Invisibility

Wheatley February 26, 2020 at 21:16 3050 views 10 comments

Many people complain that they are invisible and nobody pays them any attention. I personally don't think there's anything essentially wrong about being invisible. I know it's hard to suppress our innate desire to be noticed and respected in society, but if you can pull it off and become truly invisible to society, think of all the benefits that you might acquire.

Invisibility is peaceful: When you aren't noticed, nobody bothers you, not like a celebrity who is barraged by the paparazzi every second of the day.

Invisibility is freeing: If nobody notices you, and nobody cares about you, then no one will judge you. You have tremendous freedom in how you can act.

Invisibility is safe: No one sees you, no one can intentionally harm you. Simple.

I don't know about you, but I choose to be invisible.

Comments (10)

Frank Apisa February 26, 2020 at 21:46 #386427 0 likes

I'm invisible.

I am an 83 year old, white male in America. Other older, white males talk to me as though I am invisible, because they assume every older, white male must be an American conservative.

I am not.

It reminds me of an essay I read many years ago. It was by an American working in Saudi Arabia...a decidedly non-Arab looking American who could speak and understand Arabic as well as a Saudi. In restaurants and tea houses...people said things around him in Arabic that were completely unguarded.

My conservative friends sorta do the same.

Wheatley February 27, 2020 at 00:04 #386490 0 likes

Quoting Frank Apisa

I'm invisible

Me too, and so is this thread. :rofl:

TheMadFool February 27, 2020 at 03:09 #386540 0 likes

Reply to WheatleyBeing invisible is definitely better than attracting the wrong kind of attention. Trust me on this one. However, as you said, people seem to have a felt need for a social role - to be valued, respected, loved, etc. In other words, some amount of visibility is desirable. The sweet spot is between a celebrity hounded by paparazzi and a nonentity who no one cares about. It's a difficult balance don't you think?

Wheatley February 27, 2020 at 03:27 #386542 0 likes

Quoting TheMadFool

In other words, some amount of visibility is desirable. The sweet spot is between a celebrity hounded by paparazzi and a nonentity who no one cares about. It's a difficult balance don't you think?

Nah, I want to be invisible through and through. But just because I want remain invisible it doesn't mean I can't put on a "mask" and pretend to be someone I'm not. My real me will be invisible, but my fake me will be as visible as I desire. Kinda like spider man.

TheMadFool February 27, 2020 at 03:38 #386544 0 likes

Quoting Wheatley

Nah. But just because I want remain invisible it doesn't mean I can't put on a "mask" and pretend to be someone I'm not. My real me will be invisible, and my fake me will be as visible as I desire. Kinda like spider man

The mask people put on is at another level of social dynamics. Whatever mask you don you still want to, with the mask on, find that sweet spot between the paparazzi and the back alley. Both Spiderman and Peter Parker wouldn't want too much or too less of recognition/publicity.

Wheatley February 27, 2020 at 03:56 #386548 0 likes

Quoting TheMadFool

Whatever mask you don you still want to, with the mask on, find that sweet spot between the paparazzi and the back alley.

Fine with me. But when the mask comes off, when I no longer need to play a role at that moment, I'll be the worlds biggest recluse that I am; Invisible.

BC February 27, 2020 at 04:03 #386550 0 likes

Quoting Wheatley

it doesn't mean I can't put on a "mask" and pretend to be someone I'm not. My real me will be invisible, and my fake me will be as visible as I desire. Kinda like spider man

The trouble with using masks too often is that one can get confused about who one really is. That kind of invisibility isn't a good thing.

Wheatley February 27, 2020 at 05:39 #386572 0 likes

Quoting Bitter Crank

The trouble with using masks too often is that one can get confused about who one really is.

I don't think so because I know who I am. I am a man without an identity; I don't belong to any group, nor denomination. I'm on my own, and it is necessary for me to play roles to get by in life. Or perhaps I just need to wait for my anti-psychotics to kick in.

TheMadFool February 27, 2020 at 13:43 #386628 0 likes

Quoting Wheatley

Fine with me. But when the mask comes off, when I no longer need to play a role at that moment, I'll be the worlds biggest recluse that I am; Invisible.

Good for you. I've always wondered at the expression "shed light on" which to me sounds like the way it's probably meant; as leading to illuminating experience, discoveries, new insights, and so on, all very nice to hear and imagine. However, as one of those persons who is completely alien to the concept of cleanliness, I feel very uncomfortable switching on the lights in my filthy room. Perhaps humanity shouldn't be "shedding light on" things in the world and is better off "putting out the lights" lest we see the filth we're wallowing in. Just a thought. Go off into the jungle, find a nice cave and enjoy your, probably hard-won, solitude. There's nothing like being alone when all you can have as company are...

Wheatley February 28, 2020 at 04:23 #386822 0 likes

Quoting TheMadFool

. I've always wondered at the expression "shed light on" which to me sounds like the way it's probably meant; as leading to illuminating experience, discoveries, new insights, and so on, all very nice to hear and imagine.

That's funny because my name is Meir, which means "one who shines" in Hebrew.

Quoting TheMadFool

However, as one of those persons who is completely alien to the concept of cleanliness, I feel very uncomfortable switching on the lights in my filthy room.

I also struggle with cleanliness. When my room gets really messy, it fucks with my mind, and that's when I start requesting help to clean it. I don't know why it always gets messy, probably because I live by the philosophy of getting through life with the least amount of effort. :wink:

Quoting TheMadFool

I feel very uncomfortable switching on the lights in my filthy room. Perhaps humanity shouldn't be "shedding light on" things in the world and is better off "putting out the lights" lest we see the filth we're wallowing in. Just a thought.

Clean your room -- Jordan Peterson

Quoting TheMadFool

Go off into the jungle, find a nice cave and enjoy your, probably hard-won, solitude. There's nothing like being alone when all you can have as company are...

I might do that. :cool: