Masks have uses, but they are rarely for good, El Zorro, Spiderman & the Lone Ranger notwithstanding. -
In my experience, when a person needs a mask to hide his identity, it means one thing and one thing only; he is up to no good.
I became acquainted with “avatars” in 1995 or 1996. Internet Chat rooms were not common yet and I was reading computer magazines to learn about all that was taking place in the digital revolution. I found an article with a web address to a 3D chat room. I had the option of choosing how I would appear to others in the chat room.
-
I know that this is common now, and these avatars are offered everywhere you turn when online. But, when I first saw this in the mid ’90’s and attempted to use it, I began to see the dangers of chatting as an alter ego or more accurately as a pseudo-ego. I could step outside of myself and be anyone & say anything in anonymity.
The episode that I personally experienced was morally disturbing. While I was looking at the options of the physical appearances I could assume, I was tempted to take the appearance of a girl or woman, just for the novelty of it. This temptation evoked a physiological response that I recall now, a decade since the event. I believe that it would be called blushing or flushing.
-
I quickly left the virtual chat room; because I recognized the potential for moral harm to myself, this was the only time that I have used the online ‘chat room’ forum. When one is hidden behind a façade, anything goes. People may take on the ego of a little boy, a little girl, a hypersexual femme fatale, or a big burly & muscular man. The only limits to a person’s avatar are the programming options that these various companies offer.
On November 6 I listened, on NPR, to a news report and interview that all occurred in “Second Life”, which is a computer generated ‘cyber-world’ where you can virtually buy anything or be anyone, using virtual cash that is purchased with real hard currency.
The stated purpose for Second Life is as a marketing tool, one may test drive a new model of Toyota or _________ (fill in the blank.) These avatars that are used are vector based animated cartoon characters. Look at the above left picture, which is from the Second Life interview that is linked to the NPR story.
-
I am sure some will say ‘It’s harmless fun.’ Or ‘they are just cartoons, so, what’s the big deal.’
I have read that when Navy Seals and other elite Special Forces are in training, the men are given extensive training on how to control their consciousness. The man must “switch on.” I have heard and read about this term. When a man is “switched on” he becomes a different person, virtually.
-
When these men are back in civilian life it happens occasionally, when a threat to a family member requires them to “switch on” in order to neutralize the threat. Family members will comment about the man, that he was ‘like a different person.’
-
Police officers will often have difficulty moving from peaceful home life to the high stress of daily patrol. Police see us at our worst. If I am pulled over for speeding, it’s not a good experience for me and the officer is likely to hear things that is not me being my best. So, Police will “switch on” when on duty and be a different person when at home or with family.
-
Finally, there is the life and times of Sacha Baron Cohen (a.k.a. Borat). Folks around the world are debating the good or bad of Borat. I am not going to debate about the fictional character. However, I will note something that Mr. Baron Cohen said in his interview with Rolling Stone Magazine. I will paraphrase Mr. Baron Cohen’s remarks. He said that he would not be able to do and say the things that Borat does and says. He indicated that he must get into character, so that he could behave boorishly and treat people with such contempt.
-
Please note that Mr. Baron Cohen must “switch on” in order to do the things that he does. Actors such as Mr. Baron Cohen call it “getting into character.”
The article that I read was not the Rolling Stone interview of Mr. Baron Cohen, but rather, was a brief outline of his interview, which was carried in the Entertainment section of the Daily Oklahoman Newspaper from Saturday November 18. The article that I read, lead off with the fact that Mr. Baron Cohen was a very devout and practicing Jew. And that it was in that context that the Rolling Stone pull quotes were placed to provide perspective.
-
If I must “get into character” or change my appearance & name to Borat in order to say things that are immoral, inappropriate, embarrassing, exploitive, and vulgar; then why is this a “good” thing? Why is this a skill that should be lauded? If I must hide behind a pseudo-ego to hurt people or “reveal” peoples ugly side, am I less ugly? Are those people made more noble by my masquerade?
-
A mask rightly arouses suspicion for the person’s character, who hides his identity. And a prosecutor or law enforcement officer who surreptitiously encourages me to commit illegal acts will be guilty of entrapment, even if I am shown to be a lawbreaker.
-
I submit to you, that Mr. Sasha Baron Cohen is that prosecutor. Therefore, even if the rest of the world is sullied, it is so sullied because Mr. Baron Cohen encouraged it for his pleasure as Borat, and his personal gain as Sasha Baron Cohen.
-
Incidentally, the above right picture is a true representation of real Kazakhs, not the debased mythical ones that exist primarily in the mind of Mr. Sasha Baron Cohen.
Please don’t hide behind avatars or masks. Stand in the light as He is in the light.
God bless,
DSM
p.s. I have now read the online segment of the interview with Mr. Baron Cohen. My understanding of the content was accurate. Futhermore, the author of the article specifically refers to the characters of Mr. Baron Cohen, as “masks” that he hides behind.
DSM
p.s. I have now read the online segment of the interview with Mr. Baron Cohen. My understanding of the content was accurate. Futhermore, the author of the article specifically refers to the characters of Mr. Baron Cohen, as “masks” that he hides behind.
« Boys will be boys; and why it’s so hard to redeem us. | Home | Raw Revelations From Apache Country »
Related posts:
- Place related post plugin php here...
Comments
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 21st, 2006 at 11:35 pm and is filed under Guilt, Life, Nuance, Religion, Sin, Temptatation, Truth, theology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
This reminds me of Thomas Merton’s writing’s about real and false selves. The synopsis in my copy of “The Pocket Thomas merton” says,
“At the heart of Merton’s spirituality is his distinction between our real and false selves. Our false selves are the identities we cultivate in order to function in society with pride and self posession; our real selves are a deep religious mystery, known entirely only to God. The world cultivates the false self, ignores the real one, and therin lies the great irony of human existence; the more we make of ourselves, the less we actually exist.
Your response is great. I will post this here, to your comment, but I will also, post it on my main page as well, because it has opened my thinking so much. I think that I am beginning to see more in God’s nature because of your giving this quote.
I have not heard or read of the Merton writings. But, I agree with this synopsis whole-heartedly.
This issue has touched my mind and heart deeply. I see so much, in our behavior and identity that is exactly as Merton writes.
It is also a scriptural concept as well. It ties into a passage that I have alluded to in prior writings as well:
· Ezekiel 36:26-27 “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep mine ordinances, and do them.”
There is irony in mankind requiring a “heart of flesh” from a spiritual God. And it speaks to the masks that are in Sacha Baron Cohen’s characters and Merton’s “false selves”.
We hide our true self behind a “heart of stone”; a heart that feels no…
· pain
· shame
· compassion
· love
· empathy
· sympathy
· mercy
But, feels far too much…
· self-pride
· self-righteousness
· sanctimony
· arrogance
· hatred
· rage
· contempt
· derision
Do you remember that Old Testament story of Jacob receiving his “new name”?
Genesis 32:24-30
This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn.
When the man saw that he couldn’t win the match, he struck Jacob’s hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket.
Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is dawn.”
But Jacob panted, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
“What is your name?” the man asked.
He replied, “Jacob.”
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “It is now Israel (he, who struggles with God), because you have struggled with both God and men and have won.”
“What is your name?” Jacob asked him. “Why do you ask?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.
Jacob named the place Peniel—“face of God”—for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.”
I know, that you know what it means to struggle with God. I think also that you have been knocked “out of joint” as well.
This passage is, again, a nuance and paradox.
Why is this story in the bible?
Why does it say that Jacob struggled with God?
Why does it say that God couldn’t win the match against Jacob?
Why does God bless Jacob, as a reward for the wrestling match?
These are profound questions to a confusing paradox.
I will admit that for many years I have hated this passage, with painful contempt. It flies in the face of everything in my carnal being. It is simply not logical.
Jacob should not wrestle with God!
God should not wrestle with a man!
God should punish Jacob for impudence and audacity!
God should flip him over and pin his shoulders to the ground with a mere wink!
Jacob should fall flat on his stomach and worship God and beg for pardon!
Israel? Your name will be “Israel,” because “you have struggled with both God and men and have won.”
Maybe he won against “man”, but there’s no way he could win against God. Right?
How, God? How am I supposed to cope with this story in the bible?
Please, tell me that there was a transcription error, something is wrong. Right?
Well, I have come to a point in my life, where I am beginning to accept more of the paradoxes of God. I am not a shill for a fraudulent snake oil salesman. I am simply beginning to understand that God’s grace is far greater than my jaded experience (a.k.a carnal nature) will allow.
This is what I see from the event with Jacob and God.
1. God does not punish us for struggling with Him
2. God expects the struggle.
3. God cherishes the struggle.
4. God respects our struggle.
5. God understands our struggle.
6. God freely grants us the opportunity to struggle.
7. God’s only requirement is that we not “give-up” our struggle.
I know that God can pin my ears back. But, God doesn’t want to do that. The same is true with Jacob.
This exact event occurs in my house every week. My son and daughter love to “get me down.” And we wrestle around in the floor until I am out of breath or until it’s time for a bath. (Which tends to coincide with regularity.)
I struggle with my kids and enjoy the struggle, because I love them. Yes, I am sometimes hurt by our struggles and sometimes they are hurt by our struggles. But, so long as they are willing to come back and not give-up, our wrestling will build strength, character, love and trust.
What happens if I pin my son or daughter on the ground with no effort and no struggle?
Will they trust me more?
Will they respect me more?
Will they love me more?
What happens if God pins Jacob to the ground?
What happens if God pins me to the ground?
What happens if God pins you to the ground?
I don’t think that I am taking this too far. God could beat us if that were his purpose. But, we know what his purpose is now. Don’t we?
Through Jesus Christ, the Father’s purpose is to “seek and save” John 3:17 “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.”
Jesus could have pinned our ears back.
But, the goal was more in line with a 41 year-old dad wrestling with his 3 and 7 year-old on the living room floor.
Finally, the issue of the mask and the name, Jacob was the name that he was given at birth. He moved around behind it, and operated with it as a defense to protect him from the world. But, it was replaced with God’s name.
I know the purpose of the name in this context.
When one “knows” our name, it will allow them to control us. This was an important point to the people of Jacob’s day.
And it even continues in the modern day as well. It is not thought of in these terms anymore. But, less than two generations ago, children were taught that it was disrespectful to use an elder’s “Christian name.” We should instead use the proper title with their surname.
This “name issue” gives control to a person. When Jacob told God his carnal name, he granted authority to God.
God subsequently changes his name, to “Israel.”
Revelation 2:17
“Anyone who is willing to hear should listen to the Spirit and understand what the Spirit is saying to the churches. Everyone who is victorious will eat of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Emphasis added)
The new name was “a blessing” to Jacob, it is a blessing to all who give God authority.
Israel was blessed to not have to hide behind the mask of Jacob. Jacob treated people with contempt, just as “Borat” does.
God bless,
DSM