance, a "Wig Wearer" when speaking with close friends, a "False Beard" with others, I happen to wear a "Cap of invisibility" when I'm not in the mood to participate, and usually I have to pay attention not to drink too much, otherwise I can get a "Rogue".
Well, I guess it's not necessary to explain the analogies to internet communities in general and to the SG community in particular. (By the way, this post was inspired by a discussion between "Wig Wearers" and "False Beards" in a private group of SG.)
Now, dear readers, please tell me: What kind of mask do you wear on the Internet?
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
dwam:
Je dirais, 70% wig, 20% theather role, and 10% rogue's mask. Non ?
raia:
Mon Roi, tu dfonces en magie photoshop.